A packed week of sport, music, and spectacle lands in Sydney and Cape Breton Regional Municipality — with the Cape Breton Eagles vs. Halifax Mooseheads kicking off a back-to-back home-ice weekend and the Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Robbie Simms rounding things out with a Sunday celebration of homegrown Cape Breton sound.
A male revue show featuring Australian performers with high-energy dance and comedy. The show has performed in Las Vegas for over 20 years and tours across North America and internationally. Check the venue's website for dates, times, and ticket prices.
Trivia competition runs Thursday nights from 6–8 PM at Breton Brewing. Teams compete for free, with a $5 door donation going to a different local charity each month. Reservations recommended due to limited space.
Live music series at Breton Brewing featuring local and touring musicians. This Friday from 4pm to 7pm, Stay Tuned performs. No cover charge.
Junior ice hockey game between the Cape Breton Eagles and Halifax Mooseheads, played at Centre 200 in Sydney. The Eagles compete in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Live harness racing venue in North Sydney operating most Saturdays from May through November, with post time at 1:00 pm. The track hosts races throughout the season for both new and experienced spectators.
A kitchen party performance featuring Sydney-based singer-songwriter Robbie Simms on September 20. Simms has performed on Cape Breton's music and theatre scenes since the 1990s and is co-founder and lead vocalist of The Ashbys.
Junior ice hockey game between the Cape Breton Eagles and Charlottetown Islanders, part of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Home games are played at Centre 200 in Sydney.
A visit to CBRM this week can begin with a detour to Glace Bay, where the Cape Breton Miners Museum offers underground tours of Ocean Deeps Colliery and a recreated miners' village from the 1850–1900 era — vivid context for the coal-shaped history that defines this corner of the island. It's a worthy morning stop before settling into the rhythm of the week.
Thursday evening pulls things in two directions at once: Australia's Thunder from Down Under brings the high-energy spectacle of its all-new Most Wanted Tour — direct from Las Vegas — to 116 Commercial St in Glace Bay at 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, across the municipality, Thursday Night Trivia runs 6–8 p.m. at Breton Brewing, with a $5 donation going to a local charity. Both are crowd-pleasers; it simply depends on the evening you're after.
Friday is a full day worth planning carefully. Catch Friday – Music on Tap at Breton Brewing from 4 p.m. — no cover, local and travelling musicians on stage — before heading to 481 George St for the Cape Breton Eagles vs. Halifax Mooseheads at 7 p.m. Before puck drop, Governors Pub & Eatery in downtown Sydney is well-placed for elevated comfort food in a restored 19th-century heritage building, and The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse delivers authentic pub fare and live music for those who want to extend the night afterward.
Saturday afternoon belongs to the horses. Northside Downs hosts live harness racing at 1:00 p.m. at the Cape Breton Exhibition in North Sydney — a quintessential Maritime afternoon out. Visitors staying in Sydney will find The Simon Hotel Sydney a comfortable harbour-front base, with 144 rooms, free WiFi, and a fitness centre right on the boardwalk. Those arriving or departing via Newfoundland should note that the Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal - North Sydney is operating just up the road.
Sunday wraps the week with community and culture. The Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Robbie Simms at 1957 Kings Rd showcases a Sydney-based singer-songwriter who has been a fixture on Cape Breton's music and theatre scenes since the 1990s. Come afternoon, the Eagles return to the ice for a 4:00 p.m. home matchup against the Cape Breton Eagles vs. Charlottetown Islanders — back-to-back QMJHL action that makes this one of the stronger hockey weekends Sydney has seen to open the fall season. For a casual bite on the way, A & K Lick-A-Chick Restaurant in Little Bras d'Or has been serving crispy fried chicken and homemade sides since 1969.
The Simon Hotel Sydney comes complete with 144 non-smoking suites/rooms with air conditioning, flat screen TV’s, digital cable, mini fridge, and microwave. Large wheelchair accessible main floor suite with separate bedroom and living area, lowered queen size bed and roll-in shower. Amenities include parking, free WiFi, breakfast, on-site restaurant and lounge and roof top patio, fitness centre, and free YMCA access. We are pet friendly. Located on the beautiful harbour boardwalk within walking distance to shops, banks, restaurants and attractions, we are the only suite property located in downtown Sydney.
Pub and restaurant in a restored 19th-century building in downtown Sydney serving elevated comfort food with Maritime-inspired daily features. The wood-and-brick interior has high ceilings and big windows; it draws both locals and visitors. Reservations recommended for dinner, family-friendly through dinner service, open year-round.
The Cape Breton Miners’ Museum in Glace Bay pays tribute to the contribution of the region’s coal miners and coal mining industry. The museum also features a fascinating exhibit on the geological development of Cape Breton’s coal field. The Miners’ Village, located next to the museum, allows you to step back in time and visit a company store and a home from the period 1850–1900. Take an underground guided tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery, a coal mine beneath the museum. If you are visiting during the summer months, be sure to attend a “Men of the Deeps” concert (contact us for more details). After touring our wheelchair accessible museum, stop by our gift shop where you will find local Cape Breton-made arts and crafts.
Visit Cape Breton’s authentic Irish Pub located in the heart of downtown Sydney. Opened in 2013, The Old Triangle has become a downtown mainstay, a must-dining destination, and an entertainment magnet. Whether it’s a business lunch, a celebratory party in our private room (Finnigan’s Snug), or to sing and dance along with some of the best musicians the Maritimes has to offer, we fit the bill. Here, we live by our philosophy: "Food for the Body, Drink for the Spirit and Music for the Soul".
A & K Lick-A-Chick has the best tasting fried chicken in Little Bras d’Or! Bring the family for a picnic-style lunch or dinner and enjoy some delicious, crispy seasoned chicken. Don’t forget all the “fixins,” like coleslaw, potato salad, and fresh-cut taters. Finish off your meal with a delightfully decadent ice cream novelty or cake. Or maybe some warm apple pie? It’s hard to decide with so many choices! Our family has always been in business for itself. A & K Lick-A-Chick was founded in 1969 and we bought this restaurant in 1983. Here we are today! We plan to continue what we’ve been doing—serve delicious and affordable home-style food to our loyal patrons. We are well known and pride ourselves on the quality of our cuisine. Come stop by and see what all the fuss is about! Visit us today to order quality and tasty food.
Marine Atlantic runs the constitutional ferry service between North Sydney and Newfoundland: the year-round 7-hour Port aux Basques run, and the seasonal 16-hour Argentia run that operates roughly mid-June through late September.
Drive-on vehicles enter through ticket booths off the Trans-Canada Highway; passenger drop-off is on Prince Street at the terminal building. Plan to arrive 90 minutes before departure with a reservation, two hours without. The terminal has a cafeteria, lockers, paid parking ($12+/day for crossings) and free Wi-Fi in the main waiting area.
Reservations are strongly recommended in summer; the website handles drive-on, walk-on, cabin and pet bookings. Cancellation rules tighten within 48 hours of sailing.
Sydney and CBRM have a full week on offer — from underground mine tours and trackside harness racing to QMJHL hockey and Cape Breton kitchen party soul. Come find your corner of it.
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