Activities

The Antigonish Summer Fest hosts a number of musicians at Columbus Field every August. Attend ths event to see some of the best music Nova Scotia has to offer while eating delicious foods from the Summer Fest Cookout.

The Antigonish Jazz Fest takes place each November over the course of three days and features a variety of artists. Different artists perform at different businesses across the Town of Antigonish ensuring you get the best of both worlds – the best jazz music has to offer and a taste for the local community.

Celtic Colours is an international festival hosted in Cape Breton that takes place over the course of nine days each October. Hosting hundreds of events, such as live music from various groups and artists, assorted workshops (e.g., Acadian Mask Making, Blacksmithing, Beginner’s Drop Spindle Workshop), art exhibits, the Mabour Run, and more, the Celtic Colours festival makes for an unforgettable experience.

Granville Green is a 30-year old music festival located in Port Hawkesbury that takes place during Sunday nights in July and August. The event is free and known for hosting local artists such as Heather Rankin. Food vendors can be found on-site.

Riverside International Speedway in James River currently advertises their Thanksgiving Special race that takes place on October 12th. Home of the largest outdoor entertainment venue in eastern Canada, the Riverside International Speedway is known for featuring some of the best stock car racing entertinment in North America. 2025 will mark the 55th year that vehicles come to race on the famous 1/3-mile oval racetrack.

The Antigonish Golf & Country Club is located in Antigonish and boasts a wide-range of available space for playing golf. Due to an increase in popularity over the years, what started in Whidden’s as a 6-holes golf course expanded to become the beloveed 18-hole gold course Antigonish has today.

StFX is a university known for its various programs including nursing, health sciences, and human kinetics. Famous for its legendary X-Ring, StFX is home to the vibrant Antigonish community and features small class sizes and qualified professors.

The Chez DeLauriers property promotes Acadian culture and encourages tourism in the community throughout the months of July to August, where they host a number of events. From lunches to history lessons, both Mi’kmaq and Acadian culture are maintained.

The annual July event boasts a range of activities that supports the Scottish culture and heritage, including piping and drumming, Highland dancing, fiddle music and step-dancing, athletics and the Ancient Scottish Heavy Events. Information regarding scheduling for the 160th Antigonish Highland Games will be released in April 2025.

Main Stage and Family Stage performances take place at the Bauer Theatre, a beautifully renovated, 222-seat facility that offers free parking, air-conditioning, and wheelchair access. Featuring a variety of plays the Bauer Theatre has something for everyone, thanks to the talent and hardwork of locals within the Antigonish community.

First begun as a fall fair by the County of Sydney Agricultural Society in October of 1853, the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition boasts a number of events from animal showmanship, Tug-of-War, the ATV and dog shows. The fall fair also displays the local talent of 4-H’ers, vegetable farmers, and quiltmakers.