The Antigonish Highland Games 2021 is being celebrated with Highland Heritage Week this year presented by the Antigonish Highland Society. It is wonderful to hear the pipes again and to have virtual dances and music throughout the week.
Program
Clan Thompson Pipe Band entertained us on a wet and windy day at the Antigonish Legion. Such a pleasure to see and hear the pipes again in Antigonish.
Click to watch the Highland Dancing at Chisholm Park with MacLeod School of Highland Dance
Enjoy the week and celebrate our Scottish culture and heritage
Festival Antigonish is celebrating its 30th year of wonderful professional theatre to enjoy this summer season. This year they are presenting The Hounds of the Baskerville, Kingfisher Days, Stage Kiss and Martha. Also there is a Summer Theatre Camps for children. Performances begin July 12 and run through August 26. Location: Bauer Theatre, St. Francis Xavier University. 
Summer Ceilidh Series at the Antigonish Heritage Museum. Enjoy fiddle, piano, vocals with a variety of local performers. Join the Ceilidh gathering Thursday evenings July 6 through August 31. 
Keppoch The Last Wake story and song, wit and humour presented by the Ships of 1801 focuses on a ceilidh house. Schwartz auditorium on STFX campus, July 6 and 8 are sold out. July 9 performance added. Get tickets soon as this is likely to sell out. 
Antigonish Art Fair. Each art fair will feature a headlining musical act. Performers include Mary Beth Carty, Former Ordinary Horse, and Andre Pettipas and the Giants. Of course artists and food trucks, a children’s fun corner are all on tap. Chisholm Park, June 23, July 7,21, August 4, 18. 6 – 9PM. 
The Antigonish Highland Games. The 154th year of the Highland Games features pipers, drummers, highland dancers from across Canada and international in addition to the athletic games. Enjoy Scottish ceilidhs, concerts and the parade with pipes and drums. The Concert Under the Stars on the Main Stage, July 7 is always a hit. Join in at the Family Round and Square Dance on July 4 at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Maryvale. Competitions and entertainment will be held throughout the week of July 2-9. 
Stroll the Main Street Fair. Performance stages on the Aphrodite lawn and in front of the RBC. Special this year is the antique car show thanks to classic car owners form all over the region. Other features include displays by Riverside Speedway, a virtual hockey booth, outdoor adventure equipment, highland dancers, wine and beer tasting and, to mark our country’s birthday, a 150 ft long Canada 150 banner which will be painted right on the street in front of town hall. Main Street Antigonish. Thursday July 6. 10AM – 3PM. 
Antigonight: Art after Dark festival. A free, annual, 2-night festival of interactive and contemporary arts in Antigonish. Antigonight 2017 will take place starting Friday September 1st, 2017 in the People’s Place on Main Street, AND Saturday, September 17 in Downtown Antigonish. Events start both nights 7pm-10pm. There will also be several workshops in between these dates.September 1st-16th 2017 
Antigonish Performing Arts Series. Ariana Nasr and Curtis Thorpe sing Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. Immaculata Hall, September 9. 
TownHouse Brewpub and Eatery . Sundays, Irish Traditional Music. Thursdays, Live Jazz. Starting 6:30 PM No cover. 
Dream Catchers Main St. Pub Music nights with Country Legends. July 19, August 30 
Stan Rogers Folk Festival – StanFest. Over 50 artists and groups gather to celebrate songwriting and to perform 100+ shows on 7 festival stages. Canso. Canada Day weekend. June 30, July 1 and 2. 
Arisaig Lighthouse Concert. Arisaig Wharf. Sunday, July 30, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Black River Music Festival. Eastern Canada’s newest music festival is proud to call Eastern Nova Scotia home! Located just outside Antigonish, in the rural community of Heatherton, Black River Music Festival takes place over three days surrounded by nature.Headliners include: Matt Minglewood, Working Class Band, Big Fish, JP Cormier, Ray Mattie and more August 4-6. 
Family Round and Sqaure Dance. Featuring Shelley Campbell. St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Hwy 245. Maryvale, August 18, 9pm to midnight.
St FX Art Gallery Fundraiser Gala 2017 will be an exciting evening for the arts. There will be a dynamic mix of Live Art, Live and Silent Auction, Reverse Raffle and Fine Art Door Prizes and an opportunity to watch artists create. The art items are from some of Nova Scotia’s finest artists and collections. June 10. 7PM. Keating Centre, StFX. Tickets $40.
Gathering of the Arts (GoArts) is an annual exhibition of regional artists’ work in the visual arts. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, GoArts will be showcasing 20 art installations in 20 unique venues around Downtown Antigonish. Opening Gala – July 4. People’s Place Library. Exhibit continues July and August.
Antigonish Art Fair: A fun filled family evening with a wonderful array of art, artisanal arts and crafts, multicultural foods and terrific performances. This family event includes the Creative Children’s Corner with a multicultural flavour. 2017 dates are Fridays 6 – 9 PM. June 23, July 7, 21, August 4, 18. Chisholm Park. Rain location will be announced on social media.
St. F.X. Art Gallery is an exceptional exhibit area on the campus of St Francis Xavier University. The gallery interprets a diverse range of art for community members and the public. It connects the University’s cultural life to that of the wider community through exhibitions, publications, and events and fosters an appreciation of visual arts & culture. First Floor Bloomfield Centre, StFX University Campus. Summer Hours Monday – Friday, Noon – 5pm
Lyghtesome Gallery. The gallery established in 1975, features an outstanding collection of original works by Nova Scotia printmakers, watercolourists & oil painters, as well as award-winning pottery, wood, clay & metal sculpture, art-related books & cards, and Celtic artwork. It represents artists Anna Syperek, Linda Johns and many others. Open year round. 166 Main St. Mon–Sat 10am–5pm.
Down to Earth Art Gallery displays a great selection of original paintings, carvings and iron work. Works by J. Franklin Wright, Alan Syliboy, Kate Georgallas and more 240 Main St. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.
Antigonish Town & County Library – The People’s Place. Monthly exhibits in the Bistro area from local artists and art groups. July and August hosts the GoArts Exhibit. Browse throughout the library and the surrounding for art installations commissioned during the building of The People’s Place. 283 Main St.
Tall & Small Café. Monthly art display by local artists. The Café offers daily soup specials, fresh baking, fairly traded coffee and an array of teas. 342-2 Main St.
The Made in Nova Scotia Store. Photography and wood, pewter, knitted and woven crafts by Nova Scotia craftspeople. 324 Main St. Tues-Sat 10am-5pm.
Aphrodite Art and Fashion. Ladies Clothing Boutique and Gallery of Fine Craft and Art. 292 Main Street. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Sat 10am-5pm
Hearts and Hands Shop. Building community through art. Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 3.30 pm. Everyone is welcome to come by and visit us. 4 West St.
Kirk Building. Photography exhibit. 219 Main St. Corner of Main and Church Street.
Antigonish Farmers Market. Art, photography, crafts in addition to local produce, baked goods and entertainment in a great setting to meet the locals. Saturday 8am – 1pm. Antigonish Arena, James St.
Old Barn Galleries & Gardens The gallery is situated in the middle of 350 acre Beaver Dam Farm with abstract and impressionist art by owner / artist Carol Rivoire, Surrounding the gallery are beautiful, old-fashioned perennial gardens and a charming courtyard. 71 Melanson Rd. Pomquet. Opening June 1.
Tickletree Ag and Art. This is a new gallery that will be creating and showcasing fused glass, art and photography. Contact via Facebook for opening dates and hours.
A Matter of Tastes. Art gallery, etchings, work of Vicki MacLean, photography. Hwy 7, Antigonish.
Studio Rally. Check out the Studio Rally website for visual art and fine crafts studio and information. Select for “Northumberland Shore” for Antigonish area.
Antigonish Culture Alive – ACA is the community arts council of Antigonish, a non-profit organization which strives to foster the creation and appreciation of the arts in the community of Antigonish. A directory of artists and a calendar of arts events.
Arts Health Antigonish AHA! – AHA! values and respects the immense contribution of the cultural sector to community vitality, vibrancy and health and champions the role of the arts in a healthy community.
The All-of-us Society for Arts Presentation (ASAP) is an artist-run centre located in Antigonish, promoting the work of local and regional artists, and addressing infrastructure, promotion, education, and funding opportunities for the visual arts in the community.
On Saturday evening the dinner will be held at the Prissy Pig Café and Deli with an Indian menu. This has been a popular event in past years and the tickets for it go quickly. A month long International Photography Exhibition “With a Conscious Eye” from local and international photographers and development workers. A cash bar opens at 6PM, dinner serving is at 7:15PM. Tickets are $20 and available at Lyghtesome Gallery.
WOW – by 5PM today “more than 5,000 people had come through the doors” of the new People’s Place Library in Antigonish according to Eric Stackhouse, Chief Librarian of Pictou – Antigonish Regional Library. This new happening place on Main Street was buzzing with excitement as people had the opportunity to explore all the nooks and crannies of the building.
pennants hanging from the ceiling, paintings displayed in the windows, a beautiful circular stained glass interior window, a huge fireplace with welcoming arm chairs and a carved sculpture mantle, a loom with a resident weaver who will be weaving on site over the next few months, a curving stone bench near the entrance way that reminds you of the sea, and a great mural above the reception desk.
ACALA – the Antigonish County Adult Learning Association, and Health Connections now have their new home here. There are study carrels that are perfect for quiet study of for 2 or 3 people to work together. A large meeting room with a folding door that opens out into the community kitchen, and a small meeting room setup with a multimedia system, whiteboard and work group tables will be perfect for smaller meetings. There are several areas that are inviting to sit and read or chat or work on a project together. Computer workstations are available – or you can bring your own computer for the WiFi free area.
