A sunny day. Celtic Music. Beautiful scenery. Good food. What could be better?

Last month, I visited the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique and saw this license plate in the gift shop and knew it would be my theme for this summer.

Once I made my way out of the gift shop (quite a while later), I stepped into the Tom Rankin Exhibit Room. In this room you can take an interactive journey through samples of song, stories, dance, bagpipes, and fiddle music and the story and the culture behind them. You can even try your hand at a tune, or better still, have a step on the old porch. I did both and it was great fun. 

Among the things that most impressed me during my time at the Centre was the number of young people speaking Gaelic. We've all heard that Gaelic is a dying language but that's just not true. There are many people here on the Island (young and old) who are keeping Gaelic alive and well. As I mentioned in my last post, I don't have the Gaelic but it is something I'd like to learn - at least a few phrases!

Back at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, there is quite a line up of entertainment for the summer. The Centre officially opened for the 2013 season last week and lunch is available Monday through Saturday, 11:30am-3:00pm with live music from 11:30am-1:00pm. Come out to enjoy some great tunes and delicious food!

Wednesday Evening Ceilidhs will be starting up for the season on June 26th. The first Wednesday evening Ceilidh of the season will feature music by Shelly Campbell, Kenneth MacKenzie, Doug Lamey, Cheryl Smith and Allan Dewar. The Wednesday evening Ceilidhs will be held every week from 7:00-9:00pm. Admission is $6 and kitchen and bar service will be available. Ceilidhs will also be held on Sundays from 3:00-6:30pm with bar & food service available. Admission is $8.

Keep watch for the 2013 food and "Ceilidh Cocktails" menu to be posted shortly on the Centre's website! A Ceilidh cocktail may be all you need to get up the courage to join in on a square dance.

Do you think I have a future as a great Cape Breton fiddle player? Maybe, I just need to figure out what to do with my pinky finger. Apparently that style is best left for tea parties not fiddling.