Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is simply the Gaelic word for gathering or visit. In Cape Breton, many ceilidhs invariably included music and what started in homes has since moved into many different venues. Songs and tunes fill dance halls, churches, barns and backyard fields. Whether it is a soulful Pastoral Airs Concert in one of our beautiful churches or the Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling in the open field at St. Ann’s Gaelic College, we have numerous concerts and ceilidhs for your enjoyment. You can hear bagpipes and fiddle music from one end of the Island to the other!
The Celtic Colours International Festival in October. The festival features 9 days of fine music, rich culture, beautiful scenery and pure joy all across Cape Breton Island. The live concerts feature the finest fiddlers and other musicians the Celtic world has to offer, as our Cape Breton artists feature alongside artists from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Galicia, the United States, other parts of Canada, and beyond. For more information, click here.
The Celtic Music Interpretive Centre offers regular demonstrations of Cape Breton traditional music daily throughout May to October tourism season. As well, they have very popular Lunchtime Ceilidhs, Wednesday Evening Ceilidhs and Thursday Evening Tune Sessions from May to October, plus Sunday Afternoon Ceilidhs year-round. For more information, click here.
Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College hosts many a musical, cultural event throughout the year, including their regular Wednesday Night Ceilidhs in July and August. For more information, click here.
The Highland Village/An Clachan Gaidhealach presents one of the most anticipated Celtic concerts each year – Highland Village Day – held the first Saturday each August. The concert, held outdoors on the hill at the Village, features many of the up and coming talents in Cape Breton, alongside many well-known performers. For more information, click here.
The Glenora Inn & Distillery features live music in their pub daily from June to October. For more information, click here.
Féis an Eilein includes a number of concerts and ceilidhs during its annual Féis in August, as well as a Gaelic Concert Series throughout July and August. For more information, click here.
Inverness County offers a full schedule of concerts and ceilidhs from May to October, including Sunset Ceilidhs on Mondays in Port Hood, Tuesday Night Ceilidhs in Mabou, Wednesday Night Ceilidhs in Judique and Margaree Valley, and Kitchen Ceilidhs in Glendale every second Wednesday. For more information, click here.
Victoria County is home to the Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs which are held nightly in July and August. Celtic Tea Room Ceilidhs are held Tuesday and Friday evenings in Indian Brook
and Saturday Night Ceilidhs in Ingonish during July & August at St. John’s Hall. For more information, click here.
