It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Today marks the beginning of the most exciting nine days to be in Cape Breton this year. The Celtic Colours International Festival kicked off this evening at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre with everyone’s favourite Cape Breton girl, Natalie MacMaster. Natalie is home to open the festival and share her beloved island with friends from other islands and provinces…from Shetland the amazing fiddle band Fiddlers’ Bid, from Jamaica Pepito Pinto, Metis dancers the Asham Stompers from Manitoba and close buddies Rachel and Sabin from Quebec.

Since I couldn't make it to tonight's concert, I'm at home watching the show right now online. Celtic Colours will once again stream one show in its entirety, live online, each day of the festival. From October 5th to 13th streams will begin at 7:30pm ADT and will feature broadcast quality video produced by liveonlinecanada.ca’s experienced five person camera crew and production team.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, October 5
Port Hawkesbury, Civic Center, Natalie MacMaster and 5 other acts. Inc. Cyril MacPhee*

Saturday, October 6
Wagmatcook, Culture and Heritage Ctr., Asham Stompers and 6 others.

Sunday, October 7
Membertou, Trade and Conv. Ctr., The Makem and Spain Bros. and Sprag Session, 1 other.

Monday, October 8
Membertou (night 2), The Beaton Sisters and 4 others.

Tuesday, October 9
Mabou, Strathspey Place, Dance show, Asham Stompers and 5 others.

Wednesday, October 10 
Mabou, Strathspey Place (night 2), John Doyle* and Bruce Molsky, 7 others.

Thursday, October 11
Belle Cote, CBH Academy, Nuala Kennedy, Madison Violet, 2 others.

Friday, October 12 
Glace Bay, Savoy Theatre, Rita and a crowd, excellent women’s show!

Saturday, October 13
Sydney, Centre 200, The Chieftans, Mary Jane and Wendy, Irish Dancers, etc.

In addition to these shows and throughout the next nine days, there will be as many was six concerts a day as well as outdoor events, Visual Art Series, community meals and learning opportunities. Get the full schedule here. Time to go, intermission is over and Natalie is back on stage. Then it's time to head to the Festival Club!