TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

Visitors travelling in Richmond this summer have had no shortage of activities to choose from to fill their days. There was a steady flow of visitors stopping at the VIC to ask how to get to D'Escousse for the Lennox Passage Days and where did they turn off to get to the 247 for The Acadian Day Festival in L'Ardoise. And the Nicolas Denys days has always been a popular event for visitors. Monday we had Jack and Carole Morgan from Kansas come in to the VIC and pick up a schedule for the festival. The first thing they asked was could they register for the geo-caching event. They told me they had been travelling all around Cape Breton and just loved taking in the local events and talking to the local residents and had actually stayed longer than they had expected because they were having so much fun. These are the comments we are hearing on a daily basis.
The Nicolas Denys Days festival has had another successful run. Numbers for most of the events surpassed expectations of the organizers. The starting event saw 91 people show up for the sheep shearing demonstration and 120+ turned out for the Poker Run. The high turnout also translated into an excellent outcome for the Ultimate Bingo fundraiser for the MacAskill House Museum, having 250 people turn out for the event. The auction was also a successful event for the museum. Other successful events were the Friends of Leona's Chowder Dinner a fund-raiser for the Cancer Society, and the Cape Breton Heritage Coast Ceilidhs. Numbers were very good for the Teddy Bears Picnic and the Kids Day Events and dances. Congratulations to all the festival organizers for a job well done and a special thanks to the volunteers and to the Destination Cape Breton Trekers who helped during the festival.
During this years Nicolas Denys Festival, the St. Peter's Community Club has published a special edition of the St. Peter's 360 1650-2010 Gazette. The Gazette is made up of articles on the Nicolas Denys Museum "How It All Began", the Cosy Corner, St. Peter's Fire Department, The Canal Lock-master house, the St. Peter's Train Service and DY Stewart, and MacAskill, "A St. Peter's Son", there is also lots of Trivia, and a Do You Remember section. The paper is a great reminder of days gone by and an excellent way to celebrate St. Peter's Anniversary. It is also a great souvenir idea to send to St. Peter's residents living away from home. The Gazette can be purchased in stores and at the St. Peter's VIC for $3.00.
Now for a look at up coming events in the area: There will be the Weekly Square Dance at the United Church Hall in St. Peter's starting at 6:30pm, and the Wednesday and Thursday night Ceilidhs at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn starting at 7pm. And the Kitchen Racket which will take place at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn on Sunday afternoons from 2-5pm.
The Carleton Stone Band will entertain at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn, in St. Peter's on August 13th, from 9pm until 1am. You must be 19 years + to attend.
Andrea Beaton will entertain at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn on August 14th from 8 to 11pm, tickets are $8.00 and the over 19 rule applies.
August 14th JP Cormier and the Elliot Brothers will be performing at the St. Peter's Lions Hall in St. Peter's starting at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling Verna at 535-2166 for $15.00 or at the door for $20.00.
The annual summer Festival Acadien de Petit de Grat will take place from August 9th to the 15th.
The Causeway Tea will be held at the Point Tupper Heritage Church in Point Tupper from 2-4pm on Sunday August 15th.
There will be an outdoor concert featuring McGinty held at the Dundee Resort on Thursday August 19th. The concert will be held in the big tent at the resort with the doors of the tent opening at 7pm. The concert will begin 8pm, and tickets are $25.00 per person including taxes.
Until next week, enjoy the beautiful scenery, great variety of entertainment and the beautiful weather during your stay in St. Peter's.