Two New Events Make Up New Cape Breton Festival

The new and exciting Cape Breton Heritage Festival, which has events taking place from June 3rd to June 11th, will be the kick-off to this years tourism season. Events Manager John Fraser stated the the organizers are excited to celebrate both Cape Breton's strong military heritage and it's rich and diverse culture. The festival will including a military-themed weekend and a multicultural-themed weekend with venues scheduled for around the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The festival begins on June 3rd in the community of Louisbourg with a Mussel Fest at the Louisbourg Volunteer Fire Department. Visitors will be able to enjoy a delicious feast of mussels while being entertained by the Privateers. Events continue in Louisbourg on Saturday June 4th with horse-drawn wagon rides, costumed animators and lots more fun filled events throughout the community.

Also on Saturday, June 4th, the Sydney Waterfront will have lots of events planned at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion as it hosts the HMCS Moncton and HMCS Summerside navy vessels for public viewings, a mini tattoo event, and visitors and locals alike will enjoy the great entertainment of the Stadacona Band at the events free concert.

On Saturday,June 4th and Sunday, June 5th, the attention shifts to the J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport as all eyes turn to the skies as the airshow begins. A complete list of events are as follows.

Cape Breton Air Show
Saturday, 04 June 2011, 10:00am - 05:00pm

J.A Douglas McCurdy (Sydney) Airport
Sydney-Glace Bay Highway

Air Show:

Gates open at 10:00am

12:30pm:
Canadian Forces Parachute Team, SkyHawks, open Air Show with Flag Drop
Search and Rescue Demo (including Hercules aircraft, Cormorant helicopter and SAR Techs)
CF-18 Aerial Demo
Canadian Forces SkyHawks Parachute Team - full team aerial demo
Aurora Aerial Demo
Sea King Helicopter Aerial Demo

3:00pm:

Canadian Forces Snowbirds - full aerobatic demo

ALL DAY:
Aircraft displays - CF-18, Aurora and Sea King Helicopters, Department of Natural Resource Helicopters, Civil Air Search and Rescue Cessna, Air Cadet Glider
Armed Ground Forces weapons display
A WWII Re-enactment
Free rides to the public on the Canadian Army's Light Armored Vehicles (LAVIII)!

Tickets:
$10 per Person
$30 for a Family of Five (Maximum 2 Adults)
Tickets are good for one day only.

Purchase Air Show tickets at any Marks Work Wearhouse location in Atlantic Canada.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be a Hero’s Hall, where current and past members of the Canadian Forces will be gathering to share stories.

The following weekend,June 10th and 11th, the festival will continue with the “Roots and Food Festival – A Multicultural Celebration” taking place at Centre 200 in Sydney. The festivities will begin on Friday evening with a concert featuring Shelley Hamilton "African Nova Scotian Music Association’s Artist of the Year", along with Colin Grant, the Awakening Souls youth choir, and many more.

On Saturday, Centre 200 will take center stage with cultural performances and displays from the various communities represented within the Multicultural Council of Cape Breton. One of the highlights of the event will be a sampling of spectactular foods from around the world, that visitors will have the opportunity to sample and purchase. What a great way to celebrate our variety of cultures. According to Fraser, “The economic impact of these events on the local economy will be substantial as we boost the June shoulder season.”
What a great idea for a festival, and what a way to celebrate our island heritage. This is a festival that can be enjoyed by our visitors as well as our residents, so come on out and start the season of right.