Rita a True Ambassador for Cape Breton Tourism

One of Cape Breton Islands best ambassadors is singer Rita MacNeil. Rita comes from the tiny community of Big Pond, nestled along the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes. Here is where she grew up and attended the tiny one room school which is now the popular Rita's Tea Room, located at 8077 Highway #4, Cape Breton County. Every summer visitors travel from all over Canada and the US to visit Rita's Tea Room, with hopes of getting a glimpse of Rita. During the summer, Rita has set aside a number of days where she spends a couple of hours to spend at the Tea Room, just sitting and visiting with her guests. While on tour Rita talks fondly of her Cape Breton home and invites visitors to come and visit the island of her birth.
Rita will be performing at three concerts in her home town this summer. They will be held at the Big Pond Community Centre on July 24th, August 21st and on September 25th. This series of concerts are titled the "Home I'll Be Concert Series.
The concerts will feature Rita and her band performing songs from her vast library, as well as songs from her recent CD "Songs My Mother Loved". Single tickets are available as well as a limited number of dinner package tickets, which include a seafood chowder meal at Rita’s Tea Room and Gift Shop as well as VIP seating to the performance. Dinner includes her delicious seafood chowder which is always a hit with visitors and my favorite, also includes warm baked home-style biscuit, fresh spinach salad, dessert and tea or coffee. Tickets are available at the following locations, now on-line in the gift shop or in person at Rita's Tea Room and Gift Shop, Tastes of Cape Breton Shop at the Marine Terminal located at 60 Esplanade in Sydney, on days when cruise ships are docked at the Terminal and also at the Cape Breton Fudge Co. at 15 Prince Street, Sydney or by calling 1-902-539-0833 or 1-902-828-2667.
Rita's schedule for Meet and Greet's at the Tea Room are as follows, she will be at there between the hours of 1 and 2pm (subject to change) on June 26th, July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 31st and on August 7th, 14th, 28th, and September 4th, 11th and 18th.
The gift shop and display area will be open from June 27th to October 15th from 10am until 5pm seven days a week. Off season by appointment, group booking or chance. This unique gift shop features a number of gift items from all over the Maritimes and beyond. It also features exclusively Rita's Tea Room China, clothing and souvenirs.