Mahone Bay Festivals and Events

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 Although Mahone Bay is unable to go ahead with the Father Christmas Festival, as usual during this extraordinary year, we still invite you into our little town to celebrate the season and our charming community. Tis A Mahone Bay Christmas will be happening from November 27 - December 24, 2020. 

Mahone Bay will be decorated and open for visitors to celebrate the holiday season! Mahone Bay will celebrate the  Christmas season safely but we will still have fun.  There will be Wish Lists, festive flavours and unique boutique shopping to enjoy as you stroll the town and take in the sights and sounds of the season.  Also, watch out, the gnomes are coming to town. We look forward to welcoming you!

 Stay tuned for updates about the 2021 Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl  (FB @novascotialobstercrawl). 

The Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl festival runs during the entire month of February along our picturesque South Shore from Barrington, ‘The Lobster Capital of Canada’ to Peggy’s Cove! Indulge in gastronomical events where you can experience lobster at its finest all day, every day!

With more than 140 amazing Lobster and lobster-related experiences, including Mahone Bay, it's that easy to sip, savour, shop, and 'get trapped' during the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl festival.

Replaced by 2020 Tis a Mahone Bay Christmas due to Covid-19. 

Stay tuned for details November 27-December 8, 2020 during the Father Christmas Festival Mahone Bay will be ‘dressed in holiday style’ to welcome you to a handmade, yuletide, community-wide, family-style celebration of the festive season! If you love Christmas, the Father Christmas Festival is for you. Bring out the family or make it a romantic weekend and enjoy the Festive Season in style. River Ridge Lodge will be decked out in lights and if there is snow we offer complimentary snowshoes.

2020 would have marked the 24th annual Scarecrow Festival and Antique Fair. However, due to concerns around COVID-19, this year's festival has been cancelled.  We look forward with anticipation to the 2021 Scarecrow Festival events.
The Scarecrow Festival is a fun-filled Mahone Bay weekend festival that draws thousands of visitors each year. Each year the town comes to life with over 250 hand-made, life-size unique and extraordinary scarecrows. From the traditional to a scarecrow version of the Royal Family. The festival is truly one of the most unique festivals in the province! Book the B&B early since we usually book out early.

The Nova Scotia Schooner Association Race Week will be taking place from August 3-8, 2020, in Mahone Bay. For spectators watching from ashore, the race offers spectacular views of the fleet of schooners maneuvering in close vicinity. There are lots of locations alongside the town of Mahone Bay's waterfront that offers great views of the start and finish lines. The races provide a spectacular glimpse into the days of sail and the schooners that are the proud heritage of Nova Scotians. The public is invited to talk to the boat’s owners and view the beauty and craftsmanship of the vessels as they are tied to the docks along the waterfront. 

  The Mahone Bay Heritage Boatyard Co-op Weekend on the August 1-2, 2020 weekend celebrates craftsmanship and industry of shipbuilding that built Mahone Bay.  Lose the landlubber and get your sea on! Three days of messing about in boats and all manner of boat-related events, displays, and activities! Find your sea legs and be a sea dog while exploring all things nautical.

The main site for the Festival is the Mahone Bay Civic Marina, the Town Wharf and surrounding areas. 

 On the July 4-5, 2020 weekend, the Mahone Bay Home and Garden Tour offers an exciting glimpse behind the garden gates and front doors of Mahone Bay with a taste of summer in tour kitchens.  A summer weekend with an insider’s view of life here and discover why Mahone Bay is known as “A Treasure Since 1754.” 

  The South Shore Savour and Cycle Tour on  Saturday, May 16, 2020 - a cycling tour between Mahone Bay, Lunenburg and surrounding communities - showcasing local gastronomic experiences. Kick-start the spring, pairing wonderful local gastronomy with some of the best cycling routes in Nova Scotia. Participants can choose between the Rum Runners Trail or scenic coastal roadways around Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.  River Ridge Lodge offers complimentary guest bikes and lots of bike storage in the barn for our guests. The lodge is located close to the Rum Runners Trail, so no need to find a parking spot in town.

The iconic three heritage churches of Mahone Bay More along the Mahone Bay water's edge are the setting for the 2nd Annual Lobster Dinner. The three churches are one of the most photographed scenes in Nova Scotia.

Mahone Bay eateries will all be featuring a wide variety of delicious burgers. A donation from a portion of the proceeds will be made to our local food bank. Look out for various Burger Week events throughout Nova Scotia.