Local Festivals
Lunenburg Doc Festival –
Atlantic Canada’s leading documentary festival and forum - 13th Edition - September 23—27, 2026
South Shore Lobster Crawl –
February-long celebration of lobster season with food events, Lucy the Lobster, and coastal winter fun across the South Shore
South Shore Oktoberfest –
One-day October festival in Lunenburg with music, food, and family-friendly fall celebrations inspired by the area’s German roots.
South Shore Pride –
Annual late-June festival celebrating Lunenburg/Bridgewater’s LGBTQ+ community with events, parades and parties in town (check social media for schedule).
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival –
Long-running early-September Celtic/folk music festival in Old Town Lunenburg, featuring concerts and jam sessions on the waterfront (Nova Scotia’s longest-running folk fest).
Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival –
Large juried crafts fair (mid-June) held in Bridgewater, showcasing traditional and contemporary folk art (woodcarving, quilting, pottery, etc.) by artisans from across the province.
Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival –
Annual early-August maritime festival, the largest wooden boat show in Canada, featuring a spectacular parade of heritage boats on the bay, shipbuilding demonstrations, races and family entertainment.
Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival –
Autumn festival (late Sept–mid-Oct) in Mahone Bay where businesses and residents create whimsical scarecrow art installations throughout the town streets.
Mahone Bay Father Christmas Festival –
Winter holiday festival (late Nov–Dec) in Mahone Bay, featuring festive street displays, Father Christmas visits, church luncheons, crafts markets and family activities in the seaside town.