The days maybe shorter and the nights may be cooler, but Fall is still my favourite time of the year in Nova Scotia. I love the warm sunny days and crisp evenings, the smaller crowds and easy touring... and the turning of the leaves in late September and into October is an amazing sight to see!
So check out all the fabulous things Fall has to offer...
At the McCulloch House Museum , an interactive exhibit tells the fascinating story of one of the many groups that settled Nova Scotia and a man who embodied the best they had to offer. Open until October 15th.
The Northumberland Fisheries Museum has just this year opened their new Lobster Hatchery to the public. A joint project of the local fisherman and the museum, the hatchery facility is an attempt to bolster the lobster population and has been a learning experience for the participants and visitors alike. Open until Wednesday, October 1st.
Tour The Grohmann Knife Factory. See Grohmann Knives being made using time-honored old world traditions of handcrafted precision and care! FREE factory tours are normally conducted Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Minimum 4 Adults Required Per Tour & children under 16 yrs. must be accompanied by an adult. Call ahead to verify tours are going the day you visit. http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/factorytours.html
Visit Lismore Sheep Farm , River John, Nova Scotia is the home of John and Gillian Crawford and their children Rory and Katy. John, originally from Scotland has lived on a sheep farm all his life. He farmed over 700 sheep and 70 beef cattle on the Isle of Lismore, Gaelic for "Big Garden", on the west coast of Scotland. Gillian, a Canadian, met John while on a teaching exchange in Scotland. In the summer of 1997 they moved, personal possessions, farm machinery and 500 sheep to a beautiful farm at River John, Nova Scotia overlooking the Northumberland Strait, the waters separating N.S. from P.E.I. They are happily settled here and the sheep are content, grazing the rich pasture lands in spring, summer and fall.
If you visit the farm, you will meet their dogs. There are two working Border Collies ~ Tess and Boo which they use for gathering the sheep. Their two Great Pyreneese guard dogs ~ Shep and Spot ~ successfully protect their sheep and lambs from coyotes and other predators.
In 2000 they decided to diversify. The sheep produce a wonderful product ~ WOOL, and with their ideal location on the Sunrise Trail on the north shore of Nova Scotia, they opened a wool shop. They are proud to have a wide selection of beautiful woolen products with most of the items being made locally. In the spring of 2003 they started making wooden needles as well.
The Hector Heritage Quay
On September 15th, 1773, the Hector and its' 189 passengers landed on the shores of what is now Pictou. The event marked the beginning of the Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia and earned the town its reputation as the birthplace of New Scotland.
The story of the Ship Hector and its passengers is told in the interpretive centre oof the Hector Heritage Quay (pronounced Key) and is enhanced by its displays that depict life on the ship during this historic voyage in 1773. Visitors to the Hector Quay experience the sound of chisels and mallets at work while viewing the Ship Hector replica. A traditional blacksmith operation, carpenter shop, resident artist and gift shop are also part of the Hector Heritage Quay. The Hector Heritage Quay is open until the October 19th.
Rent a bicycle and follow the Jitney Trail from Pictou's Waterfront.
The Northumberland Fisheries Museum - Where the salt of the earth meets the salt of the earth! The Northumberland Fisheries Museum is located in an historical train station that house over 2000 artifacts. These artifacts display the evolution of the fisdhing industry and pay tribute to the thousands of fisher folk throughout the Northumberland shore. View the stories and displays of the east coast fishery as never before experienced. The Museum remains open until October 1st.
Trace your family tree at the Hector Exhibit Centre “The Pictou County Genealogy & Heritage Society is a non-profit, permanent institution open to all members of the public. The Society’s Mandate is to acquire, preserve, provide access to, research, communicate and exhibit, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, documents and artifacts pertinent to the history and culture of Pictou County.” www.rootsweb.com/nspcghs
Get out your hiking boots and climb Fitzpatrick Mountain Developed by the Pictou County Trails Association in 1996, the Fitzpatrick Mountain Trail was one of the first of Nova Scotia’s new trails developed by community associations. Originally formed to develop the abandoned rail line, the Pictou County Trails Association turned their attention to Fitzpatrick Mountain when legal delays prevented them from working on the rail bed. They negotiated passage with private landowners, and cleared a footpath along the crest of the mountain and through some attractive, sheltered creek valleys.
Truro Farmer's Market Every week on Saturday morning you can find fresh produces, baked good, crafts and much more at the Truro Farmer's Market. Open until October 25th.
The Chignecto Ship Railway This massive project was designed by railway engineer Henry Ketchum as a short and safe route between Chignecto Bay and the Northumberland Strait. The 500 mile journey around Nova Scotia from New England to the St. Lawrence would have been shortened to just 17 miles. Two locomotives running side by side on parallel tracks would pull a 200 wheel railcar which carried the ship. The project was nearly complete in 1891 when financing collapsed. The rail bed is now the Henry Ketchum Hiking Trail and runs for 4km between Tidnish Bridge Visitor Centre and Tidnish Dock Provincial Park, and follows the route of the Chignecto Ship Railway. It crosses an historic bridge and a modern suspension bridge which crosses the Tidnish River and offers great views.
Joggins Fossil Centre Located on the upper Bay of Fundy, home of the world's highest ocean tides, is Joggins, Nova Scotia. This beautiful seaside community experiences the awesome tidal forces of the Atlantic Ocean as its waters rise and fall in excess of 15 metres (47 feet) twice daily. This great force of nature; combined with efforts of area coal miners, has led to the amazing discovery of "coal age" fossils in the sea cliffs below the community. With careful observation visitors may discover fossils on the beach that had fallen from the cliffs and view the spectacular multi-hued sedimentary layers that define over 300 million years of Earth's geological past.The coastal cliffs at Joggins reveal the most complete fossil record of terrestrial life in the “Coal Age”. One of the most significant events in the history of life on earth was the evolution of reptiles which developed the ability to reproduce on land; this evolutionary milestone was first observed at Joggins. No where else in the world has provided as much evidence of the nature of the earliest reptiles, or has provided more informative specimens for linking them to their more primitive ancestors.902-251-2618. Open until November 11th.
Taste the amazing homemade strawberry rhubarb pie (best served cold with vanilla ice cream, in my humble opinion) at Shillelagh's in Truro (pronounced Sha-lay-lee's)
Try out extreme golfing at our hillside local golf course (9 holes). Open until late October.
Take a day trip towards Cape Breton - drive the Ceiledh Trail and stop and have lunch at the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou (and maybe luck into an afternoon performance of a local fiddler!) Visit http://www.redshoepub.com/schedule.htm for the latest schedule.
Jost Vineyard's 10th Annual Charity Grape Stomp Saturday, September 20 - Music, food and the famous grape stomp... www.jostwine.com for more details.
Borrow a couple of our portable lawn chairs, a few books from our library and head over to Caribou beach. Spend the day in the sun or the shade
Pet giant workhorses at the Colchester Exhibition Sept. 3-6
Attend one of the year-round ceilidhs at Piper's Pub in Antigonish every 2nd Saturday afternoon, 2 to 5pm.
Take a daytrip to Prince Edward Island - the ferry is just 6 minutes from our front door.
Come and visit Sara Bonnyman Pottery in Tatamagouche. Most weekday mornings you can watch Sara throw pots on her wheel and you are welcome to stroll through the workshop. In the afternoons informal tours are provided for visitors and their families. It is asked that large groups call ahead for an appointment.The Pottery is surrounded by large gardens of plants of every description. All are welcome to enjoy the gardens that are an explosion of colour , not meticulously maintained, but a haven for birds and insects alike. http://www.sarabonnymanpottery.com/tours.htm .
Daily tours of Jost Winery. Noon & 3pm from June 15th thru Sept 15. www.jostwine.com .
Hike Cape George and drive what the locals call the "Mini Cabot Trail".
Sample homemade baked beans and brown bread from the Country Bread Basket - a Mennonite bakery in nearby Brule.
Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia Tour ...Wine tastings, gourmet dinners, grape stomps, classes and food pairing events all await your palette. Includes events at Jost Winery, Sugar Moon Farm, Pictou Lodge and Gabrieau's Restaurant in Antigonish. www.winesofnovascotia.com
Try sticky toffee pudding at Mrs. MacGregor's Tea Room in downtown Pictou.
Be the only one on a lovely beach on a sunny day (a novel experience for those guests used to the hustle and bustle of more heavily populated summer destinations)...even if the water's a bit cool for swimming, the beach will be lovely for strolling along.
Join Keith Matheson, wood carver, for demonstrations and interesting projects. Visit www.carvers.ca for class schedules.
Take a daytrip to Prince Edward Island - the ferry is just 6 minutes from our front door.
Octoberfest Quilt Sale Tatamagouche Sept 26 -27
The community of Maitland, Hants County, invites you to celebrate it's ship building heritage at the 22nd
Annual Maitland Launch Day Festival
. During the Golden Age of Sale, launch days were big events, often bringing hundreds of people to celebrate and watch. More than 100 vessels were launched in the Maitland area, and ship building employed a thousand paid workers in the village alone!Villagers will be dressed in their Victorian best, and displays and demonstrations of traditional ship building skills and crafts will take place on the Lawrence House Museum grounds.
Festival highlights include an old fashioned, non-motorized parade, the 4th Annual Champion Whiskey Barrel Race and a re-enactment of the original launch of the W.D. Lawrence. Saturday, September 27th.
http://www.maitlandns.com/eventsandfestivals.html
Have a glass of wine on the patio overlooking the harbour at Carver's Pub.
Walk the wildlife sanctuary at nearby Munro's Island.
Vist the corn maze in New Glasgow.
Take a self-guided tour of the many tree sculptures in Antigonish, print off your brochure at www.antigonishcounty.ns.ca/visitor.htm
Wentworth Valley Fall Festival of Colors
Ride the chair to the top of Wentworth Mountain. It's the ultimate way to enjoy spectacular views of Wentworth Valley ablaze in bursts if red, orange and gold. Walk or bike back down the mountain. No transportation back down the mountain. Moutain bikes welcome. Weather permitting. Contact Leslie Wilson at (902) 896-1209 or visit
www.skiwentworth.ca
October 11, 2008 to October 12, 2008
The last weekend in September brings over 3,000 partygoers to Tatamagouche, to attend the Annual North Shore Bavarian Society Oktoberfest . The event includes a Beer Garden on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon plus a Dance on Saturday eve ning. The concession booths range from German sausages and cuisine to delicate cheesecakes and souvenirs. Many beverages are available from Domestic and German beers to local wines and imported spirits, and the infamous Schnapps Bar. Soft drinks and coffee are also available. A free children's program is offered on Saturday afternoon from 1 - 4 p.m. as an added bonus to partygoers. This program offers a safe environment plus the annual magician, face painting and more. www.nsoktoberfest.ca/
Chez DesLauriers Lobster Roll Supper in Pomquet. Lobster Roll with potato salad, garnishes, tea or coffee and desert. Local entertainment, crafts sale, barbeque, hiking trail and more. Lots of fun for all ages. September 14th, 3pm to 6pm. Chez Deslauriers, located in Pomquet, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, offers the visitor a taste of Acadie. A tearoom, located in a heritage home, offers light lunches throughout the summer. In addition, authentic Acadian cuisine is served each Friday for lunch. Lobster Roll dinners (with local entertainment and arts/crafts sales) will be held on August 12, 2007 and September 9, 2007 (3-6 PM). The property also boasts spectacular views of St. George's Bay and Pomquet Beach, a 5 km coastal and inland walking trail, and an interpretive centre and outdoor stage.
Picturesque Trenton Park provides the setting for the Town's annual popular Haunted Hayrides . Great for all ages! October 2 5th.
Sutherland's Steam Mill in Denmark, near Tatamagouche, was very up-to-date when it was built in the 1890s. Powered by steam, it no longer needed a river or stream as an energy source. If you love things mechanical and innovative, this is the place for you. The grounds themselves are the main attraction for me...bring along a picnic and sit by the pretty little creek.
And finally, we are a great stopover on your way to or from The Celtic Colours Festival, held October 10th through the 18th. Since 1997, the Celtic Colours International Festival has featured hundreds of musicians from all over the Celtic world and attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Cape Breton Island. For nine days in October, Cape Breton Island is home to a unique celebration of music and culture as the Celtic Colours International Festival presents dozens of concerts all over the island, an equally extensive line-up of workshops, a schools program aimed at Elementary and Junior High students, a visual art series of exhibitions, and a nightly Festival Club. Over the years, artists have travelled from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Brittany, Spain, Denmark and Germany as well as from across the United States and Canada to join the finest of Cape Breton's musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers and tradition-bearers for the annual Autumn celebration. http://www.celtic-colours.com
