October 10–18, 2025
In 1972, The Vanishing Cape Breton Fiddler—a documentary produced by Ron MacInnis—was aired on CBC television. The film’s premise was that traditional Cape Breton violin music was in a state of decline and would soon disappear entirely! Reaction was swift and disbelieving. A group of dedicated individuals began contacting fiddlers from far and wide. There was such a strong response that the idea for an organization of fiddlers was born and in 1973, the first Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling was staged. This concert attracted more than 130 fiddlers to Glendale for one of the most memorable and influential concerts in Cape Breton history. Twenty-five years later, 202 fiddlers filled the stage at Colaisde na Gàidhlig [the Gaelic College]. Throughout 2023, the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association celebrated its fiftieth anniversary across Nova Scotia with banquets, seminars, square dances, céilidhs, and concerts. One of the Association’s main goals for 2025 is to feature the youth element of the organization. With its membership of amateur and professional players from Cape Breton and abroad, the Fiddlers’ Association has played a nurturing role as well as a practical one over the years, hosting workshops, publishing tunes written by members, and presenting the annual festival. Cape Breton fiddle music is alive and well both on the Island and throughout the world, and the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association is proud to have played a significant role in this resurgence.
| venue | Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College |
| locale | St. Ann's |
| price | $40 |
Performers: Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association
