Cape Breton KitchenFest returns for 10th year
MABOU, N.S. — KitchenFest will be returning for the tenth year, beginning on Friday and continuing through to July 8.
Over those nine days, events will take place across Cape Breton to promote and celebrate Gaelic music and culture. There will be over 100 ceilidhs and concerts, over 150 performers, at 33 different venues. Pub nights, square dances, and a play about the historic Glendale Concert are also part of the programming.
“Our culture is the very fabric of our community, who we are as people,” said Rodney MacDonald, the founder of KitchenFest. “If we lose our culture, our Gaelic language, we will lose a sense of who we are. We can’t lose that connection.”
Dawn, left, and Margie Beaton are seen in this promotional photo. The Mabou sisters will perform during during KitchenFest! this year. Contributed - cc
Kitchenfest is a great opportunity to showcase local talent. Some of the artists featured include Howie MacDonald, Scott Macmillan, Wendy MacIsaac and MacDonald himself.
MacDonald is also performing in “Echoes of Glendale ‘73”, in which he will be playing his grandfather Donald Angus Beaton. The play is centred around the 50th anniversary of the Glendale concert. It celebrates the beginning of the Cape Breton fiddler association and will be playing at the Strathspey Performing Arts Centre in Mabou on Friday and Sunday. It will also be performed on July 6 at the Savoy Theatre.
Some of the featured restaurants:
Doryman Pub & grill
Governor's
Red Shoe Pub
The SandBar restaurant and lounge
Route 19 Brewing
More information about the venues and events can be found at www.kitchenfest.ca
MacDonald started KitchenFest as a way to promote and celebrate Gaelic music and culture in venues across Cape Breton. He aims to support local restaurants and businesses in the process. “Everybody wins when it comes to KitchenFest,” said MacDonald. “It brings in revenue for restaurants, gift shops, even gas stations.”
He expects there to be around 12,000 people participating in KitchenFest at different venues across the island.
MacDonald is very grateful that KitchenFest has been successful for 10 years and hopes to see just as much support this year.
