Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada

Special Events - Louisbourg300

In 2013, celebrate 300 years of triumph and survival through special activities and never-before-seen events. Join us for a celebration of sea and stories, music and military, community and cuisine. It's the Fortress of Louisbourg like you've never experienced it before!

Trip-planning tip:

Look for these two series of special events celebrating our 300th anniversary. Both series take place throughout the summer:

• LouisRocks! – Louisbourg rocks with the sounds of many types of music, from baroque to contemporary. Watch musicians as they perform on one of the most phenomenal stages in Canada – the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Concerts fit for a king!
• Louisbourg Celebrates – The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, in collaboration with various communities, presents the "Louisbourg Celebrates" series and honours diverse cultures with historic connections to Louisbourg in the 18th century.

May | June | July | August | September | October | December

May 6: Louisbourg300 Commemorative Envelope
May 16: Exhibit Opening: Faces of the Reconstruction

June 3-7: Canada's Coolest School Trip hosted by the Fortress of Louisbourg
June 13 - August 15: Exhibit: L'endroit le plus convenable / The Most Suitable Place
June 22-23: Learn to Camp300
June 29-30: Following Historic Footsteps - Guided Walk
June 30: LouisRocks! Concert Series with a Musical Tribute to Louisbourg's Legacy

July 1: Canada Day
July 1-14: Land to Sea/Field to Lab Archaeology Event
July 5-7: Forge300 International Blacksmith Gathering
July 20: Parks Day - Louisbourg Celebrates Families!
July 20: LouisRocks! Concert Series with Joel Plaskett Emergency
July 25-28: CultureFête!

August 4: Storm the Fortress
August 9-13: Louisbourg Celebrates Seafaring Traditions
August 10: Louisbourg Celebrates Diversity
August 17: Race Through Time
August 18: Louisbourg Celebrates Acadian Heritage!
August 24-25: SuperFête de Saint-Louis
August 24: LouisRocks! for the Fête de Saint-Louis
August 25: Fiddles for the Fête

September 21: LouisRocks! at Founders' Feast and Concert
September 27: Growing Together (De Gannes Garden Project)

October 13: Step Into the Past (Celtic Colours International Festival)
October 17: Celtic Colours Salutes 300 Years of Louisbourg

December 8: Holiday Concert

May 2013

May 6

Louisbourg300 Commemorative Envelope
Canada Post and Parks Canada will unveil a special commemorative envelope design in honour of Louisbourg's 300th anniversary.

May 16

Exhibit Opening: Faces of the Reconstruction
An exhibit at the Old Sydney Society focusing on the reconstruction of the Fortress of Louisbourg from the perspective of people who worked on various aspects of the reconstruction–from the researchers to construction crews to former miners who honed their craft of historic reproductions to the artisans who made reproductions for the Fortress. This exhibit will tell their story and allow Cape Bretoners to celebrate their own as we celebrate the anniversary of the Fortress.

June 2013

June 2013 (dates to be determined): Louisbourg Celebrates Aboriginal Heritage
Parks Canada partners with the local Aboriginal community to celebrate our shared history at the Fortress of Louisbourg. Chiefs and members of the Aboriginal community in Nova Scotia gather to honour the cultures that met with their ancestors here on Louisbourg’s historic grounds. Smudging and pipe ceremonies take place in reverence for the lives lived and lost here. Traditional drumming, dance demonstrations and workshops highlight Aboriginal customs, traditions and ties to historic Louisbourg.

June 3-7

Canada's Coolest School Trip hosted by the Fortress of Louisbourg
Parks Canada and Canadian Geographic offer once again the school trip of a lifetime! Last year's contest saw the winning class trek from PEI to Banff, Alberta. This year's winners embark on a whirlwind tour of Cape Breton Island, including an overnight experience at the Fortress of Louisbourg! For more information, visit My Parks Pass.

June 13 - August 15

Exhibit: L'endroit le plus convenable / The Most Suitable Place
Through antique maps, documents, interactive computer-based activities and archaeological artefacts, this exhibit at Cape Breton University Art Gallery tells the story of the establishment by the French of the colony of Île Royale. The exhibit is a collaboration of Les Archives Charente-Maritime in La Rochelle, France, the Beaton Institute of Cape Breton University, and Parks Canada. For more information, visit Cape Breton University Art Gallery's Web site.

June 22-23

Learn to Camp300
After a successful inaugural event last year, the Fortress of Louisbourg Learn-to-Camp event is back with a bang! To celebrate 300 years of history, 300 campers pitch their tents on the terre-plein of the King's Bastion. (Details and registration information to be announced.) For more information: 902-733-3552.

June 29-30

Following Historic Footsteps Guided Walk
Take a stroll through history with a walking club and retrace the footsteps of those who once travelled these historic lands on foot. On June 29 and 30, the Cape Breton Island Hoppers Volkssport Club host special events as part of the 300th anniversary celebrations at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Take part in their historic 10-km guided walk and evening dinner. For more information, visit Cape Breton Island Hoppers' Web site.

June 30

LouisRocks! Concert Series with a musical tribute to Louisbourg's legacy
Featuring Sprag Session, Lively Youth, Squid, Sons of Membertou, Mi'kmaw and Acadian dancers and the Fortress of Louisbourg drummers
Music genres merge on the night of June 30th as an eclectic mix of local and national performers take to one of the most phenomenal stages in Canada – the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. This multicultural concert and historical tribute ends with a memorable finale of cannons, muskets and 18th-century fireworks.
Music starts at 7:30 p.m. on the Fortress of Louisbourg waterfront
On-site concessions | Open air - bring your own chair! Wear comfy footwear and warm clothes | No refunds or exchanges | Rain or shine
Tickets - $30
Available online at fortressoflouisbourg.ca/LouisRocks
By phone:
Local: 902-562-5399 | Toll-free in North America: 1-855-562-5300
In person:
Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, 296 Charlotte Street, Sydney
Louisbourg Playhouse, 11 Aberdeen Street, Louisbourg
Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp

July 2013

July 1

Canada Day!
Parks Canada celebrates Canada Day with free admission to all national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas across the country.

July 1-14

Land to Sea / Field to Lab Archaeology Event
The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site hosts an archaeology event featuring Parks Canada archaeologists from across Canada. Land to Sea/Field to Lab takes place the first two weeks in July. Archaeology demonstrations include a range of activities including terrestrial and underwater fieldwork, conservation work and collections management. Check back soon for more information.

July 5-7

Forge300
Forge300, hosted by the Cape Breton Blacksmiths Association, is the first-ever international blacksmithing event held in Cape Breton. The Fortress of Louisbourg is a fitting and historic venue for this two-day international event that honours a trade practised 300 years ago in this bustling global seaport. Demonstrations and workshops offer visitors a chance to get in on the hammering action. For more information, visit the Forge300 Web site.

July 20

Louisbourg Celebrates Families!
Family fun is always on the menu at the Fortress of Louisbourg. But during the site's 300th anniversary celebrations, July 20th, Parks Day, is jam-packed with family activities as Louisbourg celebrates families! The fun includes games, dancing, races, theatre, dress-up, children's entertainers and a barbecue.


LouisRocks! Concert Series with Joel Plaskett Emergency
Described as one of Canada's leading musical voices, award-winning singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett proudly hits the quay at the Fortress of Louisbourg to celebrate 300 years of history. Plaskett's only Cape Breton appearance in 2013 includes a show-stopping, choreographed cannon-fire finale, complete with fireworks.
Music starts at 7:30 p.m. on the Fortress of Louisbourg waterfront
On-site concessions | Open air - bring your own chair! Wear comfy footwear and warm clothes | No refunds or exchanges | Rain or shine
Tickets - $30
Available online at fortressoflouisbourg.ca/LouisRocks
By phone:
Local: 902-562-5399 | Toll-free in North America: 1-855-562-5300
In person:
Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, 296 Charlotte Street, Sydney
Louisbourg Playhouse, 11 Aberdeen Street, Louisbourg
Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp

July 25-28

CultureFête!
A spirited cultural fair spills into Louisbourg's historic streets as cultures merge to celebrate food, clothing, music, dance, stories and songs. This festive fair recreates the bustling, multicultural, harbourside market that was a daily part of life in 18th-century Louisbourg. Honouring and embracing all cultures with connections and legacies linked to the historic Fortress, CultureFête highlights themes each day to showcase artists and artisans, trades and cuisine.
Friday, July 26: Trades day
Saturday, July 27: Artists and Artisans day
Sunday, July 28: Culinary day

August 2013

August 4

Storm the Fortress
Ride your motorcycle into the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and spend an evening in the 18th century! For tickets visit the Fortress Louisbourg Association Web site or call 902-733-2280 ext 3436.

August 9-13

Louisbourg Celebrates Seafaring Traditions
Louisbourg's historic harbour becomes a sea of sails once again to honour the area's deep maritime roots. A parade of sails, parade of lights, races, kayaking and harbour tours are scheduled to showcase the site's ties to the water. Special animation and interpretation at the historic site bring to life stories about 18th-century shipwrecks and Parks Canada's underwater archaeology work.

August 10

Louisbourg Celebrates Diversity (LGBTQ Pride)!
In conjunction with its 300th anniversary celebrations, the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site hosts a Diversity Day to celebrate LGBTQ Pride. Parks Canada works with community groups to host special events for the LGBTQ community.

August 17

Race Through Time
This exhilarating 8-mile road race takes you from modern-day Louisbourg into the 18th-century Fortress, where the French walked nearly 300 years ago. Awards and a delicious spaghetti dinner follow the race. Registration details to be announced. All registered runners receive a t-shirt! Please note: the race will start at 6:00 p.m. For more information: 902-733-2351 or louisbourgrace.com.

August 18

Louisbourg Celebrates Acadian Heritage!
The Acadian community gathers at the Fortress of Louisbourg to celebrate their lasting legacies and their historic ties to the 18th-century fortified town. Acadian music, dance and masquerade add some extra joie de vivre to Louisbourg's streets. Special workshops, demonstrations and talks share Acadian customs, traditions and historic connections to Louisbourg.

August 24-25

SuperFête de Saint-Louis
Each year, the Fortress of Louisbourg celebrates the Feast of Saint Louis (la Fête de Saint-Louis). This year the Fête is extra special. To mark 300 years of history, the Feast of Saint Louis has become a two-day Super Fête! Each day a special concert complements traditional Feast of Saint Louis activities taking place throughout the site, which include a traditional procession and parade through town, 18th-century music, dance, and military demonstrations.

August 24

LouisRocks! with Matt Andersen and JP Cormier
7:30 p.m. on the Fortress of Louisbourg waterfront
Music starts at 7:30 p.m. on the Fortress of Louisbourg waterfront
On-site concessions | Open air - bring your own chair! Wear comfy footwear and warm clothes | No refunds or exchanges | Rain or shine
Tickets - $30
Available online at fortressoflouisbourg.ca/LouisRocks
By phone:
Local: 902-562-5399 | Toll-free in North America: 1-855-562-5300
In person:
Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, 296 Charlotte Street, Sydney
Louisbourg Playhouse, 11 Aberdeen Street, Louisbourg
Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp

August 25

Fiddles for the Fête
To finish off a feast in fine Cape Breton fashion, the Fortress welcomes fiddles for the Fête! Local musicians fill the Fortress with fiddle music for an outdoor square dance.
2 p.m. on the Fortress of Louisbourg waterfront

September 2013

September 21

LouisRocks! at Founders' Feast with a Musical Tribute to Women
featuring Dawn & Margie Beaton, Go Baroque, Nicole LeBlanc, Michelle Deveau and Shauntay Grant
The Founders' Feast is an exclusive culinary event hosted by a guest chef within the walls of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Sit down to an impressive full-course meal made with local ingredients and paired perfectly with select wines, as described by your chef. Take the experience home with you with the purchase of a culinary history book full of recipes, stories and vignettes about cooking à la française, 18th-century style. This special dinner is followed by a concert in the Chapel.
6 p.m. at Grandchamp House (dinner) and Chapel (concert)
Tickets - $100
Available online at fortressoflouisbourg.ca/LouisRocks
By phone:
Local: 902-562-5399 | Toll-free in North America: 1-855-562-5300
In person:
Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, 296 Charlotte Street, Sydney
Louisbourg Playhouse, 11 Aberdeen Street, Louisbourg
Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp

September 27

Growing Together
A special legacy project of the Louisbourg300 celebrations is the De Gannes Gardens Project. Parks Canada partners with Family Place Resource Centre in Sydney to offer gardening space and staff expertise to teach families about gardening, including the nutritional benefits as well as the physical, mental and social benefits of being outside together working as a family. September 27 marks the official opening ceremony for this special project.

October 2013

October 13

Step Into the Past (Celtic Colours International Festival)
This annual sellout musical event during the Celtic Colours International Festival takes on a special theme to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Louisbourg’s founding. For more information, visit Celtic Colours International Festival.
Tickets will go on sale in June

October 17

Celtic Colours Salutes 300 Years of Louisbourg
In honour of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Louisbourg, Celtic Colours International Festival hosts an additional concert at the national historic site. For more information, visit Celtic Colours International Festival.
Tickets will go on sale in June

December 2013

December 8

Holiday Concert
Celebrate the holidays at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and join us for our annual holiday concert. The concert takes place in the chapel in the King's Bastion on site.