ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
A Forest for Calum: 20th Anniversary
The Inverness County Centre for the Arts is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of A Forest for Calum, the beloved and award-winning novel by Cape Breton author Frank MacDonald. This deeply moving work has become a touchstone in Cape Breton literature, cherished for its richly drawn characters and poignant portrayal of island life.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, thirteen local artists have created original pieces inspired by the novel. These works—ranging from painting and sculpture to fabric art—will be on display in the Performance Hall, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the story’s themes through a variety of creative lenses.
We invite you to visit this special showcase and experience how Frank’s writing continues to inspire the artistic community. While you're here, be sure to pick up a copy of the limited 20th anniversary reissue of A Forest for Calum, signed by Frank MacDonald himself. It’s a meaningful keepsake for both longtime admirers and new readers discovering the novel for the first time.
Join us in honoring this powerful story and the lasting impact it has had on our culture and creativity.
screening of “fairy creek”
Entry by donation with a suggested donation of $10
SYNOPSIS
The Fairy Creek (Ada’itsx) valley sprawls across Pacheedaht First Nation territory on southwestern Vancouver Island and its old growth forest ecosystem thrives with lush foliage, ancient tree trunks, and a variety of wildlife. However, the decimating chainsaws and tractor machinery of the Teal Jones lumber corporation disrupt this equilibrium as they demolish an environmental haven for their road-building project. Amidst the tumult, Jen Muranetz’s FAIRY CREEK captures the vast collective protests against this destructive logging operation: a movement which has spawned both the largest demonstration of civil disobedience in Canadian history and the mass arrests of 1200 people.
The film offers visceral front-line footage of activists faced with an RCMP-enforced injunction, protesting from ground to sky as blockaders form barriers with their bodies and tree-sitters’ forest canopies are assailed by officers deployed from helicopters. FAIRY CREEK is an urgent portrait of resistance, documenting an assembly of protestors organizing together despite varying backgrounds, ideologies, and tactics. Muranetz highlights the rapture of a united eco-activist community, coinhabiting the earth, dancing together, and cherishing biodiversity. At the same time, this breathtaking documentary tremors with the challenges of political consciousness in an age of rampant extractive capitalism, where industries working with governments eviscerate everything in their path, including the last pristine ecosystems. FAIRY CREEK depicts a historic struggle to defend Canadian old growth forests as an experience of absolute devotion, thrust between whiplashes of triumph and heartbreak.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT – FAIRY CREEK
There’s a long and storied history of activists blocking logging roads to protect old-growth forests on Vancouver Island. So when a blockade started in recent times at the headwaters of the untouched Fairy Creek valley, I felt compelled to learn who was behind this latest wave of resistance.
I arrived at the Fairy Creek Blockade in the early days, when only a few camps had been established and the energy felt hopeful, even innocent. On my first day, one of the blockaders turned to me and asked, “Do you want to see the Grandfather Tree?” Their sincerity was disarming. Standing at the base of that ancient 1,000-year-old cedar, something stirred in me.
As a filmmaker drawn to the intersection of human culture and the natural world, I felt moved by this renewed story of environmental justice. But what unfolded in front of my camera was far more layered and nuanced. Fairy Creek became an intimate study of activist culture, looking at both the beauty and the faults on the frontlines of resistance.
Our small film crew used a fly-on-the-wall approach to document the blockade as it truly was: gritty, tense, humorous, occasionally euphoric, and often heartbreaking. We lived out of our vehicles for days to weeks, recording around the clock. And when the RCMP blocked off road access, we hiked many kilometres up logging roads and through dense ancient rainforests to reach our participants. The blockade quickly expanded, growing to more than a dozen camps sprawled across the southwest corner of Vancouver island. With no cell service and long stretches of gravel road between each location, it became unfeasible for our crew to continue documenting every unfolding action. We forged friendships with other cinematographers on the ground and leaned into a decentralized filming approach, graciously using footage from a community of media makers to show a more complete story.
Over time, the public perception of Fairy Creek changed – from a movement met with widespread support and optimism, to one entangled in trauma and internal conflict. Several of our subjects abruptly left the blockade. Storylines shifted rapidly. Some participants later asked not to be included in the film. The evolving nature of the blockade mirrored the story itself: uncertain, volatile, and very much alive.
I found myself grappling with questions that had no easy answers: Who gets to take a stand, and at what cost? What does it mean for settler environmentalists to join movements led by Indigenous land defenders – especially when the local Indigenous Nation asked them to leave? Can a movement hold together under the weight of its own internal contradictions? This film is, in part, an attempt to sit with those questions.
While the Fairy Creek blockade involved thousands of people with a wide range of perspectives, this film focuses on a select group whose personal experiences offer a window into the movement. I give thanks to everyone who allowed us to witness their lives during this time. Fairy Creek is not just a chronicle of Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience – it’s an emotional record of a historic moment in time. My hope is that Fairy Creek invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship to land, to activism, and to the messy, necessary work of collective change.
— Jen Muranetz, Director of Fairy Creek
Reading with Author Lesley Crewe
Join us on Sunday, September 21 from 1–3 PM for a special afternoon with beloved author Lesley Crewe.
Lesley will be reading from her newest book, The Spirit of Scatarie, and sharing stories in her signature warm, witty style. Books will be available for purchase on-site — a perfect chance to pick up your copy and have it signed!
Don’t miss this wonderful literary afternoon.
Admission by donation.
Casino Night with Mill Road
Wranglers n’ Roulette Casino Night
Inverness County Centre for the Arts
September 19 | 7–11 PM | 19+
Join us for an evening of high stakes and western flair, presented by Mill Road Social Enterprises in partnership with the ICCA. Mill Road is a community-based social enterprise that provides meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, helping individuals gain skills, confidence, and connections through their work.
Test your luck at the tables, roll the dice in style, and compete for Best Dressed Western Outfit — with prizes to be won.
$25 ticket includes $30 in chips
Extra chips available for purchase (cash only)
Raffles • 50/50 • Exciting prizes throughout the night
Tickets are going fast — don’t miss out.
Call: (902) 258-3316
E-transfer: admin@millroadse.com
90s Rock Unplugged with Christian Walker
Friday, September 12 | 7:00 pm
The Inverness County Centre for the Arts is proud to present Rock Night Unplugged, a special evening of live music with local performer Christian Walker.
This concert celebrates the raw sound and enduring influence of ’90s rock. Christian Walker will deliver an intimate unplugged performance featuring music from Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and other iconic bands of the era. With stripped-back arrangements, the songs take on a new depth, highlighting both their power and emotional resonance.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of grunge or simply looking for a night of great live music, Rock Night Unplugged promises an unforgettable experience in a unique setting.
Tickets are $10, and are available here, or at the door. Seating is limited, so we encourage you to arrive early.
Eliza Rhinelander
Exciting news! Eliza Rhinelander will be bringing her heartfelt, original songs to the Inverness County Centre for the Arts for a special indoor show on August 14th at 7pm.
Described by Tom Power on CBC’s Q with Tom Power as “one of the most exciting songwriters coming out of the East Coast right now”, Eliza is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Halifax with deep Inverness County roots. Her music blends folk, indie, and pop, shaped by a lifelong love of storytelling that began in theatre and with Shakespeare.
Her debut album The Precipice is a beautiful, honest look at the growing pains of young adulthood, and this show is your chance to hear it live in a cozy, intimate setting.
Tickets are $25 and available now at https://icca.ticketspice.com/eliza-rhinelander
Come spend the evening with Eliza and let the music carry you home.
Book Launch with Anne Levesque
Join us for an evening of celebration as we launch Anne Lévesque’s debut novel, The Secret Lives of Public Servants — the 10th title from Galleon Books!
Decades after leaving the public service, Lee Gaik Wah, Stephen Higdon, and Caroline Melançon are now Lost Annuitants. Art school graduate Del Charbonneau is the pension clerk obsessed with tracking them down. Wry, warm, and wonderfully strange, the novel interweaves the past and present of four unforgettable characters with a humorous, richly detailed depiction of life inside a large government office.
A meditation on work, the power of imagination, and the bonds that sustain us, this is a story full of wit, compassion, and surprise.
Praise for The Secret Lives of Public Servants:
“Darkly hilarious and unexpectedly poignant... a wickedly smart, slyly subversive read.”
— Tom Ryan, author of The Treasure Hunters Club
Come meet the author, hear an excerpt from the book, and celebrate with us! Books will be available for purchase and signing.
PJ DJ Dance Party
Come to the Centre this Friday and dance the night away (from 6-8PM) with your little ones! Put on your most dazzling pair of pyjamas, and shiniest pairs of shoes, and have a great time.
Sketch the Gallery with Anne Levesque
Join us this Friday, July 25th and get inspired with Anne Levesque - create something unique to you, inspired by our annual Hands Dancing exhibit!
Book Signing & Artist Talk with Sig Burwash & Amish Morrell
“A uniquely thrilling and emotive fantasy ride along a sea-bordered highway
The wondrous rustic landscape of Nova Scotia bursts from the page in Vera Bushwack , where reality gladly gives way to fantastical flights of fancy before gently coming back down to earth. A chainsaw fires up and Drew’s vision blurs. Their body vibrates alive with the whrrr of the engine, the whiff of gas. Drew dissolves as their alter-ego, Vera Bushwack, takes charge. Assless-chaps-wearing, unflinching Vera slashes through thick trunks, felling trees righteously from the back of a majestic steed.
Vera’s here to help, of course. Drew needs to clear the land for their future cabin in the woods. And if it weren’t for Vera’s brazenness, Drew may, ironically, fall reliant on others to learn self-reliance. Nevertheless, men enter Drew’s orbit, all too eager to explain how things work―an aggravating occurrence that comes crashing into Drew as dependably as the nearby ocean waves.
Joy, anger, grief, and self-acceptance ripple through these pages with Sig Burwash’s hilariously expressive pencil drawings and flair for buoyant watercolors. Approaching something like liberation, our protagonist comes to terms with past traumas, boundaries, and the many expressions of themself.“ - Goodreads
Burwash will be in conversation with Amish Morrell - beginning at 7PM, this event is admission by donation.
Sea Glass Festival
The First Annual Inverness Sea Glass Festival, Saturday June 21st, 10am to 6pm.
ICCA will be hosting the first annual Sea Glass Festival celebrating the history and beauty of genuine, natural sea glass.
We will have artists and craftspeople, knowledgeable speakers, a sea glass contest, and more! A family-friendly event which includes activities for children.
Vendor application information can be found below:
First Annual Sea Glass Festival
The ICCA Board and Festival Committee are excited to invite you to our First Annual Sea Glass Festival. The Festival will take place Saturday June 21st. 10am to 6pm. Set up will start at 8am Saturday morning, or Friday evening starting at 6pm.
We will have a Sea Glass and pottery shard contest, guest speakers, demonstrations, kids activities and more. There will be a $2. entrance fee, children under 12 free.
Vendors will be asked to donate something for a gift basket which we will sell tickets on to help cover our costs. A food truck will be on site.
Priority will be given to products featuring genuine sea glass handcrafted by you, the artist. We will consider handcrafted products with a beach theme.
No manufactured objects will be accepted. There will be a discount for any vendors willing to give a demonstration. Tear down will be at 6 pm, not before. Please have your own table cover.
Fees:
1 - 2.5’ X 5’ table and 2 chairs $45.00
2 - 2’5 X 5’ tables and 2 chairs 65.00
*Please let us know if you need an electrical outlet.
For more information, or to register as a vendor, please contact Beth Ryan:
bethryan199@gmail.com
Alistair MacLeod Award Ceremony
The Cabot Trail Writers Festival is delighted to host a reading, conversation and audience Q&A with the three authors nominated for the 2025 Alistair MacLeod Prize for Short Fiction: Allison Graves (Soft Serve), Amanda Peters (Waiting for the Long Night Moon) and Susie Taylor (Vigil).
The evening will be hosted by author Alexander MacLeod. We’re very pleased to bring these three extraordinary writers (see below for their bios) together to share their work and celebrate their nomination for an Atlantic Book Award particularly dear to Cape Breton hearts, named in honour of one of our most beloved authors and now administered by the Cabot Trail Writers Festival.
This event will be pay-what-you-can (recommended: $15). All proceeds will go towards the award and event costs. Books will be available for sale, a cash bar will be open, and light refreshments will be served. Our thanks to the Inverness County Centre for the Arts for generously opening their doors to welcome us into their space to share this beautiful evening of laughter, inspiration and stories..
Youth Engagement Session
The Municipality of Inverness County is hosting an engagement session for youth aged 16 - 30 at Inverness County Centre for the Arts on December 20th, 2024. For more information and to register, click the link here
A Festive Christmas Fundraiser Party
Join us for an evening of drinks, light snacks, a silent auction, and live entertainment on December 14th to fund raise for our 2025 season! The night will feature live music with local musicians, Claverhouse band, and Abbey Mullendore with Steve Luxton. We hope to see you there!
Coffee and Connect
Calling all newcomers, volunteers, community leaders and inspiring professionals!
Looking to expand your network or eager to help others make meaningful connections in Municipality of the County of Inverness? Join us for a relaxed and engaging meetup!
Connect with your Cape Breton Connector Program Program coordinator, the Cape Breton Welcome Network, and a community Connector. It’s the perfect opportunity to share stories, build relationships, and grow your network in a friendly, welcoming environment!
Elves Fair
Our annual Elves Fair market will be taking place on November 17th, from 12:00 - 4:00PM
All of the markets throughout our community are a great opportunity to engage and support with our local crafters and businesses, as well as a chance to find the perfect gifts for all of your loved ones with Christmas around the corner
VENDOR APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Vendor applications are now open and ongoing until all spots are filled. To apply for a spot, please email Olivia MacDonald at olivia@invernessarts.com outlining your business, craft, or goods. Primary and secondary producers are welcomed at the market, meaning that we expect our vendors to grow, make, or finish their products themselves. You can apply for a maximum of (2) tables. The cost is one table for $30, or $50 for two. We look forward to seeing you there!
Inverness Recreational Dance
Inverness classes are now available for Sign Up on the Inverness County Recreation Website!
https://app.univerusrec.com/.../calendars/courses/index.asp
Classes start the first full week of November and run for 6 weeks. All classes $40, Adult Ballet is $60.
Age 4-5 Hip Hop 4pm
Age 4-5 Jazz 4:30pm
Age 6-7 Hip Hop 5pm
Age 6-7 Jazz 5:30pm
Adult Ballet 6pm
Age 8+ Hip Hop 6:45pm
Age 8+ Jazz 7:15pm
Hometown book launch with tom ryan in conversation with kate beaton
Join us for an evening of celebration with Tom Ryan and Kate Beaton in the release of Tom Ryan’s newest novel “The Treasure Hunters Club”. Tom and Kate will be discussing some of the inspirations behind TTHC, with books available for purchase. This is a non-ticketed, free event for the public.
Book Reading & Screening with Author Christopher Murphy
In "Far Out!", author Chris Murphy has captured a fascinating but under-reported period in Nova Scotia’s recent history - the unlikely story of hundreds of “Back to the Landers” who migrated from the rest of Canada, US, and Europe to rural corners of the province in the late 1960s and 70s.
This mainly young, urban cohort had rejected their parents’ 9-5 “rat race”, the demands of the consumer society, and political conflict over the Vietnam War. Instead, they sought an “alternative” - a more peaceful, simple, and independent existence, living off the land,
Nova Scotia in the late 60s offered them the chance to realize their romantic rural ideals. But despite cheap land and funky old farmhouses they bought for a song, most were ill-equipped to attain their dreams. One or two Maritime winters sent most on other life paths. But a surprising number adapted, thrived, raised families, and contributed in different ways to their new communities.
Chris and his brother Peter Murphy interviewed and filmed more than 50 remaining “landers” whose personal migration stories shatter tired stereotypes about "naive hippies" and "draft dodgers". In a series of events around the province this autumn, Chris will read excerpts from “Far Out!” and be interviewed by Costas Halavrezos, former host of CBC Radio's Maritime Noon. Also, Peter will preview a brief related video from the documentary project. A Q&A with the audience will follow readings, and the book will be available for purchase at the events (cash or debit preferred).
"Far Out!" is illustrated with many period photographs as well as original sketches by artist Anna Syperek, who also created the striking cover art.
For interviews or information, contact Chris Murphy: 902-210-0429 or cjamesmurphy46@gmail.com. Also, explore the backtotheland.ca website.
The Vancouver Islanders: traditional pop, swing, and jazz
From Vancouver Island: a dynamic female duo perform traditional pop, swing, and jazz in Cape Breton at the Inverness County Centre For The Arts.
Come join us for a night of amazing music with vocalist Angela Verbrugge (Best Jazz Artist nominee, Western Canadian Music Awards 2024), and pianist Ashley Wey.
Get ready to be swept away by their incredible blend of traditional pop, swing, and jazz music. With mesmerizing piano melodies and soulful singing, this event promises to be a night to remember. Don't miss out!
From Victoria, BC, Vancouver Islanders
ANGELA VERBRUGGE & ASHLEY WEY
~~~SWING, CHEMISTRY AND CHARISMA~~~
All the way from Vancouver Island, vocalist Angela Verbrugge and pianist Ashley Wey are in Atlantic Canada to perform for you for the first-time! Angela has been touring the world singing about love gone right (or very wrong!). Her lyrics range from humorous tales of romance while trying to eat buttery corn at a summer picnic, to the mad dash panicked adventure of being late, to sweet reflections newfound infatuation, to sour reflections on feeling wholly unloveable.
The whimsical style takes inspiration from vintage movie musicals (such as those with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), traditional swing era pop and American songbook (such as those sung by Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Julie London), and jazz standards (such as songs performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé and Newfoundland vocalist Heather Bambrick).
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Angela has a penchant for drama having studied theatre in Toronto (and just generally being a dramatic person!) before moving to western Canada in 1997. Verbrugge has released three critically-acclaimed albums, in 2019, 2022 and the latest in May 2024 on USA-jazz labels. She won the JazzTimes’ Magazine poll for Best Female Vocalist, and was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Rave reviews of her recordings have resulted in performance opportunities in far-flung places including Japan, Türkiye, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Taiwan, UK and many Canadian provinces, all in the last four years. Her music has been played on radio around the world including CBC, NPR, and she took the number one spot of the Earshot charts multiple weeks.
Angela is joined by Ashley Wey, a red-head, born-and-bred, infrared west coast pianist (yes, we love rhymes!). The vibrant, passionate and swingin’ pianist started at the tender age of 5, and turned pro at age fifteen, never looking back. She attended Humber under mentors such as Don Thompson before setting sail to play jazz on cruise lines and in Australia. Returning to settle in Victoria, she became one of the busiest most in-demand musicians as both a leader and an accompanist on Vancouver Island. An in-demand educators for all ages, Ashley spent several years as one of the captains of the ship at Hermann’s Jazz Club, helping it weather the pandemic storm… curating programming, doing sound and operations. In one moment she will deliver a ridiculously swinging Oscar Peterson tribute. In the next, she is a tasteful interpreter of soul/pop sounds. Ashley's on-stage charism and joy have built her a huge following in British Columbia.
The Vancouver Islanders offer the attendees a lively evening of fun and flirty classics with a modern twist to keep audiences on their toes, which incidentally will be a-tappin.
Book Launch with Helen Tworkov
Inverness County Centre for the Arts welcomes Helen Tworkov for the launch of her memoir, Lotus Girl
Inverness, NS—The Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness County’s arts hub, will host a book launch for longtime Inverness resident Helen Tworkov on Sunday, August 18.
Helen’s memoir, Lotus Girl: My Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and America, is a moving and beautifully written account of her extraordinary life. As bestselling author Pico Iyer has said, “other books have told us, engagingly, of how West began to meet East in the 1960s and beyond. But none I have read cuts through every illusion and projection with the warmth, the clarity, the unflinching self-awareness of Helen Tworkov’s indispensable memoir. She takes us, exhilaratingly, to Kyoto, Saigon and Kathmandu and she offers us fond, indelible portraits of some of the seminal figures of our time. But the great gift of Lotus Girl is to share with every reader a wise, undeluded, deeply searching enquiry into mind and how we can start to transform it.”
Helen has been a part time resident of Inverness County since 1970, and, in addition to exploring her early years growing up in the New York art world, and her life spent at the centre of Buddhism’s flourishing in the West, her memoir is full of stories about her decades in Cape Breton. In a starred review, Publisher’s Weekly called it “a stimulating and elegant memoir.”
The event will run from 3:30 to 5:00pm. It will feature a reading by Helen, a conversation with Jared Bland, known locally for his interviews at the Cabot Trail Writers Festival, and a Q&A with the audience. Light refreshments will be served afterward. Books will be for sale, and Helen will be pleased to sign copies.
Artist Talk: Sameer Farooq
Cape Breton born artist Sameer Farooq will share ideas about his practice over the past decade including building imaginary museums with the public, the role of meditation/contemplative practice in his work, and his recent foodways research, specifically on the importance of building tandoor ovens and working with flatbread libraries as a lens on migration.
During the summer of 2024 he will be spending two weeks staying at MacKinnon’s Brook in Cape Breton, making work that engages with Sight Point/Cape Mabou, as part of a project organized by Outdoor School (Diane Borsato and Amish Morrell).
Portraits of Cape Breton: Alfred LeBlanc Book Signing
Please join us tomorrow, June 21st, for the book signing of Alfred LeBlanc's newly released Portraits of Cape Breton photography book.
LeBlanc will be joining us from 2 - 4pm.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Portraits of Cape Breton
This book is a collection of intimate, true and honest black and white portraits of Cape Bretoners in their homes, workplaces and natural environments. Photographer LeBlanc, a native Cape Bretoner, has the unique gift of gaining the confidence and trust of his subjects.
About Alfred LeBlanc
I was born and raised in Margaree Forks, Cape Breton. I did university studies, with a focus on political science and economics, at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., Oxford (on a Rhodes Scholarship), and Queen?s University, Kingston, Ont. In my late 20s, I spent a further three years studying theology in Montreal and Toronto to be a diocesan Catholic priest, but decided against that option in the end and made my career in the public service in Ottawa.
Most of my professional career has been in various executive roles with the Government of Canada, based in Ottawa. My areas of work and expertise with the Government of Canada included federal-provincial relations and major transfers, innovation, science policy and national unity.
I was married to Jean Scott from Scotland in 1995. We have two daughters, both graduating in 2024; the oldest from medical school at McGill University and the youngest from veterinary medicine, at the University of Edinburgh. We also have two West Highland terriers — Hamish and Fergus.
In addition to photography, my interests include travel, reading and cooking. I have kept active over the years by running, biking, cross country skiing and rowing.
Al Golpe del Guatimé
Al Golpe del Guatimé's concert "Son de Jade" is a project that celebrates the relationship between traditional Son Jarocho music from 18th century Veracruz in Mexico, and oriental music of the east. The Oriental influences are evident in Jarocho melodies, such as the Fandanguito, Cascabel, and Petenera, reflecting minor modes and the Arab-Andalusian heritage that traveled to Mexico during the conquest.
The concert highlights an important oriental melodic base in this Mexican genre that is linked to mystical and profound evocations of moods, musical ideas, everyday moments, socio-political and even religious events, a heritage undoubtedly from the genre's oriental roots which are demonstrated in the Menoreados Jarocho songs such as the Fandanguito. In Jarocho music, music and poetry blend, forming an infinite symbol: poetry inspires the musician, music inspires the poet. This synergy is manifested in lyrics, sometimes inspired by music, sometimes by poetry.
Singer and requinto player José Ángel Gutiérrez, with over forty years of experience, has developed a strong Oriental melodic base and great improvisational ability, integrated into both traditional Jarocho music and his original compositions.
Evelyn MacRae at ICCA
Evelyn MacRae will be performing at ICCA June 16, from 2- 4pm.
Tickets will be available at the door, and will be cash only. We look forward to seeing you there!
Festival of Trees
From the Festival of Trees planning committee:
Hey there! We've had some people wondering who's behind the Inverness Festival of Trees, so we thought we'd take a moment and introduce ourselves and share our story.
We are family and friends:
Bethany and Dylan Parkhurst
Kevin and Jill Musgrave
Janet Palmer.
For four years, Bethany and I dreamed of re-inventing a favourite holiday event from our hometown in our new home of Inverness.
We snagged a couple of Christmas-loving friends and formed a committee.
With lots of brainstorming, planning, and some disappointments, we finally get to see this event come to life! We are beyond excited about bringing our community together in creating and enjoying some festivities! Our vision is BIG! We’d love to see this grow into a week filled with activities and fun things for all ages!
Hoping for a great first annual Inverness Festival of Trees--and many more to come--with the indispensable help of our wonderful town! It could not happen without all of you ❤️
The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers who won eight Juno awards for Best Country Group and headlined gigs at Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall, The National Art Centre and performed countless shows at L.A.'s Universal Amphitheatre with (their mentor) Gordon Lightfoot have gained a worldwide audience over the course of their accomplished career. The Goods' were honoured by being the 2004 inductees into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame as well as two nominations for Country Group and Roots Artist of the year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. They have toured in Europe 40 times, where their loyal legion of fans embrace them time and time again.
Catherine MacLellan - Holiday Tour
Catherine MacLellan - Holiday Tour
Friday December 2, 2022
8:00PM, Doors open 7:00PM
Tickets are $40 plus taxes
JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan is bringing her Christmas Show to the Maritimes this year. Sharing beloved classics, self-penned holiday songs and some rare gems, Catherine will be joined on stage by her long-time guitarist Nick Gauthier.
Catherine says, “I’ve always loved the music of Christmas, and the fun times singing in kitchens with friends and family over a glass of eggnog. That is the energy I’ll be bringing with me, hoping that people sing along and catch some of that holiday spirit!”
Last year, Catherine released her first Christmas album, a self-engineered and self-produced EP, which includes the original single ("Calling You Home (for the Holidays)") and three beloved classics ("In The Bleak Midwinter", "Blue Christmas", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas").
"I love the coziness of winter, it’s a time for introspection but also a time for gathering around fires and feasts. Christmas shows bring in all of that for me, the balance between joyful silliness and the sacred. It makes me feel like a child again," says Catherine.
Elves Fair 2022
Elves Fair 2022
Saturday, November 19 from 12PM - 4PM
Vendors registration is filled, if you’d like to be placed on a waiting list please email us at info@invernessarts.com
Eligibility
Applications are open to artists, crafts people, authors, bakers/confectioners, etc., who produce handmade art and craft.
Handmade means made by the applicant and may include the use of appropriate tools, including modern tools and methods of crafting.
We do not accept items that have been purchases elsewhere for resale, even if those items are considered to be made by hand. Our show is designed to promote and assist local artists and craft makers.
All merchandise in the Show must be hand‐crafted and offered in finished form. Kits, supplies and resale merchandise is not permitted.
MLM and other distributor type products and services are not permitted.
Matthew Good
Matthew Good - solo acoustic
@ Strathspey Place
Opening Act: Carly Thomas
Presented by ICCA / Sponsored by 101.5 The Hawk
TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 29, at noon
$45 General Admission - Available here
Bio
Matthew Good is one of Canada's most recognizable and relevant recording artists. He began his career as the iconic frontman of The Matthew Good Band, one of the most successful Canadian alternative rock bands during the 1990s and early 2000s, earning multi-platinum sales along with numerous awards and nominations.
Since disbanding in 2002, Good has enjoyed a successful solo career. He has released nine studio albums and has toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and the UK. His most recent album, Moving Walls, was released in 2020.
With six Juno Award nominations to his credit as a solo artist- and wins for Rock Album of the Year for 2011’s Vancouver and Video of the Year for 2003’s “Weapon” – Good has never been one to shy away from pushing musical boundaries.
Through his music, Good’s defiant spirit anchors his vulnerable, and at times, cinematic outlook on life. Never one to bite his tongue, his hyper-focused outlook on the world, including political and socio-economic issues, has earned him accolades for his thoughtful and deliberate approach.
Live music at ICCA is supported by Canada Heritage
