August 19 thu September 3rd

The central region of Nova Scotia is known for its abundance of wild blueberries. A variety of smaller festivals and events have now joined forces to create the Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival. From northern Amherst down to Truro, and from western Parrsboro to eastern Tatamagouche, Wentworth Valley and the Stewiacke Valley, communities throughout Central Nova Scotia are celebrating the wild blueberry harvest from August 19, 2011 – September 3, 2011.

Look For U-Picks

The key to the blueberry festival is the u-pick format but thyere are various other spin-offs like quilting and other fruit harvests. Check on Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival

Truro and  Colchester County are marking Planters 250 Anniversary, the 250th anniversary of the arrival of New England/Irish Planters, English-speaking settlers from New England and Ireland, in Cobequid.

The “Planters” were the settlers who occupied rich, dyked farmlands following Expulsion of the Acadians. These lands are now known as Truro, Onslow and Londonderry townships, which today include Truro, Bible Hill, Onslow, Old Barns, Glenholme, Londonderry and coastal communities from Great Village to Economy-Five Islands.

For more information go to Planters 250th Anniversary.

Bill deGarthe writes in his book, This is Peggy’s Cove:

“Many have asked, “How did Peggy’s Cove get its name? There are two versions in existence and the first has more generally been accepted, because of its romantic and dramatic appeal to most people. The story goes that a schooner was wrecked on “Halibut Rock” off the Lighthouse Point, in a “Southeaster”, in sleet and fog on a dark October night. The ship ran hard aground and with high waves washing her decks, some of her crew climbed to the masts, but the waves washed them into the boiling sea. Everyone on board was lost except a woman, who managed to survive the turbulent seas, swam ashore and was finally rescued by the people on the shore.

Her name was Margaret, and she married one of the eligible bachelors of the Cove. The people from near-by places used to come and visit Peggy of the Cove, and before long they began to call the place Peggy’s Cove. How true this story is, no one knows, and there are no documents available to confirm or refute it.

In the second version, perhaps not so romantic, but more logical, Peggy’s Cove, being situated at the entrance to St. Margaret’s Bay, was shortened from Margaret’s Cove, to the more intimate name of Peggy’s Cove, a name world famous now for a place of scenic beauty, where tourists gather from far and near.“

The events of the year can be found on this site: Peggy’s Cove Coastal Region:

“Yarmouth 250″ is the catch phrase for the town of Yarmouth and area’s 250th anniversary. It will be celebrated all year long for 2011. Like most of Nova Scotia Yarmouth, on the southwest corner of Nova Scotia, began as a Mi’kmaq settlement and was then settled by French farmers in the 1600s. Finally, New Englanders came in 1761.

However, today Yarmouth County has grown into a a vibrant multi-cultural community of about 40,000. Not only is it one of the fishing capitals of North America Yarmouth boasts a shoreline that is unrivaled, featuring beaches, grand lighthouses and amazing, old churches.

For up-to-date information check out Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores.

In addition Hal Bruce has assembled a five-piece band of some of the best Beatles musicians and singers in the world to do two sets of just some of their favourite tunes – from She Loves You to Sgt. Pepper and including the medley section form Abbey Road!

The House Band:

- Hal Bruce (Nova Scotia – lead vocal, guitars, harmonica

 - Scott Ferguson (Nova Scotia – drums, vocal)

- Floyd King (Nova Scotia – bass, lead vocal)

- Mark Beyer (Kentucky – keyboards, additional percussion)

- Gary Metcalf (Indiana – lead vocal, guitars).

These guys will dazzle you with their knowledge of Beatles classics: after all, they were the first band in the world to play all 214 Beatles songs in a non-stop medley last year clocking in a 2 1/2 hours set of pure energy!

To order tickets now, contact Hal at 902-435-7410 or by e-mail at halbruce@halbruce.com.  Tickets also available at:-

• Ticket Pro
• Long & McQuade locations (formerly MusicStop):
  • Halifax – 6065 Cunard Street, Halifax
  • Dartmouth – 124 Main Street, Dartmouth
  • Bedford – 1717 Bedford Highway, Bedford
• Cooke Sales – 50 Akerley Blvd, Dartmouth
• Eastern Building Cleaners
• Dollar Stores

Liverpool Days now has its own Facebook page so you can plan your vacation around the various events. So whether it’s a day trip or you are staying for the week get up-to-the-minute reports and comments.

Two hundred years ago King George III issued land grants to six founding families who settled the boulder-strewn, rocky point later called Peggy’s Cove. Now, on the 200th anniversary of Nova Scotia’s  Peggy’s Cove, there are 40 full-time residents of this community.

For the first hundred years life was simple: gardens, fishing and going inland to log and hunt. There was lots of fish: inshore pollock, cod fisheries  and lobster as well as smelt and herring. Now it is lobster and mackerel that are fished by 5 full-time fishermen.

Of course Peggy’s Cove is best known for its tourism draw, bringing about 500,000 tourists each summer to visit the community.

Centennial Events

1. Geology Walk: Beginning on April 18 and every third Monday afterward visitors can attend geology walks that explain the giant boulders known as “erratics” that cover the glacially scoured granite landscape.

2. Tiptoe through the Tide Pool : A natural history walk will be held on June 11 and a Peggy’s Cove Road Arts Festival from July 1 to July 14.

2. Family Reunions: Peggy’s Cove has sent hundreds of its residents around the world. Many of them may come back for the big reunion.

For more events go to Peggy’s Cove

Marconi’s wireless transmission from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia across the Atlantic was a whole 10 years prior to the Titanic‘s sinking so wireless was common place by the time the great ship sailed. The wireless messages were much like texting and Twitter in today’s communication, short and to the point. Not only did the wireless save many lives by alerting nearby ships it let the world know about the horrendous event before the rescue ships touched land.

As the largest and grandest ocean liner of her time, Titanic was equipped with the most modern wireless technology available. When disaster struck, that technology proved invaluable as it was crucial in saving many passengers and, also, provided the world over with the stunning news of the loss.

Starting last night at 11:55 pm ADT on April 14 you can follow the hash tag #ns_mma on Twitter for a real time account. For example:

Olympic asks Titanic which way latter steering. #Titanic replies: We are putting women off in boats

This was an hour ago.

So go on Twitter and follow the transmissions!

“We love to party

And we’re ready!”
- Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly

Last night the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax opened and we all can look forward to a two-week, mid-winter carnival. Athletes from across the nation entered the Halifax Metro Centre with their faces painted in their own provincial colors, their images enhanced on giant screens which looked like the sails of the Bluenose schooner.

But the best part is what we see on the streets. The athletes and their entourages colored the downtown as they were seen taking in the sights and local eating establishments. And this is a nice change from the dreariness of a sunless sky.

The total count is around 2,700 competitors from over 800 communities who will take part in winter 20 sporting events including alpine and freestyle skiing, located at two ski areas outside Halifax.

The VIP’s included Prime Minister Stephen Harper, New Brunswick Premier David Alward and P.E.I.’s Robert Ghiz who, among the thousands of onlookers in the Metro Centre, were entertained by number of acts including The Trews, Grand Derangement, Jimmy Rankin and the Stanfields.

Alpine Ski & Para Alpine Ski Athletes.

“Park & Ride” Schedule during The 2011 Canada Games

Training and Competition Schedule for the 2011 Canada Games

“What to know as a Spectator”