30th Annual · Sept 25 – Oct 12
Scarecrow
Festival
250+ handmade scarecrows fill the best small town in Canada. Free to wander, all season long.
Late Nov – Christmas Eve
Season of
Father Christmas
Balsam boughs, thousands of twinkling lights around town, strolling Father Christmases and carollers, all season long.
Two seasons, one seaside town
Our festivals
Latest news
All updates →
Scarecrow ·
30th Scarecrow Festival dates announced
The scarecrows return Sept 25 through Oct 12, 2026, with a special anniversary display.
Read more →
Father Christmas ·
Season of Father Christmas: Nov 27 – Dec 24
A month-long seaside Christmas returns — tree lighting, twinkling lights around town, carollers and holiday markets.
Read more →News ·
A note on vendor scams
We never sell vendor booths by phone, text or DM. Official info comes only from this site and our newsletter.
Read more →Community happenings
Around town this fall
Neighbour-run events happening around Mahone Bay during the festival season. Hosted by local churches, guilds and makers — not the festival itself.
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A World of Colour — Quilt Show & Sale Sept 25–27 -
Fall Yard & Bake Sale Sat, Sept 26 -
Church Bean Luncheon Sept 26 & Oct 3 -
Really Awesomely Bad Portraits Sun, Sept 27 -
Nova Scotia Fruit Pie Baking Contest & Sale Sat, Oct 3 -
Nova Scotia Pottery Market Sun, Oct 4
Neighbours supporting a tradition
Our partners
Keep the tradition glowing
Your gift keeps the festivals free and the tradition alive — years of handmade magic in a town of 1,000 that the whole province comes out to see.