For three decades, the Celtic Colours International Festival has relied on a tried-and-true formula of pairing Celtic music with Cape Breton’s fall foliage. “We started in 1997 for the first year and it’s just pretty amazing to see a festival still be this strong, even stronger,” said Wendy MacIsaac, co-artistic director of Celtic Colours, during an interview with CTV News Atlantic on Thursday. Over the years, organizers feel the festival has had an impact that goes a bit beyond either of those selling points. “Our tourist season usually ended around the end of Labour Day weekend,” MacIsaac said. “The tourist season really has now become something that ends in mid-to-late October which is pretty incredible for the Island, for all the businesses.” Nova Scotia’s NDP Leader Claudia Chender will be among the hundreds attending one or more performances on the opening long weekend of the 30th Celtic Colours on Thanksgiving weekend. “Last year, we were lucky enough to see the closing show and it was a stunner,” Chender said. She added that Celtic Colours has become a signature event over its 30-year run. “Because it marries that beauty of our province, which is especially stunning here in Cape Breton, with all of the talent and culture and music and the best we have to offer,” Chender said. In marking its milestone, organizers have brought back a few of the artists who were there the first year back in 1997. They add that ticket sales have been going well – with plenty of shows sold out – but there are still seats available for some others. “If you’re from Halifax, if you’re from Liverpool, Yarmouth, PEI – anywhere in the Maritimes – and you’ve always thought you wanted to go to Celtic Colours just do it,” MacIsaac said. The opening concert for the 30th Celtic Colours goes Friday night at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre and wraps up Oct. 17 at Centre 200 in Sydney. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
