By Tom Peters
ANTIGONISH: The Antigonish Highland Games, the longest-running event of its kind outside of Scotland, is set to celebrate its 160th anniversary from July 6–15 at Columbus Field – a milestone that positions the event as one of the premier tourism draws in Nova Scotia’s Highland Heart this year.
Paul Curry, president of the Antigonish Tourism Association, says a vibrant lineup of events throughout the summer promises to bring thousands of visitors to the town and surrounding communities.
Hot on the heels of the Highland Games – which will offer free day passes to attendees – Football Nova Scotia will host the Eastern Regional U16 Football Challenge at St. Francis Xavier University, July 14–19. The event will attract aspiring football talent and their families from across the region.
On the cultural front, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre returns to the Bauer Theatre on the StFX campus from July 5 to August 26, featuring a full slate of professional theatre productions.
“Community theatre is active year-round,” Curry notes, “but the summer schedule features professional actors and produces high-quality productions.”
For motorsports fans, Riverside International Speedway will host four race events this summer, beginning June 28. The marquee event is the IWK 250 weekend, running July 16–19, which is expected to draw large crowds of race enthusiasts.
The Antigonish Tourism Association continues to market the region beyond the summer months, promoting attractions during the “shoulder” seasons and supporting year-round destinations such as Keppoch Mountain.
Once a downhill ski hill, Keppoch is now a multi-season outdoor recreation area popular with hikers, mountain bikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and nature lovers.
“Keppoch is very popular and, among mountain bikers, is recognized as one of the premier mountain biking destinations east of Montreal,” Curry said.
The association represents a variety of tourism-related businesses including accommodations, restaurants, and attractions, and recently launched a new website: tourismantigonish.ca.
“The website will continue to evolve into a more tourism-focused platform,” Curry said. “Visitors will soon be able to plan their entire trip – where to stay, where to eat, and what attractions to visit – all in one place.”
He also confirmed that a new executive director will be hired to lead many of these upcoming initiatives.
In 2024, the Town of Antigonish implemented a three per cent tourism marketing levy, a move that mirrors strategies used in other regions to enhance local tourism efforts. While Antigonish County has not implemented a similar tax, Curry noted it is contributing financially to the town’s marketing efforts to help ensure a unified regional approach.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for growth here,” Curry said, emphasizing that collaboration and investment will be key to elevating Antigonish as a year-round tourism destination.