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The festival theme for 2026 is: Hometown Pride ~ Rooted in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Building on the success of last year, we're proud to continue the Raymond de Bont Memorial Community Spirit Award! This special honour recognizes the home, business, or community space that best captures the spirit of festival weekend.

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So break out the red and white, hang those lights, wave those flags high, and help us paint the town with pride! Our community patrol will be out and about, keeping an eye out for the most festive displays.

Let's show everyone what Mabou is made of! 

Schedule subject to change due to weather. For latest updates, follow our Mabou Ceilidh Days Facebook Page

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1

  • 1:15pm: Canada Day Ecumenical Mass  |  St. Mary's Parish, Mabou  |  in partnership with St. Mary’s Parish

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  • 2:00pm-5:00pm: Canada Day Celebrations  |  Official Opening + Cake + Anything You Can Float Race + Trap Racing + Lumber Sports + Bake Sale in partnership with Bayview Daycare  |  Mabou Marina
     

  • 4:00pm-6:00pm: Mabou Rib Fest  |  Includes Half-Rack of ribs, coleslaw, and roll: $20 |  Cash Only  |  Bar Services Available |  Mabou Hall

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  • 5:00pm-7:00pm: Boat Rides and Stories with AJ and Bradley Beaton  |  Mabou Harbour Wharf  |  A 45-minute guided tour featuring ocean views, stories from the sea, and insights into how the work gets done  |  $20/person  |  Register Here

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  • 7:30pm-10:30pm: Live Traditional Music featuring Kyle MacDonald, Bonny Jean MacDonald, Doug Lamey, James MacLean, Jason Roach  |  Red Shoe Pub  |  $15  |  19+

THURSDAY, JULY 2

  • 1:00pm-3:00pm: Beach Day: Spike Ball Tournament & Sand Sculpture Competition  |  West Mabou Beach  |  Spike Ball: $20/team  |  Register upon arrival

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  • 4:00pm-6:00pm: Seniors Bingo Social: Bingo, Tea, and Tunes  |  Mabou Seniors Club

 

  • 6:00pm-8:00pm: Karaoke Dance Party (Grades 4-6) + BBQ  |  Mabou Arena  |  $10

 

  • 6:00pm: Spinning a Yarn: Exploring the History of the Glendyre Mills  |  Learn the history, impact and importance of these mills to our community. Refreshments will be served.  |  Meet at Glendyer Bed and Breakfast  |  in partnership with the Mabou Gaelic & Historical Society

 

  • 7:30pm-10:30pm: Live Traditional Music featuring Troy MacGillivray, Andrea Beaton, Joël Chiasson, and Mary Beth Carty |  Red Shoe Pub  |  $15  |  19+​

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  • 9:00pm-12:00am: Family Square Dance  featuring Iain MacQuarrie, Cameron MacNeil, Màili MacKenzie, and Malcolm MacNeil  |  Glencoe Mills Hall  |  $10

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  • 10:00pm-12:00am: Karaoke Dance Party (Grades 10-12) + BBQ  |  Mabou Arena (doors close at 10:30pm)  |  $10

FRIDAY, JULY 3

  • 10:00am-12:00pm: Capes, Crowns & Cupcakes  |  Costume Party and Activities for kids Pre-Primary and up ~ Visit with Special Guest Fairy Godmother Mary Janet MacDonald  |  Hillsborough Hall

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  • 2:00pm: Ball Hockey Tournament  |  Mabou Arena  |  $10 per person, all ages welcome

 

  • 5:00pm: The Kids’ Ceilidh  |  Petting Zoo with Six Little Farmers + Personal Caricatures + BBQ in partnership with Mabou Development + Snacks by Jackie + Free S’mores for the kids  |  Mabou Marina   Sponsored by Mabou Gardens 

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  • 6:00pm: Boat Parade Begins at the Mabou Harbour Wharf, heading to Mabou Marina
     

  • 6:00pm: Music on the Marina with the Young Inverness County Singers, the Celtic Touch Dancers, Cameron MacNeil and Maili MacKenzie, Ann MacQuarrie, and more!
     

  • 7:30pm-10:30pm: Live Traditional Music featuring Shelly Campbell, Donna Marie DeWolfe, Allan Dewar, and Kenny Stewart |  Red Shoe Pub  |  $15  |  19+​
     

  • 8:00pm-12:00am: Outdoor Pub Night on the Marina with Eddie Cummings  |  Mabou Marina  |  $10  |  19+  Sponsored by B.P. Fraser Forestry Limited  

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  • 9:30pm: Fireworks (provided no provincial burn ban in place)  |  Mabou Marina  Sponsored by Sea Miner Limited, care of Trevor MacLean  | and B.P. Fraser Developments Inc.  

SATURDAY, JULY 4

  • 8:00am-10:00am: Pancake Breakfast  |  Mabou Hall  |  $12  |  in partnership with the Mabou Hall Committee and the South West Mabou 4-H Club

 

  • 8:00am: Softball Tournament in memory of Earl MacNeil  |  Tulloch Field, Brook Village, all day  |  Contact Rankin MacEachern to register   Sponsored by the Ceilidh Fishermen’s Co-op  |  and B.P. Fraser Excavations 

 

  • 8:00am: Annual Hugh Arnold Campbell Memorial Race  |  Mabou Fire Hall  |  Registration at 8am, Race to start at 9am  |  10km timed, 5km timed, 1.2km Fun Run  |  in partnership with the Campbell family

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  • 12:00pm: Parade  |  Theme: Hometown Pride: Rooted in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry |  Mabou Hall to Mabou Arena  Sponsored by Zutphen Contractors  |  and Freeman's Pharmacy 

    • 2026 Parade Marshal Gerald Feetham 

    • 2026 Ceilidh Couple Leo and Lisa Heukshorst

    • Prizes available for: Best community float, best theme, best small business and best large business

    • Kids are encouraged to get involved! Decorate your bike and enter or get dressed up and walk with us! Those under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. To get involved or have any questions, email us at mabou.ceilidh.festival@gmail.com

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  • ​​1:00pm-3:00pm: The Big Picnic: Live Music with Keigan and Kiera + Beer Tent + Tea Tent + Old School Games + Fish Pond + Cow Bingo + Bouncy Castles +  Face Painting + Crown & Anchor + Chocolate Wheel + Human Slot Machine + BBQ in partnership with the Mabou Volunteer Fire Department + Cotton Candy, Snow Cones, & Popcorn  |  Mabou Arena Grounds   Sponsored by Ed's Hydraulics 

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  • 1:30pm: 43rd Annual Luathadh Mòr Mhàbu - Mabou Milling Frolic  |  An Drochaid, The Bridge Museum  |  Admission by donation, singers and children free, tea will be served  |  in partnership with the Mabou Gaelic & Historical Society   
     

  • 2:00pm: “Futon” Don Campbell Memorial Horseshoe Tournament  |  Tulloch Field, Brook Village
        

  • 7:30pm-10:30pm: Live Traditional Music featuring Dawn Beaton, Howie MacDonald, Gabrielle MacLellan, Tom Daniels, and Jackie Dunn-MacIsaac  |  Red Shoe Pub  |  $15  |  19+​
        

  • 9:00pm-12:00am: Family Square Dance |  West Mabou Hall  |  $15
        

  • 10:00pm-2:00am: Outdoor Pub Night with the Aaron MacDonald Band  |  Mabou Arena  |  $20  |  19+  |  in partnership with the Mabou Arena

SUNDAY, JULY 5

  • 8:00am: Softball Tournament with BBQ and Beer Tent   |  Tulloch Field, Brook Village  |  in partnership with Brook Village Recreation Association

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  • 10:30am: Outdoor Pioneer Mass  |  St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery  |  in partnership with St. Mary’s Parish

 

  • 11:00am-2:00pm: Mabou Farmer’s Market  |  Mabou Arena

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  • 11:30am-1:30pm: Roast Beef Dinner  |  Mabou Hall  |  $25 & $12 for those under 12  |  in partnership with the Mabou Hall Committee

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  • 2:00pm: Lucky Duck Race + Teddy Bear Picnic + Children’s Book Reading featuring The Hobby Horse, a book written and illustrated by Ella C. Cummings  |  MacMillan’s Farm, Glendyer  |  in partnership with the MacMillan Family   Sponsored by Zutphen Contractors  |  and Glencoe Electric  

    • Duck Race: Name your duck, e-transfer your payment ($5/duck) to Mabouducks@gmail.com then watch them race Sunday afternoon!

    • Picnic: After the race, bring your favourite teddy bear along and join us in the meadow for storytime with Ella as she reads from her book. Snacks will be served.

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  • 6:00pm: Tug-of-War Competition  |  Tulloch Field, Brook Village  |  Find a team of 10 (5 girls, 5 guys) and come join the fun!

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  • 7:30pm-10:00pm: Annual Mabou Ceilidh Concert featuring local talent  |  Mabou Hall  |  $12  |  in partnership with the Mabou Hall Committee

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  • 8:00pm-10:00pm: Family Movie Night at Big Belle Farm (Inside Barn)  |  Mabou Ridge  |  in partnership with Big Belle Farm   Sponsored by M3D Designworks Inc. 

©2026 by Mabou Ceilidh Days Festival

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