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BainFest, RJ Festival Days, Strawberries & Sunshine
July 15, 2026
Angus Bonnyman
July 15, 2026
New rock garden at Ashton’s Garden Centre - love these foundation stones finding a new purpose
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Welcome!
Lots going on along our shore this week and next, I hope that you get out to soak it all in! What’s on your “bingo card” this summer? Sadly, I won’t be able to make it to the BainFest Arena Show due to work commitments, but tell me all about it, will ya? Sounds like an incredible amount of music coming our way!
My list at the moment includes:
Mountain Farm to pick strawberries (they looked/tasted incredible on the shortcake I had from the LFM Hospital Aux Strawberry Festival!
Sheep & Wool Day at Lismore Sheep Farm on July 19th
A show or two, and art openings at The Grace Jollymore Arts Centre
A tasting and tour at Tata Brew is also on my list
Local Prosperity: Tatamagouche from Aug 6-9th - don’t forget to purchase your tickets
Don’t forget to enter the Colouring Contest at RJ Festival Days, I have a few prizes to get out the door, but appreciate everyone’s efforts!
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A Few Nuggets … ICYMI
The Tata Road Train is celebrating their 10th anniversary, have you taken the tour yet?
Malagash Community Hall’s Diamond Jubilee has been postponed until a future date instead of July 18th.
Congrats to Matthew Smith who will serve as the Video Coach for Hockey Canada’s National Men’s Summer U18 Team at the Hinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton
The North Shore Community Development Assn has shared their new strategic plan - “together we can make great things happen on Nova Scotia’s North Shore”
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Jobs & Opportunities … please tell them that you heard about the position in The North Shore Nuggets ;)
RJ Festival Days is looking for performers of all ages to participate in the Variety Show on Monday, July 20th at 7pm. Email [email protected] to register
The Sunset Community has partnered with the NS Health Adolescent Outreach Team to support local youth through the ‘Back 2 School’ Pop-up Shop. Donations of gently used clothing (XS to Plus-size) for both women and men, shoes and school supplies. Drop-off at Sunset Industries or Oxford Thrift Store until Aug 17th.
Sisterhood Fibres’ Stashbuster Sale will take place July 18th from 10am-2pm. Tables are $25 and this will go directly to Tearmann Society for Abused Women. Proceeds of what you sell are yours. Contact Faith for more info
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is holding their “Big Backyard BioBlitz” from July 27-Aug 3. “Join thousands of BioBlitzers across Canada in taking action for nature. When you record the species you spot, you help scientists understand where wildlife is thriving — and where it's not.”
Live Music
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 5-7pm Train Station Inn July 15: Lorraine& the brew boys // July 17: Drew Polegato July 20:dave deuville music // July 22:Jim King // July 24:Lorraine&the brew boys July 27:Kevin Aitchison // July 29: 11 & Duke // July 31:Nick Guiton — Wednesdays 7-9pm River John & District Lions Club - Donald’s Music Circle — Fridays 6pm – 8pm Tatamagouche Brewing Co Friday, July 17th: Aaron MacDonald Friday, July 24th: Flip Side Saturday, July 25th: Open Mic with Jim King Friday, July 31st: Jackie Putnam — Fridays 5pm - Route 6 Big Al’s Family Restaurant & Lounge - Tatamagouche Reservations 902-657-3341 — Select Fridays/Saturdays Wiley’s By the Wharf – Reservations: [email protected] — Saturdays 2-5pm (& select Sundays due to better weather) The Barn - Bike Wentworth Saturdays Chowder House on Main - Tatamagouche Reservations 902-657-2223 Watch for further updates! — Sangria Saturdays 6pm Derado’s Pizzeria and Donair, Tatamagouche. Reservations 902-657-9000 July 18th - Jim King July 25th - Emerging Artists: Isis DeNicola & Bella MacLeod Aug 1st - Christian Kirby — Karaoke Nights - every second Saturday (from June 20th), 8pm-2am Back Alley Speakeasy Bar, 45 Lake Road, Tatamagouche. (902) 657-1050 |
Mark your calendars!
July 15 9:30-noon | Rock Salt Café & Cake Auction Malagash Comm Hall | Hosted by Community Hall |
July 15 2-4pm | Strawberry Social Wallace & Area Museum |
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*July 16-18 | Bainfest Arena Show North Shore Rec Centre | Tickets & schedule at www.bainfest.ca . Doors open at 4:30pm Thursday and Friday, Saturday at noon. Food trucks on site. Coldstream & TataBrew products. Cabaret style seating with tables |
July 17 2-6pm | Strawberry Shortcake Tea Earltown Community Centre | $8. Takeout available. Proceeds for the community hall |
July 17-19 | Tidnish Festival |
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July 17-25 | River John Festival Days | Celebrating 41 years – find the full schedule at www.rjfestivaldays.ca and make sure you enter the Colouring Contest sponsored by The North Shore Nuggets |
July 18 1-4pm | Centenary Celebration RC Legion Br 60 – Pugwash | All are welcome, we’d love to see families attend. BBQ Hotdogs, Hamburgers & refreshments Come see what the Legion has to offer our community. |
July 18 7pm | An Evening with Rising Stars The Grace Arts Centre | Enjoy an evening of stellar music with up and coming musical artists “Moira & Claire” who will entertain us the first half of the evening, and Pictou County’s “Jud Gunning” who will fill the last half with his sensational guitar picking. |
*July 19 10-3pm | Sheep & Wool Day Lismore Sheep Farm | Free. Sheep shearing, wool craft demos (including spinning w/ Sisterhood Fibres, weaving, knitting, hooking, felting, lamb sausage BBQ, live music & market vendors. |
July 23 7pm | The Legacy of Ross Hamilton Peace Hall, 14 Victoria St | Free admission. Join NS researcher, Mieke van Vulpen, as she shares the story of this beloved veteran entertainer. |
July 25th 9-1pm | Annual Yard Sale Wallace & Area Museum | *Books * Clothes * Games * Furniture. Book a free table by calling 902-257-2191. |
July 25 10-4pm | Cruisin’ To Cross Roads Summer Social Cross Roads Cycle Sales | Registration at the gate. Everything that moves is welcome. All entries will be put in a draw for ten $100 prizes! |
July 26 11-3/sold out | Chicken BBQ Toney River Comm Hall | $20 lg/$15 sm. “We cannot wait to serve you all!” |
July 29 2-4pm | Afternoon Tea Wallace & Area Museum | Free. Join us on the veranda |
July 29 4-7pm | 57th Annual Pork Chop BBQ Scotsburn Fire Dept | $15. 2 Grade A pork chops, roll, potato salad & dessert. Pre-order only - https://scotsburn-fire-department-pork-chop-bbq.square.site or contact fire hall. Drive-thru pick-up. |
*Aug 1 – Sept 6 | “2D/3D” The Ice House Gallery | Works by Sydney Blum |
Aug 1 Noon-4pm | Malagash Festival Day Malagash Comm Hall | Free. Live Music. BBQ, 50/50, kids games, museum tours, Food Bank drive. Share in the spirit of Magnificent Malagash. Rain Date Monday August 3. |
*Aug 6-9 | Local Prosperity (a festival-conference) Tatamagouche | Local Prosperity is designed as a practical, hopeful space for place-based, community-led responses that aim for durable, systemic change rather than one-off projects. Website + Tickets: https://localprosperity.ca/ Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/194DZ5KhU2/ |
Aug 7 7pm | Opening Reception The Fraser | Art Exhibit Opening Reception – Isis DeNicola, Brenda Milne, Louise Trotter |
Aug 7-9 | 20th Annual Pugwash Harbourfest | An exciting mix of concerts, family activities, and food trucks and beer garden that will bring the waterfront to life. Full details at www.pugwashharbourfest.ca |
*Aug 8 Noon-4pm | Race to the Barn – Wentworth Downhill Series 2026 Wentworth Mountain Bike Park | Now in its 3rd season—our signature gravity-fed downhill race series, delivered in partnership with Hub Cycle Truro and sanctioned by Cycling Nova Scotia. |
Aug 8th | Annual Lobster Dinner Takeout Caribou Dist. Fire Dept | $20. Pre-order only 902-759-0686. 1lb lobster, homemade potato salad, coleslaw, roll, tomato & cucumber. Dessert. |
Aug 8th 7pm | “Carrying On” The Grace Arts Centre | With Terra Spencer & Kim Dunn |
*sponsored content
A special thanks to all of our advertisers:
A Walk Through Time Museum, Ashton’s Garden Centre, ASE Print, Alana Hirtle MP, Amy Perry EXP Realty, Bainfest, Canton Carts, Centre for Local Prosperity, Chowder House on Main, Creamery Square Heritage Centre, F.A.S.T. Response, Fortress Wealth; Heathcock Electric, Hicks LeMoine Law, Kinship (Thane Patriquin), Lismore Sheep Farm Wool Shop, Mountain Farm, North Shore Community Connection Society, Nova Kraut, R&B Adventures; Remax Fairlane Realty; Sara Bonnyman Pottery, Sarah Patriquin RMT; Seaside Foot Care, Sew & Sew, Sisterhood Fibres, Sunrise Brokerage & Sales, S.W. Hayman Excavation Ltd, Tata Brew, Tom Taggart, MLA, TriCounty Ford, ViewPoint Insurance, Wentworth Bike Park.