28 Sep If you happen to be in Cape Breton this weekend – updated

[See update below.] Don’t miss the Cabot Trail Writers’ Festival in Tarbot and St. Anne’s. The creators of this annual event, now in its third year, have put together a fantastic program this year.

On Friday night, last year’s Halifax Poet Laureate, Shauntay Grant, will premiere five spoken word pieces, commissioned for the festival and inspired by five sculptures by North River blacksmith Gordon Kennedy.

Several of the festival participants will present workshops Saturday, and the evening program includes readings by Nova Scotia native and Giller-prize winner Johanna Skibsrud, Inverness-born short story writer Alexander MacLeod, and music by the jazz quartet The Synchronics.

A Sunday panel includes Skibsrud and the Nimbus editor who brought her Giller-winning The Sentimentalists to publication.

Hats off to Gary Walsh and his crew for making the festival a don’t-miss event.

[Update]

It’s a busy weekend in Cape Breton, to be sure. On Saturday night, there’s the island’s first nighttime arts festival, Lumière 2011:

Then at 3 p.m., Sunday, local song-stars RoSa, Alicia Penney, Flo Sampson, Debbie Mullins, Steve Fifield, Billie Yvette, and Maura Lea Moycott croon country ballads at Harmonies for Horses, a fundraiser for Rocking Horse Ranch, Rear Baddeck. Location: at the ranch.

[Update 2]

From 11 to 2 on Saturday, at 385 Alexandra Street in Sydney, CBC Cape Breton celebrates the broadcaster’s 75th year.