Spring into Nova Scotiain 2020
With the annual Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival and the Eskasoni Cultural Journeys experience gearing up for a new season anda new package, GINInstitute by the Sea, spring is a refreshing time to visit Nova Scotia.
The arrival of spring in Nova Scotia is always a special time as the province shrugs off its winter coat and embracesthe new season with a host of fun festivals and events. What’s more, this year sees a smattering of exciting new offerings set to further elevate the visitor experience.
Pivotal events signalling winter’s end include the Apple Blossom Festival in the Annapolis Valley. This year’s fun-filled event, the 88th, will be held from May 27 to June 1, with key components including the Grand Street parade on Saturday afternoon, in Kentville, and the Friday night crowning of the new Queen Annapolis at Acadia University Hall in Wolfville, followed by the Queen’s Scholarship Ball.
Another local, seasonal festival includesFox Harb’r Resort’s annual Coastal Flavours Spring Culinary Weekend which carriesa foodie theme (May 1-3;). This year’s Spring Culinary Weekend will be hosted by celebrated chef James Walt, taking a break from the acclaimed Whistler, BC restaurant, Araxi. From chef-led receptions to demos and tastings, visitors to the Fox Harbour-based favourite will savour the best in food and drink from the west and east coasts as Chef Walt and Chef Shane Robillard of Fox Harb’r do their thing with predictably mouth-watering results. Two-nightresort accommodation packages are available.
Speaking of eating and drinking in Nova Scotia, one of the latest new experiences to enjoy this spring is Institute GINInstitute by the sea .The attraction not only takes visitors behind the scenes at the award-winning Steinhart Distillery in Arising, it sees them forage for ingredients and get creative with their palettes as they craft their own spirits. They’ll also get to feast on German-inspired local delicacies, paired with locally-inspired cocktails– all set against the distillery’s stunning oceanside backdrop.
Spring is time for everything maple and to visit Nova Scotia’s perennially popular maple sugar camp, Sugar Moon Farm . Known for its Chef Nights and signature packages such as Maple Magic.
Spring also brings the start of another season of Eskasoni Cultural Journeys . Discover authentic Mi’kmaq culture along our picturesque 2.4 KM trail on Goat Island in Eskasoni. The island hugs the beautiful Bras d’Or Lake, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You are guided along the trail by a Mi’kmaq cultural interpreter who will take you to visit several villages, each one offering a unique experience to learn and partake in this way of life.