About

This yearly celebration of Scottish music, culture, and heritage gathers talented musicians, dancers, and performers in Broad Cove to entertain our audiences. We are dedicated to preserving and promoting Scottish culture, and this event is a tribute to the lasting impact of Scottish music and dance.

The Granddaddy of Scottish Concerts

A Day of Celebration

Since 1957, the Broad Cove Scottish Concert has been a beloved tradition on Cape Breton Island, attracting visitors across Canada and beyond. What began as a small gathering of locals has become a world-renowned celebration of Scottish culture and music.

The concert has a rich history of community involvement and support. In the early days, residents volunteered their time and resources to make the event successful. From preparing meals for the performers to setting up stages and sound systems, the community came together to create a unique and memorable experience for all who attended.

Over the years, the Broad Cove Scottish Concert has welcomed some of the biggest names in Scottish music, including the Rankin Family, the Barra MacNeils, and Natalie MacMaster. Our concert has been featured in productions by the CBC, BBC, and private agencies. The Smithsonian Institute has used portions of our show in a production related to Celtic music.

Despite its growth and popularity, the Broad Cove Scottish Concert remains true to its roots as a community-driven event. The concert continues to be organized and staffed by dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure a memorable experience for all who attend.

View Historic Photos

Our Parish

The annual Broad Cove Scottish Concert site is the St. Margaret of Scotland Parish grounds. Located on the stunning Cape Breton Island, this historic church has served the community for over a century. Initially built in 1857, the church has been renovated and expanded to accommodate the growing congregation and concert attendees. The parish of one hundred families created the church with their pastor Father John Grant, the fifth parish priest of the Parish of Broad Cove.

The church's architecture is a stunning representation of the region's rich Scottish heritage. Its nestled location, cozy interior, and steeple evoke a sense of history and tradition. The interior is equally impressive, with beautiful artwork and carvings and a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect setting for the Broad Cove Scottish Concert.

The church is a significant cultural and historical landmark and an active community center that hosts various events throughout the year. From weekly mass to social events, the St. Margaret of Scotland Parish is an essential part of the community, and we are proud to host the Broad Cove Scottish Concert at this iconic location.

Our Logo

The Broad Cove Scottish Concert logo uniquely represents the event and its connection to Cape Breton's cultural heritage. The logo features a wine bottle, fiddle, and dancing shoes in a design that speaks to the traditional and celebratory nature of the event. The wine bottle symbolizes the friendliness and joy of the festival, while the fiddle represents the vital role that music and dance play in the Scottish and Cape Breton cultures. The dancing shoes signify the lively and spirited nature of the festival and evoke the sense of community and celebration that the event fosters.

Our Tartan

The Broad Cove Heritage Tartan comprises six colours woven in eight strands. Each colour is significant to the people of the parish. The eight woven strands represent the eight districts in the Broad Cove Parish, Broad Cove Chapel, Broad Cove Marsh, Dunvegan, St. Rose, Inverside, Brook Section, Deepdale and Kenloch.

White is the colour of the church and a symbol of purity. In our tartan, it represents our church, St. Margaret of Scotland. This coloUr is the basis of the tartan, and all the other colours fall around it. Our church is the center of our community, and the lives of our families revolve around it.
Heather Green represents the Scottish settlers who pioneered our parish. Our culture influences all aspects of our lives and our church lives. The natural earth tones in this heather green are colours that represent farm life and forestry, which contributed a large part to our livelihood. It also contributes to our culture.
This colour symbolizes coal mining, a part of our parish and community for over a century. We remember the many men who mined the coal and the families this coal mining industry supported.
Around our tartan block is a blue border. The blue represents the beautiful ocean that borders much of our community. It makes us conscious of the joy in our hearts that God had blessed us with such beauty. Many of our former parishioners who have moved elsewhere long to enjoy the beautiful blue waters of Broad Cove and the peace of being home again. Blue symbolizes the fishing industry, which is a part of our parish community and lives.
In the very center of our tartan block is a gold cross. This indicates that the lives of our parishioners and our parish are centred on Jesus. Our strong faith and parishes' devotion to the church are well recognized. The cross of gold also symbolizes our commitment to fundamental Christian values, especially the love of family and the love of neighbours.
A purple cross is also seen in our tartan. The colour purple symbolizes royalty, and it also symbolizes sacrifice. The colour purple symbolizes St. Margaret, a former Queen of Scotland who is the patron saint of our parish. St. Margaret is recognized for her loving service to people experiencing poverty. We also wish for the purple cross to serve as a reminder of all the generous sacrifices made by our predecessors in the faith. We honour all our sons and daughters, Bishops, Priests, religious and lay people who have served and continue to serve God, Church and society. We are always mindful and eternally grateful for their witness to Christian values, which we strive to follow.

“I recall the preparations in the church, the joyous gathering of my children to dance, and the exhilaration of finishing a performance. These cherished memories will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Mary Janet MacDonald

Tradition & Values

We aim to honour and advance the Scottish cultural legacy and its impact on Cape Breton Island. By organizing our yearly event, we aim to offer an authentic and immersive encounter that highlights the Scottish culture's music, dance, and customs, all while nurturing a sense of community and companionship among participants. We commit to safeguarding and disseminating this cultural heritage for future generations to value.