The Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish have released the entertainment lineup for the free Canada Day concert at Columbus Field on July 1, 2026. The outdoor show starts at 7 p.m. and highlights a mix of local and regional talent.
Opening the evening is Caragh Kennedy, a 19-year-old alternative pop artist from Inverness, Cape Breton. Her debut EP ‘The Other Side’ was nominated for Traditional Recording of the Year at the 2025 Music Nova Scotia Music and Industry Awards. Kennedy’s music blends introspective lyrics with atmospheric pop-rock sounds.
The concert lineup also includes Lewis MacKinnon, a singer and poet born in Inverness, Cape Breton, and raised in Antigonish County, who was named Poet Laureate to the Royal National Mòd in Scotland in 2011. Antigonish band The J-Walkers, known for their folk, rock, and blues sound, will also perform. Headlining the evening are Andre Pettipas and The Giants, an Antigonish County-based group described as one of Atlantic Canada’s most dynamic live acts.
During the concert, official Canada Day ceremonies will honour the 2026 Volunteers of the Year for both the town and county. The evening is part of a full day of family-friendly events. A free pancake breakfast runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Ninian Place, served by the Antigonish Lions Club. Afternoon activities for kids and families take place at St. Andrew Junior School from noon to 4 p.m.
Columbus Field, at 121 Main Street, is a longtime hub for community gatherings and the main venue for the Antigonish Highland Games.
