Shop The Fiddle

09/08/2026

It’s always great to see Cape Breton through the eyes of someone who has travelled the world.

Cape Breton’s own Lesley Carter has built a life around travel and adventure, visiting more than 100 countries and every continent as the writer and editor behind

Recently, Lesley arrived at the Port of Sydney and turned her attention back home, sharing her take on what cruise visitors can experience almost immediately after stepping ashore.

Her new piece, “The First 60 Minutes in Cape Breton: What to Do When Your Cruise Arrives in Sydney,” highlights the experience waiting for visitors as soon as they arrive at the Port of Sydney.

For someone who has experienced destinations and adventures around the globe, we’re pretty proud to have Lesley sharing a little piece of Cape Breton with the world. Give her story a read below:

https://www.bucketlistpublications.com/2026/09/02/the-first-60-minutes-in-cape-breton-what-to-do-when-your-cruise-arrives-in-sydney/

09/08/2026

It’s a busy week at the Port of Sydney waterfront!

From September 6 to 12, the Port of Sydney is scheduled to welcome 10 cruise ship calls, with 23,550 passengers and 10,282! That’s nearly 34,000 passengers and crew aboard visiting ships in just seven days!

The rest of this week includes:

September 8 – Sapphire Princess & Zuiderdam (double ship day)
September 9 – Vista & Celebrity Silhouette (double ship day)
September 10 – Carnival Sunshine, Seven Seas Splendor & Independence of the Seas (triple ship day)
September 11 – Norwegian Jewel

September 10 will be an especially busy day, with three ships scheduled in Sydney Harbour.

Whether you’re welcoming visitors, own a local business or just looking to enjoy the activity along the waterfront, it’s shaping up to be a great week in Sydney.

Ships are in. Shops are open. Meet you at the Fiddle.

09/07/2026

Welcome back to the waterfront, NSCC!

A new school year is underway, and some of our amazing vendors at the Port of Sydney are helping Nova Scotia Community College students celebrate with a few special offers. For the first week back, stop by and take advantage of:

🎻Kilted Moose T-Shirt Company – Save the tax
🎻Cape Breton Fudge Co. – 20% off
🎻Murky Fathoms Forge – 15% off
🎻North Atlantic – 10% off any purchase
🎻Brycen Boland Art – Free $7 sticker pack with purchases over $20, through the end of the season

*All deals require a valid NSCC student ID.

Between classes, make your way down the waterfront, explore the shops around the Big Fiddle and discover some of the great local businesses right here at the Port.

Welcome back, NSCC. We hope to see you at the Fiddle!

09/07/2026

WELCOME TO SYDNEY, NORWEGIAN ESCAPE!

Today is a special day as this is the Norwegian Escape’s first visit to Sydney, Nova Scotia!

The ship arrived this afternoon and is scheduled to be in port from 12:00–6:00 p.m., bringing thousands of passengers and crew to our waterfront.

All of our shops and market vendors are OPEN today, ready to welcome visitors and showcase the wonderful local products, crafts, gifts and treasures our community has to offer.

And because of the holiday we are pretty much the only game in town!

So if you are looking for some retail therapy after the rain the Port of Sydney and Shop The Fiddle is the place to be!

09/07/2026

It's Meet the Maker Monday, next up: Tyler MacIntyre.

When you walk into Cape Breton Beard Factory at the Port of Sydney, there is no mistaking where you are. From the product names and scents to the Cape Breton tartan woven throughout the brand, everything reflects the culture, landscapes and traditions of the island Tyler calls home.

Tyler has been building Cape Breton Beard Factory for 10 years, creating handmade, all-natural beard and skincare products in small batches. What began as an effort to find better beard care has grown into a recognizable Cape Breton brand, with products sold locally and shipped to customers across Canada and around the world.

Read more about Tyler's Maker story below.

When you walk into Cape Breton Beard Factory at the Port of Sydney, there is no mistaking where you are. From the product names and scents to the Cape Breton tartan woven throughout the brand, everything reflects the culture, landscapes and traditions of the island Tyler calls home.Tyler has been bu...

09/03/2026

When you visit the shops at the Big Fiddle, you may notice picture frames that look like they have already lived a life before reaching the shelf. Weathered by salt water, hard work and years on the ocean, the wood once formed part of a working lobster trap.

To date, Duane Evans, has reclaimed the wood from more than 2,500 lobster traps, transforming material that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill into handcrafted picture frames. Each frame is unique with weathered wood of Cape Breton’s fishing industry.

Read Duane's story here: www.shopthefiddle.com/post/meet-the-maker-duane-evans

09/01/2026

September is starting strong at the Port of Sydney!

We’re kicking off the month with 5 cruise ships visiting Sydney in the first seven days of September, bringing the more than 11,000 passengers and 5,000 crew to our community.

And there’s even more to celebrate! Both Seabourn Ovation and Norwegian Escape will make their inaugural visits to Sydney this week.

Five ships. Two first-time visits. More than 16,000 passengers and crew aboard. A great way to begin what promises to be a busy September on the Sydney waterfront!

Ships are in. Shops are open. See you at the Fiddle.

08/31/2026

There’s something pretty special about seeing Sydney, Nova Scotia listed as a Disney destination!

Disney Cruise Line has Port of Sydney, Nova Scotia on the itinerary for an upcoming 7-Night Canada Cruise from New York, alongside Charlottetown and Halifax!

It’s always exciting to see Sydney included on itineraries that introduce travellers from around the world to Atlantic Canada. We can’t wait for the opportunity to welcome Disney guests to our waterfront, our community and Cape Breton Island.

We’re excited to share that Disney Cruise Line is returning to Atlantic Canada in October 2027 ✨

Cruising from New York City, select itineraries will offer guests an unforgettable way to experience our colourful coastlines, vibrant waterfronts, and charming communities during one of the most spectacular times of year 🍂🍁🎃

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-ca/cruises-destinations/list/ -cruises,new-york-new-york

Port Saint John | Port Halifax | Port of Sydney | Port Charlottetown | NYCEDC / | Cruise Canada New England

📸 Disney Cruise Line

08/31/2026

It’s a beautiful day on the Sydney waterfront!

The Sapphire Princess is docked with us today, bringing more than 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew to our community.

With the sun shining and just the slightest hint of a fall breeze in the air, it’s a great day to head downtown, take a walk along the waterfront and enjoy the activity that comes with a busy cruise day in Sydney.

08/28/2026

Update:Please note that today's "Meet Me At The Fiddle"summer music session is from 11:30-1:30.Gerry McDaniel is on stage now!!