Visiting by Land or Sea
The Festival takes place in the Town of Mahone Bay, a picturesque town on the shores of Mahone Bay, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of the city of Halifax. It is located on Nova Scotia's Lighthouse Route and is readily accessible by land or sea. In addition to the sights of Mahone Bay, the village of Chester (23 kilometers or 15 miles) and town of Lunenburg (11 kilometers or 7 miles) are nearby. Bridgewater, which bills itself as the "mainstreet of the South Shore" is 15 kilometers, or 10 miles away
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Arriving by Land
The Town of Mahone Bay is located on Nova Scotia's South Shore, and can be reached by Provincial Highway 103 or by Highway 3, the scenic Lighthouse Route. The table below shows approximate travel times to Mahone Bay using main roads. Scenic routes will take longer to travel.
| Travel From | Travel Time | |
| Halifax | 1 hour | |
| Liverpool | 1 hour | |
| Yarmouth (ferry to Maine) | 2.5 hours | |
| Digby (ferry to New Brunswick) | 1.5 hours | |
| Pictou (ferry to PEI) | 3 hours | |
| Halifax International Airport | 1.5 hours | |
| Annapolis Valley | 1.5 hours | |
| North Sydney (ferry to NFLD.) | 5.5 hours |
Arriving by Water
The coastline of Nova Scotia is full of wonderful harbours and quaint towns, making the journey to Mahone Bay by water an exceptional cruise. The waters of Mahone Bay are renowned for their multitude of islands and beautiful scenery. It is an ideal destination for any cruising boat. During the Festival, a limited number of moorings are available to wooden boats that have pre-registered. There is also plenty of anchoring room in the harbour.
Accomodations
There are many bed and breakfasts, motels, and resorts in the area. The Festival takes place right in town, so if you want to be within walking distance, choose your accomodations accordingly. Please note that accomodations fill up quickly at Festival time, so it is best to book early.
Helpful Links
Information on Mahone Bay and local accomodations
Nova Scotia Tourism
Village of Chester
Town of Lunenburg
Town of Bridgewater and area
South Shore Tourist Association