A historic and intimate performance and gathering space.
Built in 1839, The Schoolhouse has been a place of learning and worship, a community gathering space, and—since 1958, when it ceased to be a school—the scene of artistic presentation. The Schoolhouse returns to its decades old tradition of educating through entertaining. The Schoolhouse is operated by the Peggy’s Cove Centre for Arts & Culture as its main performance venue.
Upcoming Events
The Schoolhouse Cèilidh
Ceud mìle fàilte! Join us for an intimate, interactive, and uniquely Nova Scotian cultural experience! Experience traditional Cape Breton fiddle music as it was meant to be heard…and pick up a few dance steps and Gaelic words along the way! Three half-hour performances each day.
The Schoolhouse
120 Peggy’s Point Road, Peggy’s Cove, NS
Showtimes
12 PM / 1 PM / 2 PM
Run time: 30 minutes
Tickets
$5 general admission available at the door
Parking
Parking available at the visitor information centre
Mairi Rankin
First cousin to the hugely influential Rankin Family—legends on the Canadian music scene—Mairi Rankin plays fiddle and step-dances up a storm. Born in Mabou, Nova Scotia, she has been influenced by some of the best Cape Breton traditional musicians and instructors on the island. Being immersed in such a rich musical culture has enabled her to develop her own unique style. Mairi performs with the Cape Breton super-group Beòlach (beolach.ca), who’s 2019 release, All Hands, won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Fans Choice ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award at the East Coast Music Awards, and a Nova Scotia Music Award. The album also received a Juno nomination in 2021. For the past twelve years, she has also been part of the internationally renowned Celtic group The Outside Track, which is currently touring its fifth studio album, Rise Up. In 2019 Mairi collaborated with cellist Eric Wright from The Fretless and created The Cabin Sessions, which won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Instrumental Group of the Year in 2020.
Wendy MacIsaac
Renowned Cape Breton fiddler, Wendy MacIsaac, has been playing music for over 35 years. She is recognized as one of the ‘old school’ style of players who has helped keep the traditional sound alive. Wendy is also a sought-after piano accompanist and step-dancer and is in high demand for her skills in teaching the Cape Breton style of fiddling, the latter of which she does throughout North America, as well as from her home in Halifax. Wendy has eight albums to her credit, the latest one, All Hands (2019), which she recorded with Beòlach (beolach.ca), won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Nova Scotia Music Award, the Fans Choice ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award at the East Coast Music Awards and garnered a Juno nomination! Beòlach (which features both Wendy and Mairi Rankin), was the Artist in Residence at the 2019 Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton and appeared at the 2021 World Expo in Dubai.
Run time: 30 minutes
Friday 1 September
Wednesday 6 September
Friday 8 September
Saturday 9 September
Tuesday 12 September
Wednesday 13 September
Thursday 14 September
Friday 15 September
Saturday 16 September Cancelled
Tuesday 19 September
Wednesday 20 September
Thursday 21 September
Friday 22 September
Saturday 23 September
Monday 25 September
Tuesday 26 September
Wednesday 27 September
Friday 29 September*
Saturday 30 September*
*Due to a scheduling conflict, these shows will feature Wendy MacIsaac with a special guest.
Run time: 30 minutes
Sunday 1 October
Monday 2 October
Tuesday 3 October
Wednesday 4 October
Thursday 5 October
Friday 6 October
Saturday 14 October
Sunday 15 October
Wednesday 18 October
Thursday 19 October
Friday 20 October
Saturday 21 October
Sunday 22 October
Tuesday 24 October
Thursday 26 October*
*Due to a scheduling conflict, this show will feature Wendy MacIsaac with a special guest.
The Schoolhouse
120 Peggy’s Point Road
Peggy’s Cove, NS
B3Z 3S2
©2023 The Schoolhouse. All rights reserved.