Rising Tides, Trails, and Tunes – Pickle Planet’s Guide to the 2021 Rising Tide Festival
Please note: This post is sponsored by The Rising Tide Festival, happening August 7 – 15, 2021. Pickle Planet often partners with organizations & businesses that we feel are relevant to our audience; all opinions and information are our own.
The Rising Tide Festival is a unique annual festival that stretches throughout the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve, combining outdoor adventures with community performances. This is a wonderfully relaxed, family-friendly celebration that blends culture and nature in a way that truly reflects the magic of the area in which its held. If you haven’t been yet, we highly recommend you read on & make plans!
“It’s definitely to entice people to come visit from other places, but it’s just as much for people that live here. We drive up and down Route 114 and we just take it for granted,” says Ian Duncan, program director for the 2021 Rising Tide Festival. “This year we’ve got 15 different events going across six different communities. The real hope is to highlight not just the local natural wonders, but also the local communities and businesses, the food produced here, the artisans, the musicians. There’s a tremendous amount of talent here.”
LISTEN to Rising Tide Festival program director Ian Duncan on a bonus episode of the podcast!
The 2021 Rising Tide Festival takes place August 7 – 15, 2021, stretching from Hillsborough to St. Martin’s, beautifully blending nature and culture, with guided walks, community meals, musical performances, and more — including some free events!
“What I love most about this festival is how it is so community based,” says Friends of Fundy Executive Director Micha Fardy. “The festival has grown from a wonderfully fun and engaging celebration in Fundy National Park to extend that awesomeness into our surrounding communities, celebrating musicians, poets, artists, businesses, and community gems. We have so much to honour and share with folks who have yet to discover our little piece of heaven!”
Rising Tide Festival 2021 at a Glance
Saturday, August 7: Hidden Gems of Hillsborough (1pm)
** Fantastic option for families! **
Enjoy an all-ages bike tour to experience the natural, historical, and geological wonders along the dykeland trail or join guides from New Brunswick Nature Trust & Foods of the Fundy Valley for a tour of Albert County’s only Food Forest. Sample the fresh veggie chicken soup and local wares at the Artisan Village, visit the pollinator garden, and so much more. The Storytelling Tent opens at 2:30pm with stories from local children’s author Jennifer McGrath & singer/songwriter Paul Toner.
This is a FREE event; you are asked to register online in advance if possible.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-hidden-gems-of-hillsborough-tickets-163652796921
Sunday, August 8: Mountain Bike Trails & Lobster Tails (11am)
** Biking families take note! **
Bike rodeo, music, & lobster – yes please! Poley Mountain, Mountain Bike Atlantic, Outdoor Elements & Be Rad join forces for a skills park for riders aged 8 -14 years. Your ticket includes a lift pass to the trails, hot dog lunch for the kids & Fundy Fresh lobster roll for the adults. Kevin Chase will be on site with country-infused rock starting at 1pm.
Tickets available online; cost is $20 for youth rodeo (& hot dog), $37 for adult day pass (& lobster roll), $20/additional lobster roll. ** Book by August 6.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-mountain-bike-trails-and-lobster-tails-tickets-163661665447
Sunday, August 8: Celebrate the People of the Tides (11am)
** Fantastic family option **
Spend the day at the Albert County Museum learning about the People of the Tides, as well as local community groups that will be on site for the day. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music of some of New Brunswick’s finest musicians: Colin Fowlie, the Road Kinds, and TOMATO/TOMATO! Community tours begin at 11am, music 1-4pm.
Tickets available online; cost $10 student/senior, $15 adult
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-celebrate-the-people-of-the-tides-tickets-163668788753
Monday, August 9: High Tea at High Tide (1pm)
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon listening to poet Allan Cooper and singer/songwriter Paul Toner as you enjoy Fundy Fresh tea & treats at Kayak Fundy’s new café.
This event is free, but registration is requested:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-high-tea-at-high-tide-tickets-165440580229
Tuesday, August 10: Waves of Wellness (5:45am)
Watch the sun rise at Hopewell Rocks then enjoy a short guided beach walk to Big Cove, where you’ll enjoy the soothing vibrations of Cranial Waves’ sound bath experience, relaxing your mind and body on the ocean floor. Wrap up your experience with a Qi Gong practice & a light breakfast.
Tickets to this event are $50; available:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-and-tunes-waves-of-wellness-tickets-163669244115
Tuesday, August 10: Tipsy Tails Fundy Feed & Kitchen Party (6pm)
Have you been searching for a double-date idea or a fab night out with friends? This is it! Enjoy an incredible feast of lobster, corn, potatoes, mussels, & more before you settle in for a good ol’ kitchen party blast of music with Chris Colepaugh leading an incredible jam session night. Meal at 6pm, music at 8pm. What a night this will be!
Tickets are a must; $60 for just the meal, $65 to stay for the tunes
Please note: There is a minimum booking of four people per table, maximum of 12
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-tipsy-tails-fundy-feed-and-kitchen-party-tickets-163669755645
Wednesday, August 11: Pedals, Pints, and the Divorcees (5:30pm)
A guided bike trail ride on the Sussex Nature Trail ends at Sussex Ale Works for a recovery pint, charcuterie by Gasthof Old Barvarian, and the Divorcees. Arrive for 5:30, bike tour at 6pm, music begins at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $27.50; grab yours at:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-pedals-pints-and-the-divorcees-tickets-163673755609
Thursday, August 12: Fundy Fusion Jam (6pm)
** Another great family option if your kids can do evenings! **
A fusion of musical talents and Fundy Fresh tastes! A free concert outside the Painted Haus Art Café, with Gareth Pearson, a blistering fingerstyle guitar player, pianist/accordian Jesse Mea, and Fundy Ceilidh, featuring a harpist, a violinist, a rock guitarist, & a bagpiper. You’ll hear each artist shine individually and together – and don’t forget to treat yourself to some Fundy Farms goodies, too!
This is a free event, but you are asked to register in advance if possible:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-fundy-fresh-jam-tickets-164002755657
Friday, August 13: St. Martins Mélange (11am)
Live art, sound bath, live music, food specials, & the beauty of St. Martins! Spend your day exploring the community and all it has to offer, then join Red Rock Adventures for a guided history tour. Learn about shipbuilding, geology, & local characters before clapping along to the musical stylings of the popular Chatham Family Band.
More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/483577982963397
Saturday, August 14: Mary’s Point Sunrise Hike (5:30am)
Hikers, nature lovers, photographers – this one’s for you! A sunrise 6km guided walk along the dykes facing Mary’s Point archipelago, learning about this unique ecosystem. Join together for a Country Continental breakfast afterwards!
Tickets are $10; book online at:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rising-tide-trails-tunes-marys-point-sunrise-hike-tickets-164006890023
Saturday, August 14: In the Spirit of Molly Kool (Noon)
Celebrate master artisans in Alma with a day of interactive and collaborative art and live music throughout the village. Book a tintype photo shoot with Karen Stentaford for $25 or sign up for a guided listening & drawing session with Laura Lamey.
More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/566993734311723
Sunday, August 15: Art at the Farm (11am)
** Another great family option **
The festival wraps up with day filled with fresh food, great company, incredible music, and amazing nature! Stop by Fundy Farms for their famous hodge podge, visit with local vendors, take a Wild Edible walk with Cory the Backyard Herbalist, enjoy a short hike down the Old Great Road with the Hope-wellness Eco-Resort, listen to Ian the Piper, check out the farmstand, and don’t forget to say to the alpacas!
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/147565914128776
The Rising Tide Festival takes place August 7 to 15, 2021. The festival blends hiking, workshops, culinary adventures, art, and music, all against an incredible natural background, with a goal of increasing our appreciation for & connection to our country’s natural surroundings. Make it part of your summer plans!
Listen as Rising Tide Festival program director Ian Duncan talks with Jenna & Tosh about the 2021 festival!