Avon River Heritage

10/18/2026

A truly glorious day in Avondale, made even better by live music ❤️

10/16/2026

🎶 LIVE MUSIC AT THE AVONDALE HALL! 🎶

Our friends at the Avondale Community Club have another fantastic evening of live music lined up, and we're happy to help spread the word!

🎸 Benj Rowland is heading back east! This time he's bringing along Dylan Jewers of Big Turnip Records, with special guests The McMillan’s Camp Boys and Mary Beth Carty joining the fun!

With a wonderful lineup of talented musicians, it's shaping up to be a memorable evening of music, good company and community spirit in one of our favourite local gathering places.

Friday, October 23rd
Avondale Hall, Avondale, Nova Scotia

We're fortunate to have such a vibrant music community here along the Avon River, and we're always delighted to support the volunteers and organizations who keep bringing live entertainment to our little corner of Nova Scotia.

Come out, bring a friend, enjoy some great music and show your support ❤️

10/15/2026

🎨✂️ Small Works, Big Joy! 💛

Looking for a little creative inspiration as the days grow shorter? We've got just the thing!

This Saturday, October 17th, artists Robert Plante and Titia Jetten are teaming up for an afternoon of colour, collage and creative play at the Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre!

Explore drawing, sketching and mixed-media techniques as you cut, layer, experiment and transform simple materials into a joyful collection of one-of-a-kind greeting cards.

The emphasis is on experimentation, not perfection! Whether you're an experienced artist or haven't picked up a pencil in years, this workshop is all about trying something new, sharing ideas and enjoying the creative process.

And the best part? You'll head home with a mini collection of happy handmade cards, ready to brighten someone's day! 

Saturday, October 17 from 1–4 PM
Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre, Avondale
$60 per person - all supplies and refreshments included!

There's still time to join us! Reserve your seat by emailing [email protected].

Come spend an afternoon making small works of art and finding a little joy in the process!

10/14/2026

ONE MORE SUNDAY ON THE SOFA… BEFORE OUR FINAL ENCORE! 🎶

What a wonderful season of live music, familiar faces, new discoveries, and Sunday afternoons spent together! ❤️

As we look back on some of the musical moments we've shared this season, we're getting ready to welcome two more incredible acts to the Artists' Landing Gallery for our second-last Sofa Sundays of 2026!

Sunday, October 18 • 3 PM

🎸 LEIGH WILLS
Halifax-based singer-songwriter and creative force behind alt-country outfit Bill Ricky, Leigh brings a beautiful blend of classic country, folk, and what she affectionately calls "woman rock." With just her voice and guitar, she'll take us back to where the songs began — intimate, heartfelt, and full of the waltzes, ache, and storytelling that make her music so compelling.

🪕 STEAM MILL BAND
From the Annapolis Valley, Alex Nemet and Annie Kados bring old-time folk traditions to life through clawhammer banjo and acoustic guitar. Alex, who also crafts custom instruments through Fundy Banjos, joins Annie for a warm, unhurried musical conversation rooted in a shared love of traditional music.

🎨 MUSIC SURROUNDED BY ART!
Our intimate Artists' Landing Gallery is currently home to the Avon River UNFRAMED Group Exhibition, offering a beautiful backdrop of locally inspired artwork to enjoy alongside the music.

💛 Admission is PAY WHAT YOU CAN! Everyone is welcome. Come settle in, enjoy the music, explore the exhibition, and help us celebrate another wonderful season of Sofa Sundays.

Only two Sofa Sundays remain this season - we'd love to share them with you!

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way This October! 🍂

As the days grow shorter, we're bringing a little colour, creativity and connection to the Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre with two hands-on workshops led by some wonderfully talented local artists!

SMALL WORKS, BIG JOY - Card Making Workshop
Saturday, October 17 | 1–4 PM
With Robert Plante & Titia Jetten

Get ready to cut, colour, sketch and create! Robert and Titia are teaming up for a playful afternoon exploring collage, drawing and mixed-media techniques. Experiment with materials, discover new ways of expressing yourself and leave with a cheerful collection of one-of-a-kind greeting cards, ready to share with someone special, or keep for yourself!

FELTED POPPY BROOCH WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 24 | 1–4 PM
With Fern McCuish

Join fibre artist Fern McCuish for an afternoon of creativity and remembrance. Learn the art of wet felting as you transform wool fibres into a beautiful handmade poppy brooch, ready to wear in honour of Remembrance Day. A meaningful opportunity to learn a traditional fibre art technique while creating something personal and lasting 🌺

Both workshops are $60 per person, including all supplies and refreshments. No previous experience necessary - just bring your curiosity and a willingness to get creative!

Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre, Newport Landing/Avondale

Space is limited! Reserve your seat by emailing [email protected].

Whether you're looking to learn something new, reconnect with your creative side or simply enjoy an afternoon in good company, we'd love to have you join us!

10/04/2026

What's the perfect compliment to fog over the river? A hot coffee and blueberry shortcake sounds like a nice pairing.

10/03/2026

📖 What happens between the brackets?

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming Truro-based poet Chad Norman back to Avondale for his third reading with us, sharing selected poems from his latest collection, A Life Between the Brackets.

The title was inspired by a walk through a cemetery and the realization that, on a tombstone, an entire lifetime is represented by the space between two dates - the life lived between the brackets.

It was a fitting thought to spend some time with on an autumn afternoon: life, memory, time, and all of the moments in between.

Thank you, Chad, for returning to Avon River, for sharing your words with us, and to everyone who joined us for today's reading. We always enjoy having you here. 💛

10/03/2026

What a lovely day for art, poetry and lunch overlooking the mighty Avon River!

10/02/2026

🎨 TOMORROW AT AVON RIVER - POETRY, ART & LUNCH! 🍂

We’re getting ready for a wonderful Saturday at the Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre, and the artwork is arriving for Avon River UNFRAMED!

These photos offer a little sneak peek at work by participating artists Titia Jetten, Sara Sheffield, Liz Robinson and Robert Plante, each responding in their own way to the historic Mission House of Poplar Grove and the landscape surrounding it during our plein air creation event in August.

Come make an afternoon of it tomorrow, Saturday, October 3rd! Start with our Pulled Pork, Baked Beans and Blueberry Shortcake Luncheon from 11 AM–2 PM, then join Truro-based poet Chad Norman at 1 PM for a reading from his latest collection, A Life Between the Brackets.

At 2 PM, we’ll open the doors on Avon River UNFRAMED, with a reception from 2–4 PM and an opportunity to meet the artists, see the finished works and discover the many different interpretations that emerged from a single summer day at this remarkable historic site.

🍂 Lunch • Poetry • Art • Community - all in one afternoon!

Avon River Heritage & Culture Centre
Saturday, October 3rd
🍽️ Harvest Luncheon | 11–2
📖 Chad Norman Poetry Reading | 1 PM
🎨 UNFRAMED Opening Reception | 2–4 PM

We hope you’ll join us! 💛