Named one of Nova Scotia's "Best Community Events", the Festival was created to foster community pride by showcasing the expanded level of craft, workmanship and originality needed for a successful whirligig or weathervane, by encouraging and rewarding pure creativity in the "ArtGigs" competition, by encouraging the development of youth engagement and creativity via awards for youth makers and through a series of kid's workshops in whirligig and kite making, by encouraging maximum community attendance via the popular yearly "People's Choice Award", by rewarding local business sponsors with posters and placards for display in their place of business.
| Saturday September 21st | Community Breakfast – Sandy Point Lighthouse (1586 Sandy Point Rd) Adults: $8 / Children: $4 | 08:00 - 12:00 |
| Whirligig building workshop. Whirligig building workshop at the Dory Shop Museum with expert Dory builder and wood crafter, Milford Buchanan. This workshop features a unique whirligig design created especially for the 20th Anniversary Festival. Workshop fees include all building materials and instruction. $25 per person. Pre-register in person at the Dory Shop, by emailing dorshopmuseum@gmail.com or by calling 902-875-4003. Drop in participation based on availability. Maximum 12 participants per session. | 09:00 - 11:00 | |
| Farmers Market – Guild Hall | 09:00 - 13:00 | |
| ArtGigs Show and Sale …This is the third year for our "art" gigs. These whirligigs have been designed and painted by Nova Scotian artists. Gigs will be sold via silent auction on site and online. | 09:00 - 16:00 | |
| Registration of entries begins – Dock Street | 09:00 - 12:00 | |
| Viewing entries on the Historic Waterfront | 12:00 - 17:00 | |
| Whirligig building workshop. Whirligig building workshop at the Dory Shop Museum with expert Dory builder and wood crafter, Milford Buchanan. This workshop features a unique whirligig design created especially for the 20th Anniversary Festival. Workshop fees include all building materials and instruction. $25 per person. Pre-register in person at the Dory Shop, by emailing dorshopmuseum@gmail.com or by calling 902-875-4003. Drop in participation based on availability. Maximum 12 participants per session. | 13:00 - 16:00 | |
| Kite Building Workshop. Ages 4-11, Shelburne Waterfront. Limited to 20 participants. | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Sunday September 22nd | View of entries on the Historic Waterfront | 11:00 - 16:00 |
| ArtGigs Show and Sale …This is the third year for our "art" gigs. These whirligigs have been designed and painted by Nova Scotian artists. Gigs will be sold via silent auction on site. | 09:00 - 16:00 | |
| Children’s Whirligig building workshop. Ages 4-11 Dock Street. FREE Limited to 20 participants. | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Awards presentations - Guild Hall | 16:00 | |
The Dory Shop & Guild Hall
