Harvest Moon Music Festival 2026
Free Open Air Concerts in Downtown Bridgewater!
September 18 & 19
Harvest Moon Music Festival, proudly presented by Arby’s, is returning to Downtown Bridgewater for its 5th year, bringing its biggest line-up yet of music, entertainment, and community celebration in honour of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Pijinuiskaq Park.
This year the 2-day festival is bookended with two additional events making it a four-day celebration of local culture, live music, and waterfront activities, intertwining with the events of Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival. From Thursday to Sunday, there will be entertainment for all ages, including a spectacular fireworks display!
Award winning Nova Scotia duo Neon Dreams will take the Michelin Bridgewater Main Stage on Saturday, September 19, as the headliner for the 5th Annual Arby’s Harvest Moon Music Festival with opening performance by award winning and Canada’s Got Talent and Golden Buzzer recipient, DeeDee Austin!
Neon Dreams, joined by special guest Booshle G., are known for their energetic live shows and chart-topping hits, and have earned a reputation for creating an unforgettable audience experience.
Join us for these free, open-air concerts throughout the weekend.
Learn more about the ALL the artists and the entire event below.
Thursday, September 17
6:30p.m. – 7:30p.m., Pijinuiskaq Park
Kicking off the festivities on Thursday, September 17, will be the final Music on the Riverbank (a 14 week-long program) with a performance by local band Collage, a South Shore vocal based group with a large repertoire of Maritime and East Coast Music.
Friday, September 18
6p.m.- 9p.m., Pijinuiskaq Park
Coming to the South Shore Centre Stage Friday night are the soothing folk melodies of Talel McBriar, Emma Worley, and Claire Hunter. Traditionally all solo musicians, these three performers have joined forces to bring their talents together for an East Coast tour and opening the show on Friday evening.
The energy will continue to build as fan-favourite and South Shore based band Diggin’ Up Grubs hits the stage with their 6-piece party band playing honky-tonk country and bluegrass tunes.
Closing out Friday night as our headliner is country-rock band HIRTLE. Fresh off their biggest show yet at Cavendish Beach Music Festival, this Nova Scotian group, featuring lead singer Connor Hirtle from Dublin Shore, is sure to bring grit and edge with their driving guitars and dynamic arrangements to cap off the evening on a high note!
Saturday, September 19
2p.m. – 4p.m., Pijinuiskaq Park
Buchanans House of Music Youth Stage brings a collection of talented, young bands to Downtown Bridgewater. Local youth will hit the Michelin Bridgewater Main Stage – who will be playing? Stay tuned, the lineup to be revealed in September! Attendees can also visit the Youth & Street Market, an under 19 showcase of creativity, vision, and celebration of young entrepreneurship.
As part of the Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival, those in Downtown Bridgewater can partake in the Big Canoe “Try-It” sessions, and experience the river first-hand in a 10-person canoe.
4p.m. – 5:30p.m., Dine Around Bridgewater
Make plans to grab a bite to eat from one of our local restaurants or from the Food Trucks on King Street.
5:30p.m. – 9p.m., Pijinuiskaq Park
The evening festivities will begin at 5:30p.m. as we acknowledge the 10th anniversary of the creation of Pijinuiskaq Park with the Honouring of Pijinuiskaq Park – a time to share the rich cultural significance of the park’s name, history, and meaning to our community.
At 6:00p.m., Indigenous pop powerhouse and sister of the Abegweit First Nation, DeeDee Austin will hit the stage with her band and bring her nationally recognized vocals and infectious energy to the Michelin Bridgewater Main Stage. At just 20 years old, Austin has garnered national awards and recognition from the JUNO’s, ECMA’s and more for her incredible vocals and storytelling abilities through her music.
Neon Dreams will lit up the night at 7:00p.m. with their chart-topping hits as the sun sets over the water. A mix of pop, folk, EDM, and reggae, Neon Dreams has received many awards, including winning Breakout Group of the Year at the 2020 JUNO Awards. Fresh off their tour in South Africa, Neon Dreams has brought their friend and special guest, Booshle G. along for their Canadian tour. Neon Dreams has built a reputation for engaging their audiences with high-energy performances that encourage listeners to sing, dance, and celebrate throughout the whole show! If you are looking to have an unforgettable night in Bridgewater, you won’t want to miss the biggest headliner we have had yet!
Fireworks will fill the sky as the annual Harvest Moon Fireworks show begins, managed by the Bridgewater Fire Department. Audiences will have the ability to watch from multiple vantage points, including the Old Bridge.
Sunday, September 20
9:30a.m-12p.m.
The Sunday Pijuniskaq Parade of Paddlers is back for it’s 3rd year in a row. With registration taking place 9:30a.m – 11a.m., paddlers will depart from, and return to, Shipyards Landing in Bridgewater starting at 11:30a.m., filling the river with over a hundred SUPs, kayaks, and canoes. The paddle will follow the river into the downtown core, passing Pijinuiskaq Park, continuing under the Old Bridge and the ‘new’ Bridge as tidal conditions allow. It will then return down river back to Shipyards Landing, and for those who wish to continue the paddle, it will go onward to Miller Point Peace Park – landing for lunch and live music before returning to Shipyards Landing. It’s all part of the 3rd Annual Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival presented by Canoe Kayak NS in partnership with the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.
10 years of Pijinuiskaq Park
This year also marks a significant milestone as the Park’s 10th summer comes to completion. Known as a vibrant gathering place for the community, the space, formerly a “parkade”, officially opened on June 30, 2017, becoming a treasured focal point for the community as an accessible gathering place for everyone – arriving on foot or by boat. Its name, Pijinuiskaq, pronounced BE-JN-OO-IS-GAH, is the Mi’kmaq name for the LaHave River means “River of many branches”. This name honours and acknowledges the rich heritage, history, and cultural connections that continue to shape our region. A milestone such as this provides a meaningful opportunity to celebrate and renew awareness of our shared heritage.
This year’s 5th edition of Harvest Moon Music Festival presented by Arby’s, offers something for everyone. With award winning artists, local talent, river activities, and a spectacular fireworks display, this edition of Harvest Moon Music Festival offers an unforgettable weekend in Bridgewater for visitors and locals alike.
Stay for the Weekend!
MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT – make plans to stay overnight so you don’t miss anything.
Check out our accommodation options, and book early: Places to Stay – Explore Bridgewater
Thank you to the generous sponsors that have made this event possible!
