2023-06-07

Mahone Bay Home & Garden Tour returns

MAHONE BAY – The annual home and garden tour is making its return after three years in hibernation.

This year's event is happening June 10 and 11 and will feature three spectacular garden areas and three historic homes in Mahone Bay and area that you may have thought you may like to look at inside, but never had a chance. Well, this is your opportunity.

To purchase your $30 ticket or for more information, go to mahonebaymuseum.com/hgtour/ through Eventbrite; by e-transfer (info@mahonebaymuseum.com) or in person at the Mahone Bay Museum, Suttles & Seawinds, The Teazer and Kinburn Pharmasave. This is used not only to promote the history of the area, but also as the main fundraiser for the museum.

"It's exciting to be back. It's been a tradition here for 20 years," said Anne Palfreyman, chair of the Mahone Bay Founders Society and the Mahone Bay Museum. "We have branded a really good home and garden tour in Mahone Bay and people know it throughout Nova Scotia and beyond."

Approximately 300 people attend the tour each year.

Which home and gardens will you get to see? Well, that will remain a mystery until you purchase your ticket and pick-up your map at the Mahone Bay visitor's centre or at the Mahone Bay Museum on Saturday or Sunday morning. There, you will be given a pamphlet with a map that will lead you to the featured locations and you can stroll through the homes and the gardens at your leisure.

At each spot there will be a tour guide that can answer any questions you may have and the home's owner may also be available. Tour times are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"It's such a wonderful way to learn the story of how people lived and coped in 1800s and early 1900s," she said, explaining that one of the homes on this year's tour is in Maders Cove and volunteers have been able to research to deeds to the property and put a history together of former owners. Also, located on the property, is probably one of the oldest ash trees in Mahone Bay, she said.

Garden tours began prior to 2004, but took a few years off until a restart in 2010. It was then held each year until 2019. Then COVID-19 halted the in-person tours, cancelling the 2020 event. However, in 2021, just to keep the interest going, a virtual home and garden video was produced featuring four private home and three gardens. The video can still be found online.

This year's event was moved to the spring to coincide with the local chamber of commerce's initiative called "Blossom Time in the Bay," created by the Mahone Bay Tourism and Chamber of Commerce to help promote the area during the spring.

The tour is the main fundraiser of the Mahone Bay Founders Society and the Mahone Bay Museum, that attracts more than 7,000 visitors each year.