Accommodations
Finding a place to stay in Canso and Area on festival weekend is an adventure in itself. Basically the community’s population more than quadruples for the duration of the festival. With thirteen motel units and a campground, there’s an obvious shortage of “cushy” spots — but that’s part of the charm. The festival organizers and local citizens/entrepreneurs operate up to 1,000 temporary campsites.
Hours of Operation
All campgrounds are open at 12 noon Thursday and close 12 noon on Monday. Early bird arrivals will be accommodated on Thursday, by request only, prior to arrival. There is an additional charge of $ 17.25 for Thursday night. Arrangements can be made by calling our toll-free number 1-888-554-7826. Thursday evening MUST be paid for before arriving on-site.
Camping Details
There are numerous camping options available. Speaking to our staff will help you to chose the best option for you. Some are lively, some are quiet, some just for family etc.
Campground Cancellation
Policy Full refund before June 1st.
NO REFUNDS after June 1st.
Services
All campgrounds provide potable water, outdoor privies and security personnel.
Showers are available on site and at Canso High School.
Shuttle service is available for campers needing assistance transporting camping gear from the parking area to the campsite.
There will be a shuttle bus operating during the festival weekend providing transportation to festival goers. Rates and schedule will be posted in the program book.
Rules And Regulations
(These apply to Acoustic Campground only. Do not apply to all camping areas)
Weekend passholders only permitted camping at Acoustic Campsite. Primary person must be 19 years of age or older and must be responsible for all other registered persons at their campsite.
Only one tent permitted per site, with four adults or two adults and children.
Sorry, no pets allowed on the campground. Please note that pets are not permitted on the festival concert site.
Parking will be provided in designated areas only.
Please deposit any litter and recyclables in their appropriate containers which will be provided throughout the camping area.
Motorcycles, bicycles or all-terrain vehicles are not to be driven on the camping area.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Campfires and charcoal barbeques are not permitted in the camping area, however propane barbeques will be allowed.
Weekend Pass holders only permitted camping on this site. This includes only registered campers. Festival wrist bands & camping wristbands are your proof of your participation in the Stan Rogers Folk Festival. Please be sure to wear them at all times.
Please note that stretched or broken wrist bands will not be honoured.
The use of generators will not be permitted between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am except for medical reasons.
The festival committee or campground operators will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. Please take care to safeguard your valuables.
Please Note:
This is a temporary campground. No electricity is provided. Potable water will be available. Note also that potable water is intended for cooking and cleaning purposes and campers should plan to bring or purchase drinking water.
The festival committee and/or the campground operators have the right to evict, without prior notice, anyone who creates a disturbance or nuisance or deliberately breaks any of the above rules. No refunds will be made in the event of such an eviction.
Campgrounds
Acoustic Campground (Weekend Passholders Only)
Operator: Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Tent and RV sites are available. Areas 2, 4 and 7 are for RV’s only.
The remaining areas are for tenting. Please have several choices in mind when you call to book.
Stanfest Acoustic Campground Map
Please click on the following links to view each area of the Acoustic Campground.
Area 1
Area 2
Area 3
Area 4
Area 5
Area 6
Area 7
Area 8
Please call Wanda, toll-free, to reserve your sites and tickets at 1-888-554-7826!
Ocean View Campground
Operator: Donnie Millen.?
Manager: Helen Smith
Located at the Cape Canso Marina in Canso, it is a spacious campground with a gravel base. The marina is privately owned and operated and accommodates 57 trailer sites.
To make bookings contact (902) 759-2942 or email Helen at .
Seabreeze Campground
Operator: Bob & Anne Marie Rhynold
Located in Fox Island, just a few kilometers outside of Canso, this well equipped campground has a variety of trailer and tent sites, both serviced and un-serviced as well as four housekeeping cottages. Range of services available including washrooms, showers, fire pits, store, ice and firewood.
To book a site, call (902) 366-2352.
www.seabreezecampground.com
Last Port Motel
Tenting/RV sites
Breakfast & Showers
To make bookings, please contact (902) 366-2400
Shore To Sea Cottage
www.shoretoseacottage.ca
Fully equipped cottages about 20 minutes from the Festival site. Please call Karen Murphy to make a reservation (902) 358-2836
ABOUT CANSO
Canso is a small, coastal fishing town on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. The community has a population of 1,250 residents with 2,000 or so living nearby (Approx. 10 KM). Canso is often cited as the oldest fishing port in the Maritimes, having been founded in 1604. The area’s rich history is well presented at a local museum and National Historic Park. The community’s economy has been predominantly fishing and remains so today.
In 1990, the collapse of the Atlantic Ground Fishery placed Canso in a very precarious economic state. Since that time a concentrated diversification effort has been pursued. The festival is, of course, one of the many components of the economic development strategy that has emerged. Plan to take some time away from the festival to do some sight-seeing.
Where isn’t Canso?
Canso isn’t in Cape Breton — it’s on the mainland of Nova Scotia. Don’t be confused by the Canso Causeway, either. The causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, but it isn’t in Canso.
Where is it, then?
There are a number of routes that can get you to Canso, depending on which direction you’re coming from.
Via Trans Canada Highway 104 at Monastery
Take Exit 37 and enter Route 16. Travel approximately 87 km through Monastery, Lincolnville, Boylston, Guysborough, Halfway Cove, Queensport, Fox Island, and Hazel Hill on to Canso.
Marine Drive from Halifax
Travel along Provincial Highway 107 approximately 45 km to Route 7. Once on Route 7, a picturesque drive will take you through many small villages to Sherbrooke — a drive of approximately 150 km. Onward from Sherbrooke on collector highways 211 and 316, through many villages and hamlets to Route 16 — a distance of 104 km, turning right onto Route 16 at the junction.
From Cape Breton via Mulgrave
When entering mainland Nova Scotia you can access the Marine Drive by turning left directly across from the Aulds Cove Irving Big Stop. Travel through the Town of Mulgrave and the small villages of St. Francis Harbour, Boylston, Guysborough, Queensport, Fox Island, and Hazel Hill onto the Town of Canso, a distance of approximately 106 km.
You may also travel the Trans Canada Highway westward to Exit 37 and enter Route 16. Following Route 16 for approximately 87 km through Monastery, Lincolnville, Boylston, Guysborough, Halfway Cove, Queensport, Fox Island, and Hazel Hill will bring you into the Town of Canso.