Donkin Coal Heritage Festival Honors Local History
DONKIN — The scent of coal smoke and the sound of fiddles wove through Donkin’s Main Street this Sunday as the annual Coal Heritage Festival drew visitors from across Cape Breton. Now in its fifth year, the festival celebrates Donkin’s storied past as a coal mining community, featuring live music, historical exhibits, and guided tours of the nearby Cape Breton Colliery site.
Hosted by the Donkin Heritage Society, the festival kicked off at 10 a.m. with a traditional Gaelic blessing led by Father Seamus O’Brien, followed by remarks from Donkin Historical Trustee Helen MacNeil. “Our mining ancestors laid the foundation for the close-knit community we enjoy today,” MacNeil said. “This festival is not just about looking back—it’s about connecting present and future generations with the sacrifices and solidarity that shaped this village.”
Highlights included a “Muckers’ Relay,” where teams of volunteers donned vintage mining helmets and jackets to race while carrying coal baskets. The winning team from Donkin Fire Brigade completed the relay in under two minutes, earning cheers and a handcrafted trophy made from reclaimed mine timber. Meanwhile, the “Remembering Our Miners” exhibit showcased photographs, tools, and personal stories donated by local families. Attendees stood in reverent silence as they viewed a wall of memorial plaques honoring Donkin men and women who worked underground from the early 1900s to 2001.
Musical performances kept spirits high throughout the day. Cape Breton fiddler Allison Fraser played sets of classic jigs and reels in front of the Donkin Legion, while youth groups like the Donkin Step Dancers entertained crowds with highland dancing. Food vendors dished up coal oven–style baked beans, hearty beef stew, and homemade rhubarb pie, paying homage to simple meals miners once enjoyed after long shifts. Children eagerly lined up for face painting, choosing images of wagons, lanterns, or hard hats—symbols of Donkin’s coal legacy.
Guided mine-site tours, led by retired miner and volunteer guide Gordon O’Hara, allowed visitors to explore the perimeter of the Cape Breton Colliery complex. O’Hara pointed out old conveyor belts, headframes, and the “Tipple” ruin that once loaded coal onto rail cars. “These remnants are a testament to the hard work and danger our community endured,” O’Hara remarked. “I hope that by preserving these sites, we keep the memory of past generations alive.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, organizers invited attendees to a bonfire lighting near the mine entrance. The flickering flames illuminated a moment of silence before the troupe “Miners’ Ball” kicked off a ceilidh under the stars, filling Donkin with lively tunes until late evening. The Donkin Coal Heritage Festival continues to grow each year, and those interested in volunteering or contributing artifacts can contact the Donkin Heritage Society at
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