Mahone Bay to show its true colours

Annual home and garden tour highlights town’s rich history in hands-on fashion

Mahone Bay Museum’s popular home and garden tour makes a comeback June 10 and 11.

The weekend event has been a staple in the community for 20 years, but it was on hiatus the past three years because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

“We are expecting to exceed our last tour of 270 visitors,” said Anne Palfreyman, chair of the Mahone Bay Founders Society and Mahone Bay Museum.

“The tour has proved to be a popular attraction through the years. This year, we have moved the tour to springtime to coincide with the chamber’s initiative, called Blooming Time in the Bay. It is a beautiful time to experience the gardens bursting with rhododendrons, peonies, dogwoods and beauty bushes.”

For the first time since 2019, the tour enables participants to admire picturesque Mahone Bay while also learning about local history.

“This event allows the museum to share the history of a few lovely homes in the area in a way that is more personal,” Palfreyman told Saltwire. “People get to step inside and walk through history.

“This is part of the museum’s mission to provide access to the history of Mahone Bay area. The event also has the added benefit of helping the museum raise the funds to help manage our museum and continue to protect and share Mahone Bay area’s history in the museum and online.”

During the COVID lapse, virtual tours were held, but this year marks the return to the in-person format that began in 2004.

Each year, in support of keeping the museum’s doors open, local property owners open their front doors and garden gates for a self-guided tour of three heritage homes and three gardens in the Mahone Bay area.

“The tour offers an enhanced experience to explore Mahone Bay area — an opportunity to meet residents and learn about the community,” Palfreyman said. “The tour offers an insider’s view of the lifestyles we enjoy here and the natural beauty and built heritage around us. It is an opportunity to share the pride of property owners who welcome visitors to tour their homes and gardens.”

Visitors not only come from throughout the region and the province but elsewhere in Canada and beyond, she reported.

“The tour is run by a small organization of dedicated proud and experienced volunteers and supported widely by private property owners and volunteer guides. The Town of Mahone Bay and the (Municipality of the) District of Lunenburg are tour supporters. And our business-community owners promote, sponsor and assist the Mahone Bay Museum with this event.”

The major fundraiser doubles as an opportunity for the museum to show its appreciation to the community.

“We would not be here today without our community support and we continue to look for ways to give back when we can,” Palfreyman said. “This year, we continue to work with local businesses and organizations to host various exhibits, programs and events, including our free children’s activities during the Scarecrow Festival and our self-guided walking tour pamphlet on our ship-building history through our partnerships with the Heritage Boatyard Co-op.

“We share community events on our social media and promote local restaurants and businesses to visitors in the museum. We started a community puzzle swap during COVID, we offer free educational programs for school groups and we showcase local artists in our gift shop.”

The museum was scheduled to open for the season May 24. Recruitment was underway for summer staff and volunteers.

“We’re in the process of adding more Lego kits to our Lego Town of Mahone Bay,” Palfreyman said. “We’re also pleased to welcome back a ship-modeller from the South Shore Modellers Guild to continue a modelbuilding demonstration on Saturdays.”

On the weekend of the home and garden tour, complementary events are happening in Mahone Bay. Prebooking is recommended for the Bloomin’ Spring luncheon set for Saturday, June 10, at Trinity United, one of Mahone Bay’s famous three churches. On Sunday, June 11, a fireman’s brunch is slated for the town’s new fire hall.

Tickets for the home and garden tour are $30 each. They’re available online, as is information about the tour, the lunch and the brunch, at mahonebaymuseum.com/hgtour/

A professional-quality video produced in 2021 featured four private homes and three gardens that have been a part of the annual Mahone Bay tour.