Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo 2018
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo 2018
*Disclosure: Our family received ticket to attend the media preview show of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in exchange for telling you about this year’s upcoming show. We are huge fans of the Tattoo, so all opinions are our own.*
We wouldn’t miss it for the world! Going to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is our yearly tradition, and we never get tired of going! Every year is new and exciting and just as amazing!
Tradition with a Twist
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo has always been a show steeped in tradition and one of the Canadian Armed Forces’ signature events. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the show is planning to honour tradition with a twist.
From June 26th to July 2nd at the Scotiabank Centre, audiences will be treated to a truly international show. For the first time ever, performers from every corner of the globe – including from countries that have never appeared in the show before, like Brazil, Jordan and Singapore – will take to the stage.
Go see the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo from June 26-July 2 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax! @RoyalNSTattoo Share on X2018 Cast
Representing Australia:
- The Scots College Pipes & Drums from Sydney. The students at the all-boys Scots College learn either piping or drumming and represent the school at home and abroad.
Representing South America:
- Cores da Bahia – Brazilian circus performers. Their exotic rhythms, movements and colourful costumes will bring the atmosphere of the circus to the Tattoo.
Representing Africa:
- The Simba Zambezi Acrobats from Kenya. Specializing in energetic gymnastics routines, these crowd-pleasers perform fiery limbo-dancing, hoop jumping, skipping and human pyramids to great acclaim!
Photos of the 2016 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, at the Scotiabank Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 30 – July 07, 2016 / Copyright TrevorMacMillanPhotography 2016
Representing Asia:
- The Royal Circassian Honour Guard, who’ve been protecting the King of Jordan since the monarchy’s founding in 1921. They study self-defence, security, protocol and military techniques, and carry two swords: the “shashka” and the “qama.”
- The Silent Drill Team of the Royal Honour Guard from Jordan, which was formed in 1977 to greet the King, train units for the Flag Parade, silent drill training and security. They wear the Royal Badia Forces uniform and carry rifles dating back to 1917.
- The Combined Singapore Police Force Band, which is one of the oldest bands in Singapore, formed in 1925. They promote the Singapore Police through music all over the world – Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and Japan are just a few venues they’ve appeared at.
Representing Europe:
- The German Air Force Band Münster from Western Germany that performs genres including traditional marches, classical, contemporary, brass, pop and jazz.
- Team Airtime from Germany, a gang of five extreme BMXers whose stunts are based on precision and choreography to make your jaw drop.
- The State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance оf Adygea, “Nalmes,” from Russia. They’re Circassian folk dancers who’ve been performing since 1936. Their dances are based on elegance, strength, freedom and the spirit of Circassians.
Representing North America:
- The 2d Marine Division Band, based out of North Carolina. Otherwise known as “The Division’s Own,” the 2d Marine Division Band has been active since the Second World War and provides musical support to all major commands.
- Langley Ukulele Ensemble, from Langley, British Columbia. They’ve turned their hometown into the Ukulele Capital of Canada and perform annually in Hawaii. Their spirit will add to the fun of the Tattoo!
- Titans Gymnasts from the Dartmouth gymnastics club will soar through the air as they show off their tumbling tricks!
- Harry Knight, a wunderkind flamenco guitarist from Alberta. At ten years old, he’s had the kind of career people dream of: he’s performed in Spain, Mexico and England, and at the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show.
- Megan, La Azulita, is one of Atlantic Canada’s best, most accomplished flamenco dancers who’s well known for her grace, stage presence and crisp, clean footwork.
How can I get tickets?
Tickets are available online at www.nstattoo.ca, by phone at 1-902-451-1221 or in person at the Ticket Atlantic box office.
8 shows at the Scotiabank Centre
Tuesday, June 26 – 7pm
Wednesday, June 27 – 7pm
Thursday, June 28 – 7pm
Friday June 29 – 2pm matinee
Saturday, June 30 – 2pm matinee
Sunday, July 1 – 2pm matinee
Sunday, July 1 – 7pm
Monday, July 2 – 2pm matinee
Ticket Prices
Depending on your seat, tickets can cost as little as $32.
Canada Day and the Tattoo
Don’t look for traditional Canada Day programming this year. We’re doing Canada Day the Tattoo Way at the Halifax Commons.
There, the daredevils of the SkyHawks parachute team, from the Canadian Armed Forces, will do a jump!
Attendees will also be invited to enjoy army displays, music, food vendors, bouncy castles, and much more. We’re also hosting two shows on Canada Day: a matinee at 2:00 pm followed by an evening show at 7:00 pm, which will wrap up before the fireworks at the Waterfront.
Treat you and your family to trip to the Royal International Tattoo! You won’t regret it!
Make this the year!
Learn more about the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and get your tickets
McMaster Mill Falls Trail Greenwood
McMaster Mill Falls Trail Greenwood
After nearly two centuries of sawing logs, McMaster Mill become one of Kings County’s newest historic parks.
History of the Mill
Taken from an article in the Chronicle Herald:
Around 1837, the three McMaster brothers, James, Robert and Thomas, with their families, sailed from their homes in Kirkaswald, Scotland to Nova Scotia. In 1857 they began buying land and obtaining the water rights to found the Rockville Company.
The water mill and dam spanned the river just below the bridge with a grist mill further down the river. With 145 years of history in the area, the McMasters built a self-sufficient community, supplying shelter, food, fuel, employment, transportation, recreation entertainment and its own electricity source. It became fondly known as the ‘Notch’ by families, employees, visitors and soon, Rockville became the community of Rockville Notch.
“The Rockville Company was founded in 1857 and came to its end in 2002. However, its place in developing a community and impacting the Valley region will live on and be available to future generations.”
Learn more about the history of the Mill here
The Trail
The trail at McMaster Mill Falls is 0.5km. It is all on crushed gravel, making it easy for strollers and toddlers.
Throughout the park area, there are a lot of information signs about the history of the mill, a look off point to enjoy the falls, and lots of benches and picnic tables.
Although it is a short trail, do not underestimate it! We spent a long time playing at the shoreline, watching the falls and learning about the history of the area.
It is a magnificent place to check out. It’s easy to see the power of Mother Nature and how easily a mill could have operated here.
A New Way to Explore McMaster Mill Falls with a Nature Guide
If you want a fun way to explore the falls, check out one of these FREE Nature Guides available for Kings County! We spent over 45 minutes exploring and playing games and completing activities on site.
In the Area
The McMaster Mill Falls park and trail is very close to Crystal Falls.
We suggest stopping at McMaster Mill Falls first (it is on the way) for your picnic lunch and then continue on to Crystal Falls.
How to Get There
Drive 1.2km past the shopping malls in Greenwood and turn right onto Rocknotch Rd. Drive 1.5km and turn left onto Meadowvale Rd. briefly for 170m, and then turn right back onto Rocknotch Rd again. Drive another 3 km on Rocknotch Rd and park on the side of the road at the McMaster Mill Park sign on the left.
Take time to discover McMaster Mill Falls and trail!
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party
Ever since I had heard about a Tidal Bay wine tasting party on the Magic Winery Bus I knew I had to have one. Any excuse for a party.
Learn about the Magic Winery Bus tour in the Gaspereau Valley, NS here.
So, for my birthday this year, my friend offered to host our very own Tidal Bay Wine Tasting Party!
What is Tidal Bay?
Every wine region hopes to have wines that stand out and get recognized for defining what they do best. In Nova Scotia, our wines have consistently been known for their fresh, crisp and bright style. With this in mind, Nova Scotia winery owners and winemakers decided to develop a signature wine that revealed these characteristics, and so began Tidal Bay. A wine with unique character, Tidal Bay brilliantly reflects the terroir, coastal breezes and cooler climate of its birthplace.
To obtain the Tidal Bay designation, all wines must be made from specific grape varieties, include 100% Nova Scotia grown grapes, follow a strict set of standards and be approved every year by an independent blind tasting pane.
So, a Tidal Bay wine is purely Nova Scotian white wine!
Before the Party
I spoke with a gentleman in the area who I know had hosted several Tidal Bay tasting parties in the past, and got a lot of wisdom from him.
Being very Type A, and very into party planning, I knew I could go overboard with the details and the rules, so we tried to keep it fairly low-key and more fun than a scientific authentic comparison!
To manage the party, I used Evite. (This is not an affiliate link. I just love how this free site keeps track of everything, including what guests are to bring.)
I created a list of all the Tidal Bays I could find, and asked each guest to sign up to bring one of the wines.
Avondale Sky Tidal Bay
Benjamin Bridge Tidal Bay
Blomidon Estate Tidal Bay
Domaine de Grand Pre Tidal Bay
Gaspereau Vinyard Tidal Bay
Jost Tidal Bay
Lightfoot & Wolfville Tidal Bay
Luckett Vinyard Tidal Bay
Mercator Tidal Bay
Planters Ridge Tidal Bay
Saint Famille Tidal Bay
Annapolis Highland Vineyards
Petite Riviere Vineyards
Then, I made up a tasting/score sheet based on some ideas I found on Pinterest.
Download your Wine Tasting Sheet Here
We borrowed wine glasses from a local organization, and bought a few packs of plastic wine cups, so we wouldn’t have to wash dishes in between so much!
Before the party, we put a coloured dot on the base of each cup. Enough for one per guest. We broke into the kids’ stickers and used some of those, too, so we would have enough different colours and styles!
Then, we laid the glasses out in rows, according to their stickers.
Now, we are ready for the party!
Judging and Tasting the Wines
One of the women poured the wine into the glasses, covering the bottle with a tea towel, so it would be a blind taste.
With our tasting charts in hand, we started with the first row of cups. We removed the sticker from the base of the glass and put it in our chart. Then, we gave each wine a score out of 5.
At the very end of the evening, she brought the wines out, and we compared notes, and learned which ones were our favourites.
The Results
As we didn’t really do this scientifically, and after testing 11 bottles of wine, it was kind of hard to judge, but we had a lot of fun trying and comparing notes! So, I won’t write down our favourites!
However, it was interesting to note that all the red wine drinkers in the room had a completely different opinion than the white wine drinkers!
Other Options
We’ve already decided that our next party will be all about red wine! We will pick a type of red wine and then everyone will be assigned a country.
Other possibilities we came up with are cider, craft beer and sparkling wines.
The possibilities are endless!
Be Responsible
If you host this type of party, please drink responsibly. We were lucky to have several of the husbands offer to be Cabbies on the night, shuffling their happy wives to and fro from the party!
This was such a fun night, and the perfect way to celebrate my birthday! Can’t wait for the next theme!
Nature Trail Adventures in Kings County
Nature Trail Adventures in Kings County
Our family is always up for an adventure!
So, when we heard about the new Nature Trail Adventures designed by Marina Myra of the Wild Roots Nature Education Centre in Berwick and now part of Flying Squirrel Adventures in the Kentville area we knew we had to try it out!
These are games and activities that take you through a nature area to solve clues to solve a mystery.
Much like our TrailQuest games that help you explore towns, these games help you explore nature in a fun, new way.
There are 5 Nature Trail Adventures that are FREE to download!
Kentville Ravine Trail Adventure
Lockhart Ryan Park Adventure
McMaster Mill Trail Adventure
Miners Marsh Trail Adventure
Wolfville Millennium Trail Adventure
Equipment Needed
On the first page of the Nature Trail Adventure guide, there is a list of what equipment you will take with you to help explore the area. Some of it is optional, but trust us, you will want the full experience!
The items are not complex, and are things you have at home. Some, like Miners’ Marsh, includes instructions to make view finders to make before you go.
Our Adventure
We checked out the McMaster Mill Park Adventure near Greenwood.
This trail is about 0.5km and would have taken us under 10 minutes, normally to check out. But, instead, we spent over an hour discovering this beautiful spot.
We played First Nations games, built boats, and learned about the rocks and falls, while traveling through time to discover the secret clues.
We also had a ride on a seismosaurus.
Grade Level
Thomas and I completed the mystery and activities together. He loved every second of it! We think, then, the ideal grade level is grades 2-5. A parent will need to help with the reading and instructions.
It makes for the perfect family activity!
Further Reading
Another great thing about the Nature Trail Adventures is that they include links for further information. The learning can continue beyond the trail.
Where to Get the Nature Trail Adventures
These 5 nature trail adventures are completely FREE!
Download the Nature Trail Adventure PDFs here.
“This Trail Adventure Project was made possible with the generous funding and support of the Blomidon Naturalists Society whose dedication to educating the public and connecting people with the natural world is making a difference in our communities. The Blomidon Naturalists Society recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians. Supported by the Town of Kentville Parks and Recreation. Supported by the Municipality of the County of Kings Recreation Services”
If you are looking for a fun way to explore nature in Kings County, and make a hike less boring for kids, definitely check out the Nature Trail Adventures! Start exploring!
Nippers British Fish and Chips Food Truck
Nippers British Fish and Chips Food Truck
Disclosure: Our family received a complimentary meal in exchange for this review. All opinions are our own.
We love fish and chips.
Last year, our family lived in the U.K. for 5 months, and authentic British fish and chips became part of our regular routine. Having grown up in the U.K., my husband is fish and chips aficionado.
So, when we were asked to go test out Nippers, British Fish and Chips, we were up for the challenge.
“Nippers is a fish and chip truck which will be in the New Minas area mostly also attending many events throughout the summer. Come by for you’re British Fish and Chips” ~ Facebook Page
Nippers is operated by Ralph and Kathryn Davies who have moved to the Valley from NorthEast England. Ralph even certified by the National Federation for Fish Friers in the U.K.! Yes, that’s a thing!
These fish and chips are the real deal!
To get an overview of our experience, watch my Facebook Live video:
Menu
Besides fish and chips, Nippers has a lot of other great traditional British food on the menu.
Now available most days, homemade sausage rolls or fishcakes. Served with chips and either baked beans or mushy peas.
We went for the traditional haddock and chips with a side of curry sauce and mushy peas. Served with malt vinegar and tartar sauce, all wrapped in paper. The real way.
Where to Find Nippers
The best way to keep on top of where to find Nippers is to check their Facebook page.
As a general rule, in season:
Wednesdays: in Kentville at 38 Cornwallis St. outside the indoor Farmers Market from 11-2.
Thursday – Saturday: 12-6pm in the parking lot of the Home Depot in New Minas.
Get take out or, at the Home Depot, there is a picnic table where you can sit and eat, too!
Otherwise, they will be traveling around to lots of events in the province, so watch out for them, and keep on top of their location through their Facebook posts.
If you are looking for great, traditional fish and chips or other British favourites, seek out Nippers British Fish and Chips food truck. Support our newcomers! Support a local business! Support good food!
Unique Ways to use Randsland Super Salad Mix #SupportLocal
Unique Ways to use Randsland Super Salad Mix #SupportLocal
Have you heard about Randsland Super Salad Mix? It features fresh, locally grown produce from the fields of Delhaven in the Annapolis Valley!
The Super Salad kits ready to toss and serve. The bags contain kale, broccoli, green and red cabbage, red onion, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and dressing packets.
I was first introduced to Randsland Super Salad Mix at the boys’s school. We have a super program called “Taste a Rainbow” where once a month, we introduce a different fruit or vegetable to students.
Because Randsland Farmers, Lise and Andrew, have kids at the school, they suggested we serve Randsland Super Salad to the students.
And, the kids loved it!
“This is the best Taste a Rainbow ever!”
This started our family on the path of buying Randsland Super Salad Mix and seeing the different ways we could use it. We are rarely without one in our fridge!
Unique Ways to Use Randsland Super Salad Mix
Unique Ways to use #RandslandSuperSaladMix and #SupportLocal Share on X1. As a salad!
Maybe not so unique, but don’t for get the basics! This is the way it’s intended to be used, and it is so good!
Empty the bag of salad mix. Add the dress. Toss and eat. I can eat this as my whole meal. Just like this.
2. As a Base for a Stirfry!
We cooked noodles, added some meat and filled it out with a few other vegies, but then used the Super Salad Mix as the base.
Pour the salad mix into a frying pan with a little bit of oil, and heat for about 2 minutes.
Have you gone Keto? You can make a Keto-friendly stirfry with Randsland Super Salad Mix!
Here is the recipe from the Randsland Facebook page for a Keto-Friendly Stirfry (look at the first comment in the post for the recipe)
3. Yaki Soba – Japanese Stir-fried Noodles
Because I used to live in Japan, I make a lot of Japanese food at home. It’s simple to make and only uses a couple of ingredients that you probably have on hand.
For this, you just need a package of soba noodles which usually can be found in the organic section of most grocery stores.
Then, instead of adding cabbage and bean sprouts, throw in a bag of Randsland Super Salad Mix!
It’s a big hit!
4. Japanese Okonomiyaki – Savoury Pancakes
Randsland Super Salad Mix just lends itself so well to Japanese food!
This is another one of our favourite receipes, and the kids love it! It’s so simple.
Pancake Mix + a bag of Randsland Super Salad Mix = Japanese Pancakes!
The recipe for the sauce and further instructions can be found here.
5. Juicing Blend
We have not tried this one, but I have been told you can also use Randsland Super Salad Mix as a juicing blend!
Try it and send me a picture!
Where to get Randsland Super Salad Mix
SuperSalad Kit is available at these retailers throughout Atlantic Canada:
Keep checking for updates as they keep growing!
Henny Penny’s Farm Market
Noggins Corner Farm Market, Corn Maze & U-Pick,
Dave’s Fruit and Vegetable
Stirlings Farm Market
Meadowbrook Meat Market
Avery’s
Sobeys
Fox Hill Cheese House
What other unique ways have you used Randsland Super Salad Mix? Let us know so we can try them, too!
#SupportLocal
*This is not a sponsored post. We just really love this salad and hope you will try it, too. It’s about supporting each other in our endeavours!*
