A Festival and Conference in
Tatamagouche – August 6–9, 2026
This August, Tatamagouche will welcome around 200 visitors from across Atlantic Canada and beyond for Local Prosperity 2026—a four-day festival and conference about creating strong, resilient communities and economies that work for local people. At its heart, this event is about a simple idea: communities are stronger when more of their businesses, jobs, food, land, services and investment are locally rooted and locally controlled.
Why Tatamagouche?
Tatamagouche is not simply hosting the event—it is an important part of its story. With its independent businesses, farms and food producers, community organizations, arts and cultural activities, and long tradition of local people working together, Tatamagouche is a showcase of the qualities that Local Prosperity is intended to celebrate. Programming will take place throughout the village, including at the North Shore Recreation Centre, Tatamagouche Regional Academy, Tatamagouche Public Library, and Creamery Square, helping visitors experience the community while they are here.
What will be happening?
Local Prosperity combines the learning and discussion of a conference with the welcoming, celebratory atmosphere of a community festival. The program includes:
- More than 30 workshops and discussions featuring practical community-based ideas
- Hands-on skill-sharing activities such as traditional crafts, household skills and food-related learning
- Keynote speakers from Atlantic Canada and around the world
- Live music, dancing and other entertainment
- Community meals, local tours and opportunities to meet people doing inspiring work
- Activities designed to welcome people of different ages and backgrounds
Topics include local food and farming, housing, renewable energy, community investment, Indigenous economic development, co-operatives, fair work, arts and culture, local purchasing and ways communities can retain more of the wealth they generate. For full details of the program, go to:
https://localprosperity.ca/2026-program/upskilling-workshops/
Who is it for?
The event is open to everyone—not only professionals or people who already know about community economic development. Local residents, business owners, farmers, volunteers, artists, students, families, municipal leaders and anyone interested in the future of their community are welcome. You can attend the full four-day event, come for a single day, or purchase a ticket for one of the evening music events. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Who is organizing it?
Local Prosperity 2026 is being co-hosted by the North Shore Community Connections Society, the Centre for Local Prosperity and the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia. Together, the organizations are creating an event that brings new ideas and visitors to Tatamagouche, while celebrating the people, businesses and community spirit already found here. Come for a workshop, a concert, a day—or the whole event!