Warm Your Bones Festival 2026

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

LOVERS IN LOVE: QUEER VALENTINE’S MARKET
5PM-9PM at On The Same Page Books
2SLGBTQIA+ Creators Market
We will have all local queer vendors, low lighting, after hours shopping of books and other goods, and cozy music for you to enjoy your shopping time! Masks are required for this event. Masks provided at the door, or bring your own.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026

EXHIBITION OPENING: SAILING BY PAULINA OSORIO
5PM-6PM in Eltuek’s Corridor Gallery
An after work art party! Catering by Nanaxhi and Cafe Marie.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026

LEATHER BOOKMARK POP UP
10AM-2PM at On The Same Page Books
Leather bookmark pressing with Phee’s Original Goods. Add names, initials, swear words – whatever your heart desires!

WINTER WEAR FASHION SHOW & SALE
11AM-3PM at Eltuek Arts Centre
Curated vintage vendors and a winter-themed fashion show (fashion show starts at 11:30am). Free entry. Refreshments provided by Cafe Marie.

LATIN DANCE
11AM-11:30AM & 12PM-12:30PM at the Sydney Public Market
Brush up on your spicy dance moves just in time for Valentine’s Day. Learn the basics of Latin dance from a local mother/daughter dance duo.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

REAL HOT READERS
1PM-3:30PM at Audre’s Harbour Nordic Spa
An afternoon readtreat! Join us for a double length spa session, light refreshments, and a blind date with a book in the genre of your choice from On The Same Page Books!
Tickets are $75. Available at www.audresharbour.com

CIDER & CINEMA VALENTINE’S EDITION
6PM-8:30PM at Island Folk Cider House
Are you over the Valentine’s Day hype? Join us for an evening of locally filmed Valentine’s Day horror! This Warm Your Bones edition of Cider & Cinema is screening the cult classic, “My Bloody Valentine”. Plus, we’ll have prizes, drinks for purchase, (discount) V-day candy, and a special surprise.
Entrance is by donation.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

COXHEATH HILLS SNOWSHOE HIKE
10AM-12PM at the Coxheath Hills Wilderness Trail
Spend your holiday Monday morning hiking up the Coxheath Hills trail in snowshoes! Join experienced winter guides and the teams from Sport and Social Club (SSCC) and the Coxheath Hills Wilderness Association for a friendly snowshoe hike. We’re capping it off with hot drinks and a fire at the wilderness cabin located at the top of the hill.
Free event. If you require snowshoes, reach to the Sport and Social Club of Cape Breton (@sportandsocialcb) at least 48 hours in advance.
Meet at the Secondary Access Point – 1298 Coxheath Road.

COZY CANINES: DOG PARK SOCIAL
2PM-4PM at Rotary Park dog park (361 Rotary Dr)
Bring your dogs and your friends to the dog park for a snowy winter social! Warm Your Bones will be setting up a hot drink station, fire pits, s’mores and comfy chairs for the people. There will also be locally made dog treats, accessories from BananaCocker, and pet portraits by local cartoonist, Ray Smith, for the dogs.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT DANIELS
7PM-9PM at Daniels Alehouse and Eatery
Wrap up your holiday Monday with by testing your cleverness at Trivia Night. It’s two rounds of tricky, fun trivia, plus food and drink specials and the chance to win prizes.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

KNITS & KNOTS: COZY CRAFTING AT THE LIBRARY
2PM-4PM at the McConnell Library
Spend an afternoon relaxing at the library with your favourite yarn crafts. Work on your own knitting or crocheting craft or follow along with an instructor from the Warm Your Bones festival to learn how to make a basic washcloth. Some yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks are provided but feel free to bring your own if you have them.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
5:30PM-7:30PM at Cafe Marie
Enjoy handmade, authentic, Asian Lunar New Year food, prepared from scratch with traditional flavours. Including dumplings, wonton soup, grilled bok choy, fried rice, and a selection of small pickled side dishes. Menu options include the New Year’s Feast Combo ($25) and the Vegan Combo ($15).

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026

MAKE A BOWL: HANDBUILDING POTTERY WITH ALANA WILSON
1PM-4PM at Eltuek Arts Centre
Interested in hand building your own pottery? Learn to make a bowl and decorate it with underglaze and stencils. Event includes access to materials (clay, glaze, pottery tools) and instruction from a professional potter, Alana Wilson of BuilderBurner Ceramics.
Tickets are $35 (regularly $60+, subsidized by Warm Your Bones sponsors). Purchase at square.link/u/CpnzHYhy
16+ event

CARROM & CROKINOLE
Daytime at Ouroboros Cafe
Learn to play classic games from different cultures! Carrom and crokinole are both tabletop games where players flick discs, attempting to knock them into specific areas of the game board. Boards, pieces, and instruction provided.

COLLAGE NIGHT
6PM-8PM at On The Same Page Books
Join us for a low-pressure, creative evening of collaging. Materials are provided so you can snip, tear, and glue to your heart’s content! Leave with a framed collage.
Entrance is $5 or Pay What You Can.

PAINT NIGHT WITH BAILEE HIGGINS
6:30PM-9PM at Daniels Alehouse and Eatery
Paint your own wintery masterpiece with local artist, Bailee Higgins. Paint night includes materials (canvas, paint, paintbrushes), instruction from Bailee Higgins, and an Island Folk cider of your choice.
Tickets are $35. Space is limited, so buy your tickets now!
Tickets available at square.link/u/kPmMbBus
19+ event

TAROT & TEA
6:30pm-8pm at Of Kin & Keep (319 Charlotte St)
Join us for a slow, warming evening of tarot and tea. This guided workshop explores tarot as a tool for reflection, storytelling, and winter tending. No experience needed.
All materials provided. Beginner friendly. Intimate, cozy setting.
Tickets are $45. Each ticket includes one cup of tea of your choosing, selected in advance from a curated tea menu and prepared in advance by Ouroboros Cafe. Limited spots available. Tickets for purchase through The Witching Post or at Of Kin and Keep.

SOAP MAKING WORKSHOP
12PM-3PM or 5PM-8PM at the Sydney Public Market
Learn the art and craft of making cold process soap with Nova Soapia.
Day 1: making the soap (Feb 18), day 2: cutting the soap (Feb 26, 6PM-7PM)
Tickets are $135, includes 10 bar batch of soap. Contact novasoapia@gmail.com or 902-304-7500 to register.

MUG SCULPTING WORKSHOP
5:30-8PM at Fired Creations
A cozy, hands-on Mug Sculpting Workshop with local potter Elizabeth Burtt Ivey. You’ll be provided a freshly hand-thrown mug, then sculpt and design clay details like love bugs, flowers, creatures, or anything your imagination dreams up, all while enjoying a drink from our menu (19+ drinks included).
Tickets are $60. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mug-sculpting-workshop-16-mug-sculpting-drink-included-tickets-1982473540727?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
16+ event

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026

ZINE WORKSHOP
5:30PM-7PM at Eltuek Arts Centre, 2nd Floor Room 209
Join @tuffieslugs for a fun and creative zine making workshop! What is a zine, you ask? It can be anything – a comic, poetry, information, collage and more. This is a mini zine workshop where participants will learn how to make a mini booklet out of an 8.5×11 inch sheet of paper, with materials provided!
$5 per person for materials.

HARVEST BITES: FOOD & TALKS
6PM-9PM at Daniels Alehouse and Eatery
Harvest Bites brings you a unique menu full of delicious flavors crafted to complement a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The menu features tastings from Mad Mac’s Farm, Skye Glenn Cheese, and Glenbourne Cider. Each ticket also includes one feature cocktail. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience perfect for any occasion.
Tickets are $39 and only on sale until February 16, so get yours now! Purchase before February 12 to be entered to win a Warm Your Bones prize pack and $40 gift card to Daniels! Buy tickets at square.link/u/jHZ127Ig
19+ event

SILENT BOOK CLUB
5:30PM-7:30PM at Doktor Luke’s
Silent Book Club from Island Folk Cider House is hosting a pop up at Doktor Luke’s!
Silent Book Club is a global community of readers with 2000 chapters in 60+ countries. There’s no assigned reading – it’s bring your own book. More than a million members gather in person, online, and in destinations around the world to read together and swap stories. All readers are welcome!

JAZZ AT EAVE
6PM-9PM at Eave Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy an evening of soulful sounds, elevated dining, and perfectly poured sips. Dine. Sip. Jazz. Repeat.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

CHAI WORKSHOP
2PM-4PM at Eltuek Arts Centre, in Gallery 209
Love chai? Learn to make your own with Shubhi of J’aime Le Chai, as part of the Warm Your Bones festival. Craft the perfect spicy tea in a cozy setting (maximum 10 people).
Tickets are $10. Available at square.link/u/1RJe4oLQ
16+ event

HERE LIES DANIEL: A SHORT FILM BY COREY KATZ
7PM-8PM at Eltuek Arts Centre, in Gallery 211
Film screening and Q&A with the director and cast members.
Synopsis: After discovering his terminal illness is no longer manageable, Daniel leaves the hospital, wandering through landscapes in search of a final resting place.
Mature themes. Age 13+ recommended.

BROOMBALL WITH SSCC
7PM-8PM at Centre 200 Arena
Get out on the ice with a sport you’ve probably never tried before! Learn to play broomball with the Sport and Social Club of Cape Breton (SSCC) as part of the Warm Your Bones festival. Broomball is ice sport similar to hockey, but played with a ball and sticks that have plastic ends shaped like brooms. Broomball is played in shoes (no skating skills required!). SSCC will teach players the game during the event.
Players must wear clean, indoor shoes on the ice. Helmets are mandatory and elbow/kneepads are recommended. A limited quantity of helmets and protective equipment are available through SSCC. Message SSCC at @sportandsocialcb or board@sportandsocial.ca to reserve equipment.
Rink access is through the players entrance at the back of Centre 200.
Tickets are $5. Available at square.link/u/8dWa1ou1 or at the door.
19+ event

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS
10AM-2PM at the Highland Arts Theatre
What’s cozier on a Saturday morning than cartoons, cereal, and a bit of nostalgia? Nothing. Join us at the Highland Arts Theatre on the Warm Your Bones “Super Saturday” (our most event-filled day) for a cereal buffet, cartoons, and the chance to kick off your weekend feeling like a kid again. Featuring a marathon of “Lego Dreamzzz” and a brief talk balk with the series director (local filmmaker, Joel Salaysay), as well as retro cartoons.
Entrance and cereal bar are by donation. HAT concession also open for purchases.

COMMUNITY CLOTHING SWAP WITH THE CLOTHESLINE COLLECTIVE
10AM-3PM at Daniels Alehouse and Eatery
This is an opportunity to refresh your closet in a sustainable and creative way. We have a huge selection of clothing to begin the swap with! There will be a variety of sizes and styles available for all genders and ages. There is no limit on how many items you can grab, take what you need!
Grab a drink while you thrift, peruse Daniel’s wonderful menu and stay a while!
Admission is $20 with no clothing or $10 with a clothing donation. Admission will be free from 2PM-3PM.

TARABISH TUTOR
1PM-4PM at Doktor Luke’s
Pop into Doktor Luke’s to learn how to play the classic Cape Breton card game, Tarabish! An expert instructor will explain the rules and get you started with the game. Cards available for use.
Don’t have a full complement of players (i.e. 4 or 6)? Try out other classic 2- and 3-player games, like crib and chess.

CARROM & CROKINOLE
1PM-5PM at Ouroboros Cafe
Learn to play classic games from different cultures! Carrom and crokinole are both tabletop games where players flick discs, attempting to knock them into specific areas of the game board. Boards, pieces, and instruction provided.

MAKER’S MARKET – FABRIC PRINTING & BUTTON MAKING
Daytime at On The Same Page Books (to be confirmed)
Get creative at a pop-up Makers Market! Stop by On The Same Page to get your fabric items personalized by Eiblin Koch or make your own buttons with HandMade East.

SAUNA AND STEEP: A TEA TASTING SPECIAL
1PM-3:30PM at Audre’s Harbour Nordic Spa
Join us for an extra length sauna session and three curated teas from Teamancy at the Brew and Bubble to taste during the rest periods of the hot/cold/rest Nordic cycle! Plus, everyone will leave with a special tea to take home!
Tickets are $75. Available at www.audresharbour.com

BOARD GAME NIGHT
6PM-9PM at Doktor Luke’s
An evening of board games and hot drinks. Bring your own favourite games or play one provided by Doktor Luke’s and the other gamers.
All are welcome. $5 entrance.

SQUARE DANCE WITH FRONT PORCH FARMS
5:30PM-8PM at Eltuek Arts Centre
Join us for a Warm Your Bones Square Dance at the Eltuek Arts Centre. Tunes by Bradley Murphy & Jason Roach, calling by Peter LeBlanc. All are welcome, no experience necessary.
Tickets are $5 or PWYC. All ages event.
Need to brush up on your dance skills? Join Leanne Aucoin for a step dance lesson at 4PM at Island Folk Cider House (across the street, 52 Nepean St).

LEARN TO CURL WITH THE SCHOONER CURLING CLUB
7PM at the Schooner Curling Club (61 Military Rd)
Want to try curling but don’t want to commit? Try it here! Bring a friend and join us for some instruction and fun. No equipment? Just bring clean sneakers. We’ll provide the rest.
Tickets are $10. Contact Schooner Curling Club to register.
19+ event

BEHROOZ MIHANKHAH QUARTET
8PM at the Sydney Curling Club
Come out to the Sydney Curling Club for an incredible night of music. Tickets available at the door (Pay What You Can).
Behrooz Mihankhah is a celebrated Iranian Canadian, ECMA-nominated composer, and pianist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Inspired by his migrations through Iran, India and finally to Canada, Behrooz fuses various musical traditions, compositional techniques, and improvisational schools of thought and brings together listeners of various backgrounds. Behrooz Mihankhah’s Quartet is an ensemble of exceptionally talented composers and improvisers. With Ali Enriquez (Violin), John Janigan-Mill (Bass), and Morgan Zwicker (drum), each member of the group breathes life into Behrooz’s compositions, making them uniquely their own. Together, they create music that transcends borders, and resonates with audiences from all walks of life.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026

SIP & STITCH
2PM-4PM at Island Folk Cider House
An introduction on how to embellish or visibly mend damaged pieces of clothing. From tragedy to treasure in two hours!
Tickets are $10, cider included. Limited tickets available.
Purchase tickets at square.link/u/FMi5HzgE

RINGETTE WITH SSCC
8:30PM-9:30PM at Centre 200 Arena
Helmets and skates are mandatory. Other equipment is optional but recommended (elbow pads, knee pads, etc.). Message @sportandsocialcb at least 48 hours in advance if you need access to equipment, as there is a limited amount available to borrow.
Learn to play ringette with the Sport and Social Club of Cape Breton! Ringette is an ice sport, similar to hockey, but with a straight stick and a ring, and specific rules around passing and positioning. SSCC will teach players how to play and provides sticks and rings.
Rink entrance is at the back of Centre 200, through the players entrance.
$15 drop in fee. Tickets available at square.link/u/cwFDUYEP or at the door.
19+ event. All genders and skill levels welcome.