This year marked the 7th annual Campobello Island Seaglass Festival, a month-long celebration of seaglass and beachcombing, on the most beloved of the Fundy Isles—Campobello Island!
I’ve been fortunate enough to be attending the Campobello Island Seaglass Festival since its conception back in 2019. Looking back, the island was busy–ish with beachcombers that first year, but not to the extent it is today.
Now, it’s nearly impossible to get reservations on the island for Labor Day Weekend—the first official weekend of the festival—as visitors plan their trips months, even a year in advance. What started as a small gathering of local collectors has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the summer, drawing seaglass lovers, artisans, and beachcombers from across North America and beyond.
With beaches lined by treasure-hunters at low tide, markets overflowing with treasures to be bought, and a community buzzing with stories of the seaglass finds, the Campobello Island Seaglass Festival has become a must-attend summer festival in the Maritimes.
This year, we decided to bring Papa Mermaid along for the adventure and let me say—it was so wonderful to experience what is easily one of my favourite weekends of the year with my Mom & Dad. At the same time, Dan and Bella the MerMeow had their own adventures back home!
Here’s a look at our weekend itinerary!
Our adventure began when we caught the ferry from the mainland to Deer Island. This ferry is free and is only a short twenty-minute crossing, but it’s an absolutely darling ferry ride. I love watching for bald eagles, seals, and, if you’re lucky, whales swimming past the islands.
Every year when we travel to Campobello Island, we always make sure to stop in and visit some of our favourite shops and restaurants on Deer Island during our trip. Our first stop on Deer Island was Maritime Texture.
Maritime Texture is what my husband affectionately calls “The best gift shop in the world.” The shop is full of locally made products, books by local authors, beautiful hooked rug designs by the owner herself, Debra Flewelling, and so much more. I can’t resist visiting when on Deer Island, and I was thrilled to bring home a new hooked rug piece for our walls.
I’m absolutely obsessed with their felted “Sammy the Seal” that is available for purchase. I have a copy of the book, written by Mike Flewelling, Debra’s husband and co-owner of the shop.
Maritime Texture is in the same building as Homeport Suites, my home away from home and preferred place to stay on Deer Island, as well as The Cap Sill Restaurant. We didn’t get a chance to dine at the Cap Sill on this trip, but I am hoping to get back before next summer! It’s an incredible restaurant and I can’t say enough good things about it. The owner is a dear friend!
Speaking of food—it is tradition with Seaglass Festival mermaids to meet-up at Ocean View Take Out for lunch on the way to Campobello Island. This coastal takeout gem has a beautiful ocean view, and we have watched both seals as well as deer from their patio. It’s outdoor seating only, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. Everything is delicious, but on this trip, I tried the Island Hot Dog with a side of onion rings, and it was so tasty!
Finally, before catching the ferry to Campobello Island, we stopped at Boatique where I picked up a new Grunden’s Fisherman Beanie for the fall and winter. You can be sure you will be seeing it in plenty of photos over the next few months as I think it will be a staple once the weather changes.
We caught the 2:30 pm ferry to Campobello Island and as always, it was a lovely crossing. It was a pinch windy, so we didn’t spend the entire sail outdoors but it was blue skies and so nice to be on our way to Campobello, as always.
After dropping off some of the Campobello Island Seaglass Festival Beachcomber Maps, sponsored by East Coast Mermaid, at the Porch (and grabbing the most delicious Salted Caramel Iced Latte) we headed to get settled in at Pollock Cove Seaside Retreat.
The owners surprised my dad with his very own Pollock Cove ball cap for his first visit, and when I tell you this kind gesture and welcome made my whole weekend, I mean it! Thank you, Gretchen, Susan and the team.
For supper, we splashed over to The Pier Waterfront (just steps from our cottage) and had a delicious sunset dinner on their patio. I opted for the Shrimp Tacos and they were so good! Papa Mermaid had the seafood chowder and Mama Mermaid had a burger—both raved about their meals.
We ended the evening with another festival tradition, the Beachcomber’s “Bonfire” (propane fire pit due to fire ban) at Pollock Cove. The Beachcomber Bonfire is one of my favourite highlights of the weekend as it’s a great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. All over a shared love of seaglass and Campobello Island!
It’s not to be missed when attending the festival over Labor Day!
We woke up to the most stunning red skies on Saturday. Red skies at night, sailor’s delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning. There was rain in the forecast, so we weren’t surprised to see such a stunning sunrise, but we were also eager to get outside before the rain began!
First up, my parents and I took a drive up to Head Harbour Lighthouse. Perched dramatically on a rocky headland at the northern tip of Campobello Island, Head Harbour Lighthouse (also known as East Quoddy) is one of New Brunswick’s most photographed icons.
Built in 1829, it’s the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province and one of the most unique in the world, thanks to its striking red-and-white daymark. Reaching it is an adventure in itself—you can only cross over to the lighthouse at low tide, carefully navigating slippery seaweed-covered rocks and ladders. The reward? Panoramic views of the bay, the chance to spot whales and the Grand Manan ferry in the distance, and the magic of standing at a site that has guided mariners for nearly two centuries.
The rain was holding off, and the lighting was magical, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to embark on the adventure to the lighthouse. Along the way, I found some seaglass on the rocky sandbars connecting the headlands, and I met the two sweetest pups—Pip and Chance—from Maine. You can check out my sweet moment with Pip by splashing over to Instagram.
If you’re planning to walk out to the lighthouse, you can only do so at low tide, and you must be mindful of the incoming tide, as it is very easy to get stuck over there. It’s $10—cash only. Totally worth it. And you will want to bring your adventure shoes—leave your flip flops at home!
After my adventure to the lighthouse, Mama Mermaid and I popped over to the Beachcomber’s Bazaar to find some treasures. Our mermaid sisters Salisha’s Sea Gems, Brush the Tides, and Joy Designs were all set up with their treasures! Salisha and Shannon (Joy Designs) were also offering seaglass workshops which were a huge hit! Needless to say, we came home with some beautiful treasures.
After the Beachcomber Bazaar, we decided to head to The Secret Beach. And no, I’m sworn to secrecy and won’t tell you where or how to get to it. It’s called the Secret Beach for a reason. But we brought Papa Mermaid along for the adventure, and though it was close to high tide when we got there, we still found some great pieces, including a beautiful lavender piece with markings! And Mama Mermaid found the most beautiful turquoise piece!
That evening, we popped into the Porch at Friars Bay for a delicious dinner. Whenever calamari is on the menu, it’s always a yes for me—the owner, Diana, makes an incredible calamari! And of course, I can’t resist ordering their build-your-own nacho. The Porch serves breakfast, lunch, and supper and is licensed too! It’s also the spot to go for treats, desserts, and espresso drinks or lattes!
As we sat down for dinner, we could tell the sunset over Friars Bay was going to be particularly epic. After clearing our plates, we took a drive to Mulholland Lighthouse, located right next to the island’s bridge to Lubec, Maine. The lighthouse is always fun to visit and a great place to spot playful seals hanging out between Canada and the USA.
The colour of the sky was so spectacular, I couldn’t resist stopping at one of my favourite photo ops on the island, the beach and pier on Friars Bay at the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. I’ve taken many photos on this pier, always saying it reminds me of the dock mentioned in The Great Gatsby, but I’ve never been there at sunset.
It was simply breathtaking, and I recommend including a visit to it during your visit! You may even find a piece of seaglass or two on this beach 😉
On Sunday morning, I was up extra early to catch the sunrise on Pollock Cove and to get down to the beach as the tide dropped. A few of us were on the beach when we heard the best sound in the world, when on Campobello Island—a wooosh of a whale blow!
We were treated to a beautiful minke whale circling the cove and feasting on mackerel. This is one of the many reasons I love staying at Pollock Cove. There are always whales hanging around, and it’s the perfect place to watch them!
After all of the whale excitement, it was time to head to the East Coast Mermaid Beach Walk! This is the second year that I have offered a guided beach tour at Pirate’s Beach, tucked in behind Welshpool Wharf. It’s easily my favourite beach on the island for beachcombing, as it is an excellent beach for finding pirate glass (how it got its name), stoppers, clay pipe pieces, and other treasures. It’s where I discovered my Victorian Mourning Button at last year’s festival which remains one of my most treasured seaglass pieces!
We had such a great turnout for the beach walk—over 30 beachcombers and seaglass lovers of all ages and from all over! And while no stoppers were found this year, there was plenty of pirate glass for everyone and even more stories and excitement shared amongst new friends!
Thank you to everyone who came out from the bottom of my mermaid heart! 🩵
That evening, we wrapped up the weekend the best way a mermaid could dream of—sailing into the sunset alongside humpback whales aboard the East Quoddy with our friends at East Quoddy Tours. The evening was pure magic: gliding past the historic Roosevelt House, sailing past Mulholland Light, slipping beneath the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, and getting an up-close look at the Lubec Channel Lighthouse—fondly known around these waters as the “Spark Plug.” It’s truly one of the most unique and charming lighthouses I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I loved it!
And of course, the whales were incredible—gracefully surfacing with their flukes shimmering in the golden sunset, exhaling powerful blows into the evening air. While Mama Mermaid and I have whale watched together countless times over the years, this was the first time Papa Mermaid got to see humpback whales up close and I’m so happy we got to share that experience with him! You will LOVE this video I shared here.
The last day is always the hardest. Leaving Pollock Cove Seaside Retreat, our little island home away from home, and saying goodbye to seaglass sisters and new friends. It’s such a magical weekend and dreamy escape, that returning to reality is never easy. There are no whales in the city!
But we always leave knowing, we’ll be back again soon.
And our friends, the seaglass and the playful whales will be there waiting for us! 🩵
If you’re curious about being a part of the 2026 Campobello Island Seaglass Festival, don’t hesitate to reach out! The popularity of the festival grows every year and booking your trip early is key—especially if you want to be a part of the magic on Labor Day Weekend! I would LOVE to see you there next year!
Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored in any way. It’s an absolute honour to visit Campobello Island each summer and support the incredible local businesses that make this island such a gem. If you can, I invite you to do the same. You’ll make memories to last a lifetime and have the opportunity to support amazing people and businesses.
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