Cape Breton's Celtic Colours International Festival has banner year

Cape Breton's Celtic Colours International Festival is reporting a banner year.

"I would have to say that this was our best festival ever," saidexecutive director Joella Foulds.

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Ticket sales were up, with 25 shows sold out before the festival had even opened, she said.

Big-name performers on this year's bill, such as Ricky Skaggs and Loreena McKennitt, brought quite a few first-time visitorsto the event.

"We were very fortunate to have...Loreena McKennitt, Ricky Skaggs and the String Sisters, all in the same year, all on our wish list for a long time," Foulds said.

"We had new audiences join us who were fans of some of those people, particularly Ricky and Loreena, who might not have thought Celtic Colours was their cup of tea, but I think they do now."

Foulds saidlive streaming the performances alsohelped to attract new people in recent years.

The 19th annual festival opened on Oct.9and wrapped upon Saturdaynight with a concert at Centre 200 featuring Ricky Skaggs, J.P. Cormier and the Barra MacNeils.