Summer celebration: New Waterford Coal Dust Days kick off 43rd annual festival this weekend

'We welcome all communities to come and enjoy the festivities'

It wouldn’t be a summer in New Waterford without the annual Coal Dust Days festival being the centre of attention in the former coal mining town. Coal Dust Days will kick off its 2026 edition this weekend with events scheduled across the town, beginning with the annual tavern tour known as the “Coal Town Tour” and Beer Bash at the New Waterford and District Community Centre on Saturday. The official start of the festival is on Sunday, highlighted by East Coast Pro Wrestling on Plummer Avenue and the opening concert and fireworks at Colliery Lands Park on Sunday evening.

Alexis Lamarche, chairperson for the New Waterford Coal Dust Days, said the organizing committee is working hard to ensure this year’s festival is the best one yet. “The Coal Dust Days festival is based on New Waterford’s strong coal mining history. We welcome all communities to come and enjoy the festivities,” said Lamarche.

“You’ll be sure to find an event or two that you’ll enjoy. We have something for everyone.” Monday will be highlighted by the Kaye (Casey) MacSween Memorial Walk the Loop, the New Waterford Open golf tournament and the New Waterford and District Sports Heritage Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The third annual Bill Corbett Memorial Antique and Custom Car Show will be held on Plummer Avenue on Tuesday, while the Susan Coombes Memorial Teddy Bear Picnic and Sobey’s Children’s Festival will take place on Wednesday at Colliery Lands Park. The highly popular Plummer Avenue Day will take place on Thursday, while several events are also scheduled for July 17 and 18, leading to the Coal Dust Days parade on July 19. LIST OF EVENTS July 10-12 New Waterford Minor Baseball – Second Annual Coal Dust Days Classic – Jerry Marsh Ball Field, Tucker Ball Field, Burns Field and Ray (Bozo) Steele Memorial Ball Park July 11 5 p.m. – Third annual New Waterford Coal Town Tour “Day Shift” 9 p.m. – Beer Bash featuring The Relatives, New Waterford and District Community Centre July 12 1:30 p.m. – Pro Wrestling on Plummer Avenue 2 p.m. – Food Market, New Waterford Legion 2:30 p.m. – Meat Roll, New Waterford Legion 3 p.m. – Wings at the Fire Hall, New Waterford Fire Hall 3 p.m. – Live Music, French Club 5 p.m. – Bingo, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 7:30 p.m. – Opening Concert and Fireworks, Colliery Lands Park July 13 10 a.m. –

The Kaye (Casey) MacSween Memorial Walk The Loop, Rose Schwartz Memorial Park 12 p.m. – Art and Show Sale, New Waterford Seniors and Pensioners Club 12 p.m. – Dart Tournament in support of the BEC Bears varsity basketball team 1 p.m. – New Waterford Open Golf Tournament, Lingan Golf and Country Club 6 p.m. – New Waterford and District Sports Heritage Hall of Fame banquet, Knights of Columbus 6:30 p.m. – Cornhole and Darts, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 8 p.m. – Ceilidh, New Waterford Legion July 14 9 a.m. – Family Yoga with Melissa, Colliery Lands Park 1 p.m. – Museum Scavenger Hunt, Colliery Lands Park 6 p.m. – Ball Hockey Championship, New Waterford and District Community Centre 6 p.m. – Third Annual Bill Corbett Memorial Antique and Custom Car Show, Plummer Avenue 6 p.m. – The Rocker Fellas performance, Rose Schwartz Park, Plummer Avenue 6 p.m. – Wing Night, Rack N’ Roll 6:30 p.m. – Drop in For Fun, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 7 p.m. – Meat Darts, French Club 7:30 p.m. – Cloud Nine Karaoke, New Waterford Legion July 15 1 p.m. – Susan Coombes Memorial Teddy Bear Picnic and Sobey’s Children’s Festival, Colliery Lands Parks 1 p.m. – Make Your Own Pizza, Big Daddy’s Pizza 1 p.m. – Calvin United Church Women’s Annual Strawberry Festival, Calvin United Church 1 p.m. – Second annual Jim Henry Memorial Tarabish Tournament, New Waterford Seniors and Pensioners Club 2 p.m. – Kitchen Party, New Waterford Legion 5 p.m. – Outdoor Coffee House, Rose Schwartz Memorial Park 5:30 p.m. – Fourth Annual “Eat My Dust” Motorcycle Poker Run, New Waterford Fire Hall 6 p.m. – Teddy Bear Sleepover, New Waterford Library 7 p.m. – Tarabish Tournament, Knights of Columbus 7 p.m. – Bingo, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 July 16 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Plummer Avenue Day 12 p.m. – Kinsmen Bingo, New Waterford Seniors and Pensioners Club 1 p.m. – Cribb Tournament, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 7 p.m. – Name That Tune, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 7 p.m. – Wing Night, French Club 8 p.m. – Plummer Avenue Day Wrap Up and Street Dance July 17 10 a.m. – Second Annual Janet Morrison Memorial Sensory-Friendly Drop In and Play, Electric Candy 1 p.m. – Parisotto’s Slice Challenge, Parisotto’s Pizzeria and Bakery 1 p.m. – Book Signing by Randall James, Midtown Pharmasave 6 p.m. – Outdoors Kids Dance and Karaoke, Colliery Lands Park 6 p.m. – After Work Party, Rack N’ Roll 7 p.m. – Boozy Bingo, New Waterford Legion 7 p.m. – Meat Darts, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 8 p.m. – 80s

Dance Party with Erin O’Brien, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 8:30 p.m. – Third Annual Coal Lot of Laughs, Knights of Columbus 9:30 p.m. – Live Music by Renegade, French Club July 18 2 p.m. – Kitchen Party, New Waterford Legion 2 p.m. – Doll Carriage and Superhero Bicycle Parade, Rose Schwartz Memorial Park 4 p.m. – Fourth Annual Food Truck Rally, Rose Schwartz Memorial Park 4 p.m. – Annual Pet Show, Rose Schwartz Memorial Park 4 p.m. – Grads of 1976 Reunion, Rack N’ Roll 4 p.m. – Revamped New Chainrunners RC Show and Shine, Plummer Avenue 8 p.m. – Dance Floor, Army and Navy Airforce Veterans Unit 217 9 p.m. – Karaoke, French Club July 19 9 a.m. – Rocking around New Waterford 9 a.m. – Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, New Waterford Legion 10 a.m. – Water Fun with Firefighters, New Waterford Volunteer Fire Department 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Minor Baseball Day, Jerry Marsh Ball Field 2 p.m. – Coal Dust Days Parade