As one of Atlantic Canada’s largest agricultural fairs, the Big Ex offers its fair share of exhibits and shows for those interested in the farming traditions of yesteryear.

From ox pulls to horse shows to a 4-H barn, with everything agricultural under the sun, the Big Ex is a unique summer event.

But the excitement isn’t confined to the animal barns — the midway, run by Campbell Amusements, offers rides and games to enchant all ages, while special shows during the week delight the musical senses of visitors. Last year’s Joel Plaskett show, for instance, was a tremendous hit.

This year, the South Shore Exhibition runs for a full week, beginning with the kickoff on July 23.

That’s probably why, more than 250 years later, Lunenburg County is home to a wide array of fine restaurants and pubs that are sure to ignite your salivary glands.

Some of the country’s most famous folk artists are proud to call the South Shore their home and their office!

Producing a wide variety of folk art, from the slightly unusual to the truly offbeat, you can bet they’ve got something up their talented sleeves that will appeal to your creative side.

From majestic forests to fog-dusted coastlines to ripple-free reflections, it is no exaggeration to say that there are few places on Earth that match the combination of natural beauties that the South Shore has to offer.

And the best way to take in all that mind-blowing visual candy is to take your car off Highway 103 and cruise along as many coastal routes as your car can find.

This year will mark the 21st that the tour has been in operation, giving a glance inside the exquisite heritage homes that dot the community’s landscape. In addition to the traditional touring of homesteads, don’t forget the other half of the tour, which includes a tour around Chester’s back and front harbours.

With over 500 attendees, the event does a wonderful job of presenting the history and the beauty that Chester is known for, both on the water and on land.

Proceeds from the house and harbour tour are used to help maintain and operate the Chester Heritage Society’s holdings.

From Chester to Bridgewater to New Germany, an array of special dinners, parades and other fun activities abound for young and old. If you’re lucky enough to be cruising the LaHave River Valley, the highlight of Canada’s birthday is always the exciting evening fireworks display that lights up the town like you wouldn’t believe.

In past years, the late September celebration has included an extensive antiques fair, a magical pumpkin patch tour, breakfast with the blues, a quilt jamboree, live theatre and special concert events at the bandstand.

The highlight of the festival, however, is the Great Scarecrow Challenge in which a plethora of local citizens and businesses try to come up with the most remarkable, dazzling or mind-blowing scarecrow scene in town.

Favourites in the past have ranged from the Royal Family to The Rolling Stones.

The event celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006, and the 2007 session is sure to be a fresh breath of autumn air for locals and visitors alike.

When on the water, you may even be lucky enough to see the two giant humpback whales that have been regularly spotted off our shores in recent years.

And, while whale sightings aren’t necessarily guaranteed, the puffins, seals and a variety of other marine life are sure to show up and offer you a special brand of natural entertainment that you’re not soon to forget.