The Lunenburg Heritage Society Bandstand

Lunenburg, NS

Public Space

The Lunenburg Heritage Society Bandstand sits in the centre of the Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The current bandstand is an exact replica of the original built in 1889 and was rebuilt in 1987 by the Lunenburg Heritage Society. It is located at the junction of Cumberland and King Streets – next to the Town Hall. The great wooden structure was re-created with great attention to detail and is a favorite of townspeople and visitors to the town.

During the holiday season, the bandstand is a centrepiece for the town, decorated with a huge well-lit tree, wreaths, and a crèche at its base, along with lit and decorated trees all around it on the Commons. In summer, it plays host to Sunday afternoon concerts now hosted by Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society and has become a popular site for weddings and photos for all occasions.

This site is a gem year round, and a constant reminder of the dedication of the Lunenburg Heritage Society and the people of the town who were instrumental in its re-creation. What was once a town gathering place that was lost has risen again in great glory!

This public space has become a favourite spot for tourists and residents to rest on a summer day, or take their lunch and enjoy the great view of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It warms the heart to see so many who remember this place return to it to share their wedding vows and create new memories; it is a place of culture and family to be sure. The summer concert series as well as the weekend of concerts hosted by Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society brings people in from all over the world to share music and culture in this historic setting.

The Lunenburg Heritage Society worked diligently to raise the funds needed to rebuild the bandstand and the townspeople were a great support. The Town of Lunenburg supports these efforts by making power available as well as the original building site; they also take great care with the maintenance of the Commons. Lunenburg Folk Harbour has promoted the bandstand and taken over the summer concert series, which is a great boon to the town.

This place is important because it is as all Commons should be: a traditional gathering space, accessible to all people and a source of pride for everyone. It is a beautiful piece of architecture that was created with great care and attention to bring the past forward into the here and now!

This was a great undertaking and to be sure, it was a challenge to re-create. Cooperation between the town and those hired to create it and ensure that the details were historically correct took a great deal of planning and consideration.