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New Glasgow showers Pearl Mist cruisers in fall harvest hospitality

Kimberly Dickson
New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan, left, greeted Pearl Mist cruisers including Art Orland from Warren, Mich.
A town crier, the mayor with his tartan-clad Newfoundland dog, a piper and Farmers Market vendors were part of a 'Fall Flavours of New Glasgow' shore excursion for Pearl Mist passengers Thursday. The tour was offered in connection with a call at the Port of Pictou, Nova Scotia, one of Atlantic Canada's emerging small ports.

Named for Glasgow, Scotland, the riverside town of New Glasgow keeps its Scottish heritage alive through folk songs, Highland dancing, fiddling and piping.

The Pearl Seas Cruises ship had been scheduled to visit Saturday for New Glasgow's annual Farmers Market Fall Harvest Fest. But when Atlantic weather conditions changed the itinerary twice, bringing Pearl Mist to Pictou on Thursday and Friday, vendors from the New Glasgow Farmers Market rallied. They presented paintings, clay creations, pumpkin seed poinsettia Christmas ornaments, hand-knit woolens, honey, chocolate, seashell collectibles, wooden spoons, bird houses, crafted toys, preserves, photography, art note cards and other items.

Passengers were greeted on arrival by a piper, New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan and his wife with their Newfoundland dog in tartan and town crier Jim Stewart in full regalia, who delivered a special welcome cry. Pictou Mayor Joe Hawes and a variety of other local officials were on hand. A fiddler and singer performed, and locally made apple cider, shortbread cookies and oatcakes were served.

Glasgow Square was decorated with fall harvest pumpkins, gourds and autumn leaves.

'The passengers loved the experience,' according to Geralyn MacDonald, co-chair of the Pictou County Cruise Ship Committee and director of Community Economic Development for the Town of New Glasgow. 'The cruise director told me this is an excursion [they] would remember and one that provided a special and warm welcome.'

Passengers also visited the Pictou waterfront, the Hector Heritage Quay and the Museum of Industry.

It was Pearl Mist's second visit to Pictou and the third cruise call, following Saga Pearl in 2012.