Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay took some time out of her busy day to chill with Vacay.ca and talk about the town she governs and loves. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Jodi MacKay)
Located about 100 kilometres (65 miles) northwest of Halifax, Wolfville is a picturesque university town nestled on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Surrounded by the fertile Annapolis Valley, it’s known for fresh produce that fuels a thriving wine, cider, and culinary scene. In recent years, Wolfville has also emerged as an entertainment and cultural hub.
Elected in October 2024, Mayor Jodi MacKay set goals for Wolfville that include advancing accessibility, removing barriers, and ensuring all residents can participate fully in community life. In Vacay.ca’s first instalment of “Margarita with a Mayor”, a series intended to spotlight local initiatives across the country, we caught up with MacKay. Among topics discussed was the Nova Scotia city’s signature event, Devour! The Food Film Fest, plus Mud Creek Days and her love of seafood.
Vacay.ca: Mayor MacKay, how are you doing?
Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay: Fantastic. It’s a beautiful day here in the Annapolis Valley.
Vacay.ca: Well, it usually is. Wolfville has a lot of cool things going on for a small town. Vacay.ca was there two years ago for Devour! The Food Film Festival. It was amazing.
MacKay: Yes, Devour is amazing.
Vacay.ca: What’s happened in town in the past two years?
MacKay: We’ve upgraded our waterfront. We have a beautiful new Wolfville sign. It’s all metal, and ages beautifully with the ocean and the high tides behind it. It’s the perfect backdrop.
The Wolfville sign is a popular stop for photographers. Wolfville is a tourist destination because of its views of Cape Blomidon, the Bay of Fundy and Gaspereau Valley, as well as its wine industry. (Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Jordan Campbell)
Vacay.ca: Tell us about Mud Creek Days.
MacKay: Our town was known as Mud Creek before we were Wolfville because of all of the mud tides behind us. So we named the event Mud Creek Days. It’s a celebration of our birthday. We do tortillas, tacos, pizzas, and the event usually includes a big community cookout. We close down Main Street for a party with bands, DJs, chalk art. It’s all ages and everyone comes out. There’s also a mud challenge.
Vacay.ca: A mud challenge?
Enjoying a glass of wine at Inn at Grane Pre Winery, the oldest farm winery site in Atlantic Canada. (Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: PhototypeHFX)
MacKay: Yes, it’s a competition between six-person teams, all based in the mud—obstacle courses, building things. You’re literally knee-deep in mud.
Vacay.ca: I can’t talk about Wolfville without talking more about Devour!, the Food Film Festival. It’s very unique festival that showcases some of the best food in the region. A lot of credit goes to executive director Michael Howell and managing director Lia Rinaldo for their hard work making this festival a success. What are your thoughts on Devour?
Devour! The Food Film Fest managing director Lia Rinaldo and executive director Michael Howell address an audience. (Photo courtesy of Devour! The Food Film Fest)
MacKay: It’s one of my favourites. I like to eat and I like beverages, so it’s a good time. But beyond that, it’s the film, the art—everything.
Vacay.ca: One of the great things about this festival is they have a different theme each year. The theme this year is “Serious Seafood Skills”—it’s always something unexpected. We’re assuming you’re a seafood lover?
MacKay: Oh, yes, the more, the better. Mussels and lobster are my top two. Oh, and scallops!
Vacay.ca: You lit up when you said scallops like Homer Simpson saying “beer”.
MacKay: (Laughing) Exactly!
Vacay.ca: There are other events, too. You mentioned Mud Creek Days, as well as Wolfville’s Night of Lights and the Waterfront Dance Festival.
MacKay: Yes, we have concerts every Sunday in the summer at Waterfront Park. There’s also Deep Roots, a folk music festival just before Devour—amazing. The Waterfront Dance Festival is new—two locals teach free dancing, all by the sea. Night of Lights is really cool; last year was the busiest ever. We had Santa in a yurt, a silent disco, a petting zoo and s’mores. We ran out of hot chocolate eight times!
Vacay.ca: Mayor, you’re killing us. Our team wants to fly there now.
A couple take a romantic walk along the ocean floor at Evangeline Beach. Some of the highest tides in the world can be found in this part of the world. (Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Alexa Cude)
MacKay: Come back!
Vacay.ca: Devour! has really helped put your city on the map. Would you say that?
MacKay: Devour! is an outstanding event but Wolfville has always been special. We have the world’s highest tides and a stunning backdrop. But Devour puts us on a world stage—it showcases our local farms and the farm-to-table culture.
Vacay.ca: You have some real natural wonders. One moment you can see the riverbed, and the next, it’s full of water.
MacKay: Yep. Highest tides in the world.
Originally known as Thompson House, Tattingstone Inn is an Italianate-style home that was built in 1874 as a farmhouse. (Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Michelle Doucette)
Vacay.ca: Wolfville also has a great culinary scene. Can you name a few places you love? I realize no mayor necessarily wants to name favourites, but …
MacKay: True. My regular spots are The Church Brewing Co.—great deck, food, and their Saltwater Joys Gose beer. The building is a repurposed Baptist church, which won a heritage award. The Library Pub is right on the corner, with open garage doors and a very relaxed vibe. They serves Mediterranean cuisine—always excellent. For special occasions, I love Blomidon Inn for dinner, and Tattingstone Inn for brunch.
Vacay.ca: You also have a strong cider and wine scene. Can you talk about that?
MacKay: Yes. In town, we have Church Brewing and Paddy’s Pub. Also Annapolis Cider Co.—their cider maker, Joey [Courchesne], was named Canadian Cider Maker of the Year. There are no distilleries in town, but Barreling Tide is just across the water in Port Williams—they make a great gin. Nearby wineries: Lightfoot & Wolfville, Inn at Grand Pré, Benjamin Bridge and Blomidon. I tried orange wine at Grand Pré recently—amazing with seafood. Have you done the Magic Wine Bus?
The Tangled Garden is a popular stop for visitors. The garden is a charming combination of green space, fountains, flowers, herbs and fruits, as well as artisanal foods, vinegars and drinks. (Rod Charles photo for Vacay.ca)
Vacay.ca: No.
MacKay: You should do the wine bus next time—double-decker, like in London. It takes you to all the wineries.
Vacay.ca: There’s also a lot of history. I stayed at The Evangeline (Borden House), saw Grand Pré National Historic Site. And, of course, there is Acadia University. Are there any landmarks that move you?
MacKay: The Randall Museum of Science, Nature and the Arts in town. They’re currently renovating it. It features an exact replica of Wolfville from the Mud Creek era—really fascinating.
Vacay.ca: Any hidden gems?
MacKay: Yes! The Botanical Gardens at the Harriet Irving Centre on the Acadia campus—peaceful, with lily ponds. Millennium Trails—right off Main Street, great for finding quiet spots. I also love the Wolfville Legion, a vibrant community hub now, with darts, karaoke and barbecues—it’s stunning.
Prior to 1830 Wolfville was known as Mud Creek because of its mud-filled harbour. Today, the community celebrates Mud Creek Days, easily one of the muddiest festivals in the world. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Jodi MacKay)
Vacay.ca: I never thought of the Legion as a tourism site.
MacKay: Most people don’t, but ours is special.
Vacay.ca: Now that Canada and the U.S. are having some travel friction, are you seeing more domestic visitors?
MacKay: Definitely. More license plates from Quebec, Ontario—more people are exploring eastern Canada now, which is great. We’re not seeing a lot of Americans, but there are plenty of Canadians. Once people visit Wolfville, it changes their travel habits—they want to come back.
Founded in 2016, the Annapolis Cider Company is a locally owned business that has grown to become one of Canada’s leading premium cider brands. (Rod Charles photo for Vacay.ca)
Vacay.ca: Second-to-last question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about Wolfville?
MacKay: There’s a feeling you get here. Whether it’s the salt air, the tides, the people—or all of it. We joke and say it’s “pixie dust.” You come into town and feel sprinkled by something magical. You can’t quite explain it.
Vacay.ca: That’s beautiful. Final question—what can we expect from Wolfville in 2026?
Grand-Pré Historic Site is famous for the “Le Grand Dérangement”. In 1755, during the British-French conflict (Seven Years’ War), thousands of Acadians were forcibly removed from this location by the British. (Rod Charles photo for Vacay.ca)
MacKay: We are finishing off the year by hosting Olympic curling pre-trials! As far as festivals, there is Deep Roots Music Festival, Devour, Valley Harvest Marathon. We support the arts—live music, films, something happening every night. Come any time of year—there’s always something happening. You won’t be disappointed. We punch above our weight!
Vacay.ca: No argument there. Thank you, Mayor MacKay. It was a pleasure sharing a margarita — figuratively speaking — with you. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.
MacKay: Thank you, my pleasure. Be sure and visit us again soon.
MORE ABOUT WOLFVILLE
Nova Scotia Tourism: Website
Wolfville: Website
