Specials & Packages

2008 St. Croix International Homecoming Festival and Chocolate Fest

International Festival: Friday, August 1st - Sunday, August 10th, 2008.
Chocolate Fest: Monday, August 4th - Saturday, August 9th, 2008.

Perfect for chocolate lovers and folks returning for St. Stephen and Milltown school class reunions. Stay at Blair House during the 35th Annual St. Croix International Homecoming Festival and Chocolate Fest. Various musical and other local events are offered each day on either side of the border in St. Stephen, New Brunswick and Calais, Maine – waterfront concerts and dances, church suppers, cross-border parade, craft fairs, draft horse pull, rubber ducky race, lumberjack competition and fireworks.

The International Parade is on Saturday, August 9th. This year it starts in St. Stephen, crosses the international bridge over the St. Croix river and ends in Calais.
Fireworks on the waterfront just below our home concludes the International Festival on Sunday night, August 10th. Updated International Festival Week information can be found at the Town of St. Stephen's website http://www.chocolatetown.ca/ or by contacting them at brag@nb.sympatico.ca or phone (506) 466-7406.

Chocolate Fest 2008 starts Monday, August 4th and continues until Saturday, August 9th.

"In lieu of the famous Ganong Factory Tours, Chocolate Fest are now offering a new and exciting event-- "TASTE OF CHOCOLATE". This unique experience will take you into the old Ganong Factory where you will see and smell "Ganongs Best", chocolate and candy. Through displays and conversations you will be witness to chocolate-centred 'chicken bones' being created, watch employees hand dip candy and nut centres into smooth, velvety chocolate. Did you know it is a long process to make just one jelly bean? Watch as our skilled candy makers show you how it is done. Return to the past as you view candy making equipment from long ago. Maybe you will find an ancestor in the many photographs of past employees. Listen very closely and you may even hear the ghostly whirr and clang of the old equipment, hear the employees busily working, maybe discussing the days events. Before you leave, you will be able to taste-test and sample many of Ganong Brothers Chocolate and Candy."

"TASTE OF CHOCOLATE" tours are Tuesday August 5th to Friday August 8th. Tours daily at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Only a 10-minute walk from Blair House.

Immigration, Work & Student Visa Paperwork

Blair House is perfectly situated for travelers coming to St. Stephen to process the paperwork for their landed-immigrant and  work or student visa. St. Stephen, New Brunswick/Calais, Maine is the nearest international border crossing for many people living in southern New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and parts of Maine. Blair House is just a 10-minute walk to the international bridge and the Immigration Canada office (1-506-466-2119).  For guests traveling by bus to St. Stephen, the Acadian bus depot is located on the outskirts of St. Stephen at the Red Rooster Restaurant & Esso gas station, 2.5 miles/4 km from Blair House. There are two taxi services in St. Stephen. For guests from Maine traveling by bus to Calais, taxi services do cross the international border with passengers. To avoid disappointment and delays, make sure your medical exam results are in the computer system at the Citizenship & Immigration Canada office here before traveling to St. Stephen.


Business Travel
Family & School Class Reunions
Wedding Groups
Small Meetings