Festivals and Events

North Cape Coastal Drive music, food and agricultural festivals take place throughout the spring, summer, fall and winter. Theatre experiences also abound, from larger productions at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside to wildly entertaining community theatre and dinner-theatre shows all around the region.

You can check our calendar to see what’s going on monthly. In the meantime, here are some of the highlights of our Festivals and Events.

The Festival of Small Halls, a much appreciated and particularly popular music festival, takes place in June. It features local and visiting talent at dozens of cozy venues all over the Island.
The Indian River Festival is one of the most popular music festivals on the Island, featuring folk, jazz, blues, classical, Maritime, and world music by the finest artists from Prince Edward Island and across Canada
You won’t want to miss the charm of Chautauqua in Summerside in the month of July. The first Chautauqua came to Summerside in 1919 and today, The Spirit of Chautauqua is a cultural festival consisting of talks, demonstrations and musical performances for all ages and interests.
The Tignish Irish Moss Festival takes place late Juneat the north-western tip of our Island.
Do you like musical entertainment, games, period costumes and delicious strawberry shortcake with ice cream? Then be sure to check out any one of numerous strawberry socials, happening in communities all over the North Cape Touring Region in July.
You are equally sure to enjoy the fun at the Summerside Lobster Carnival where you can feast on lobster and enjoy the excitement of harness racing.
The Tyne Valley Oyster Festival is a week-long celebration, complete with soap box derby, singing competition and a parade, that happens at the very beginning of August. The spotlight is on the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship, with the winner going to Galloway, Ireland, to compete on the international stage.
Our beloved potato is celebrated at the O’Leary Potato Blossom Festival in mid-July.
Don’t miss the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival at the end of August.
An extremely popular newcomer to the festival scene is the delicious Fall Flavours Festival in September. It pairs Island chefs with local communities and the best produce from land and sea that PEI has to offer.
In October, we have Open Farm Days, when visitors and locals alike can visit potato, dairy and alpaca farms to get a close-up look at our farming heritage – and celebrate our innovations.
Over the fall and winter, Sunday acoustic music jams are organized by the Acadian Musical Village and the Evangeline Bluegrass Festival at the Acadian Musical Village in Abram-Village.

Pride, tradition, folklore, family, stories, music, cuisine, livelihood – when we talk about celebrating the coast, we’re really talking about celebrating an entire way of life. We’re talking about the people of the North Cape Coastal region. And of course we’re talking about where you fit into the celebration equation.

Jun

Sun

PEI Nature Inspires Craft @ Eptek Centre

Tickets

Jun 9 @ 2:00 pm – Oct 15 @ 3:00 pm

“PEI Nature Inspires Craft”, this year’s Celebration of Craft exhibit, will feature fine craft inspired by PEI’s natural history. The inspiration pieces include birds, plants, nests, fossils, bones, etc. “PEI Nature Inspires Craft” will showcase the wide variety of craft produced on the Island. This exhibition is mounted in partnership with the PEI Crafts Council, with the support of Innovation PEI. All are welcome to attend the official opening on Sunday, June 9th at 2 pm. This exhibition will be on display until October. Eptek Centre will also be hosting a special, one-night only, art exhibition featuring the work of a group of early learning students on Tuesday, June 18^th at 6 pm. The Reggio Art Exhibit will display artwork created using the Reggio Emilia approach, a student-centered educational philosophy that uses self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments. There is no admission fee for these two opening events and refreshments will be served. The on-site gift shop carries only Island art and craft, as well as books on local themes. Be sure to visit the permanent exhibition on the history and architecture of Summerside, too. Admission is by donation. Eptek Art & Culture Centre is a site of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation and is located at 130 Heather Moyse Drive on the Summerside waterfront, adjacent to the Harbourfront Theatre. For more information call 902-888-8373 (or visit us online at www.peimuseum.com or www.facebook.com/EptekCentre).

Sep

Tue

MACKINNON HOMESTEAD SCOTTISH CEILIDH @ MacKinnon Homestead

Tickets

Sep 24 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Authentic traditional/original Scottish show; Governor Generals’ Award recipient. Group tours welcome!

Show starts at 7:30 pm

Adults $10., Seniors $9., Youth $7., School children $4. and Pre-schoolers free.

Sep

Sat

Heather Rankin @ The College of Piping

Tickets

Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

The Emergency Animal Response Team (EART), in conjunction with the Celtic Performing Arts Centre, is proud to present an evening with one of Atlantic Canada’s most well-known and favourite entertainers, multiple Juno and ECMA award winner Heather Rankin. Heather will be performing a benefit concert for us on September 28th, 2019 in the Celtic Performing Arts Centre at The College of Piping. Along with the concert, there will be a Silent Auction and raffles, including a draw for 2 round trip tickets to any regular WestJet destination. Proceeds from the evening will go towards the operation of EART’s emergency and disaster animal rescue and shelter operations across the Maritimes. Come out and enjoy a fantastic evening of entertainment and meet the volunteers behind this amazing organization.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://secure.ticketpro.ca/?lang=en&aff=cpac#achat_COP28IS19

Oct

Tue

MACKINNON HOMESTEAD SCOTTISH CEILIDH @ MacKinnon Homestead

Tickets

Oct 1 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Authentic traditional/original Scottish show; Governor Generals’ Award recipient. Group tours welcome!

Show starts at 7:30 pm

Adults $10., Seniors $9., Youth $7., School children $4. and Pre-schoolers free.

June – October 2019 Jun – Oct 2019