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Photo Credit: Tourism PEI
PEI is a great place for a summer vacation and a great place to spend a few days — why not take in a festival while you’re there? Whether it’s folk music or seafood, or potatoes, you’re sure to enjoy some great weather and a great time with that famous Island hospitality. Here are 25 festivals to attend in PEI.
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Festival of Small Halls
The first on our list is one of PEI’s most popular festivals — the Festival of Small Halls takes place in many churches around PEI. The Festival of Small Halls is mostly on folk and orchestral/gospel music and is performed almost exclusively in churches and other small venues throughout PEI to create a family-friendly, relaxed atmosphere. If you enjoy intimate settings with acoustic music, then the Festival of Small Halls is for you. For more information, visit the Festival of Small Halls’ website.
June 9th-23rd, 2019
Various locations through PEI
$10 & up
Indian River Festival
The Indian River Festival welcomes singers, songwriters and musicians for this three-month musical extravaganza. Mostly focused on folk, blues, classical and instrumental music, this festival is open to all ages and tickets can be purchased for single events or as a package for the entire festival. If you’re looking for a festival that has something for everyone, then a visit to at least one show at the Indian River Festival is a must. For more information, visit the Indian River Festival website.
2019 Artists: Jeremy Dutcher, Tracy Cantin,The Once, Brett Polegato, Catherine MacLellan,VC2 Cello Duo, David Myles, Ironwood Quartet, The Fretless, French Squeeze, Rose Cousins, Indian River Festival Chorus, The Small Glories, Saskatoon Children’s Choir, Dmitri Levkovich & Agne Radzeviciute, Scandinavian String Alliance, Lina Boudreau, Pro Coro, Shari Ulrich, Bach Sonatas with Mark Fewer & Hank Knox and MORE!
June mid – September mid, 2019
St. Mary’s Church, St. John’s
$20.00 – $250 (Festival Pass)
The Charlottetown Festival
Charlottetown! The city where Canada’s Confederation was born, and while the Charlottetown festival doesn’t exclusively celebrate Confederation, it’s festival is still a celebration of Canada. One of the highlights of this year’s festival is “Anne of Green Gables, the Musical”, along with the “Kronborg-The Hamlet Rock Musical” hitting the stage at Confederation Hall. For more information, visit the Charlottetown Festival website.
June 21 – September 28, 2019
Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown
~$30.00/show.
PEI Lobster Festival
If you love lobster, then you’ll love the PEI Lobster Festival. This is the third annual PEI Lobster Festival and it promises to be even better than the last one! This year will feature live music as well as delicious lobster cooked by Chef Michael Smith, who made last year’s event so enjoyable. Come down to Souris Harbour and have some delicious PEI lobster. For more information, visit the PEI Lobster Festival website.
Sunday June 30th, 2019
Souris Harbour, Souris
TD PEI Jazz & Blues Festival
June 28-30 2019
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown
$30.00 – $100.00
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
The biggest party of a PEI summer is the Cavendish Beach Music Festival! This country music festival draws thousands of people from across the Maritimes and even across the country. If you love country music, then this festival is a must-see! Come to Cavendish from July 5 to 7 and enjoy the very best in country music!
2019 Lineup: Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, High Valley, Russell Dickerson, Cam, Chad Brownlee, The Washboard Union, Runaway June, Larry Berrio, Frankie Ballard, Livy Jeanne, MacKenzie Porter, Shawn Austin, Ben Chase, Jade Eagleson, Eric Chesser
For more information, see here.
July 5 to 7, 2019
Cavendish Beach, Cavendish.
$85 & up
The Guild Festival
The Guild Festival is one for the theatre lovers among you! Running from late May till late October, the Guild Theatre in downtown Charlottetown will see many different plays this summer, “Anne and Gilbert, the Musical”, based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novels, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, to a Madagascar Jr.”, the Guild Festival has something for everyone. For more information, visit the Guild Festival website.
Late May – Late October, 2019
The Guild Theatre, Downtown Charlottetown
$20.00 – $80.00
Show And Shine Festival
Love antique cars? Then you’ll love PEI’s small “Show and Shine” festival. This one is all about people showing off their beautiful old antique cars. From old trucks to cars, the Show and Shine Festival put on by the PEI Street Rod Association has it all on offer. There’s refreshments and a barbecue planned, so be sure to get your tickets and check out the best car show on the Island! For more information, visit the PEI Street Rod Association website.
June 28 – June 30, 2019
Brundell Park, Brundell
$5.00
Stompin’ Tom Fest
Stompin’ Tom Connors was a legend of Prince Edward Island and a Canadian music legend in his own right. PEI’s Stompin’ Tom Fest celebrates the life and times of Stompin’ Tom Connors and any fans of Stompin’ Tom, or of folk music more broadly, should attend the Stompin’ Tom Fest. For a great three days of a musical homage to a great man taken too soon, get a ticket tot the Stompin’ Tom Festival.
For more information, visit the Stompin’ Tom Festival website.
2019: June 8, 22, 28, July 13, 27, August 10, 24, September 14, 28
Skinners Pond, PEI
PEI Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival
Another bluegrass festival on PEI (you may be noticing something of a theme)… This time, it’s the Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival. This festival, created by the Old Time Music Society is part of a concerted (pun very much intended) effort to preserve bluegrass and other ‘old time’ music on PEI. This year’s headline acts include: Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Feller and Hill, Tommy Brown and County Line Grass. If you’re a lover of small-time festivals with old-time music, get a ticket to the PEI Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival.
July 5, 6 & 7, 2019
Big Field, Rollo Bay
PEI Potato Blossom Festival
Photo Credit: Canadian Tourism Commission
If PEI is famous for one thing, it is their potatoes! This year, mid-July will see the potatoes begin to be harvested and that means one thing — LOTS of potatoes to be eaten! What better way to mark the harvest than with a festival! From the potato peeling contest to the cribbage tournament to the beauty pageants, pool tournaments, and pancake breakfasts… The PEI Potato Blossom Festival promises to be a great time for any lover of potatoes! For more information, visit the PEI Potato Blossom Festival website.
~ Mid July
Main Street, O’Leary
$10.00 – $20.00 (prices vary by events)
Georgetown Summer Days Festival
The Georgetown Summer Days Festival is a hit among locals and Islanders afar like. The festival began last year with a mackerel jigging off Government Wharf, there’s also been dances in the past and live music. While information about the 2019 Georgetown Summer Days Festival is sparse, you can keep an eye on the Georgetown website for upcoming information.
July 17 to 21, 2019
Georgetown, PEI
Summerside Lobster Carnival
If you’re in Summerside this summer and love lobster, then check out the Summerside Lobster Carnival! It’s not all about lobster, though — there’s harness racing, live music, baking contests, demonstrations, lobster-eating competitions and far more! All lobster lovers should take in the Summerside Lobster Carnival. For more information, visit the Summerside Lobster Carnival website.
July 11th – 13th, 2019
Credit Union Place, 511 Notre Dame Street, Summerside
Free admission to the grounds.
Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival
If you love fiddle music, you’ll love the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival. The festival was originally created in the 1970s as a way to preserve Prince Edward Island’s musical and cultural history associated with folk music and fiddles in particular. For those folk music enthusiasts, the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival is one to mark on your calendars.
July 19th – 21st 2019
961 Veteran’s Memorial Hwy, Souris
$40.00 – $75.00
Summerside Arts Festival
Take in the creative atmosphere in downtown Summerside at the Summerside Arts Festival! Featuring local artists showing off their incredible talents, this festival features beautiful paintings and wonderful music as well as several food trucks and confectionery stands, so you’re never far from the action when grabbing food. For anyone who can appreciate either the artistry of the paintbrush or the musical instrument, the Summerside Art Festival isn’t to be missed! For more information, visit the Summerside Art Festival website.
July 23 to 25, 2019
Downtown Historic Water Street – Wyatt Heritage Properties, 205 Prince St, Summerside
St. Peter’s Wild Blueberry Festival
Are you a blueberry lover? Then you must pay a visit to St. Peter’s Wild Blueberry Festival held in St. Peter’s Bay at the end of July and beginning of August. The festival draws in many blueberry lovers from all around the Island and beyond, and in recent years has incorporated a float parade into the festival along with concession stands and various games for children. For more information, visit St. Peter’s Wild Blueberry Festival’ website.
Late July to August 1st Week (2019 July 27th – August 4th 2019)
Saint Peter’s Bay
Highland Games & Scottish Festival
The Highland Games! A celebration of everything Scottish comes to PEI. If you’re of Scottish ancestry, or simply like the idea of the Highland Games, or are just looking for a great festival to attend this summer — make it the Highland Games and Scottish Festival! Information about this year’s events are sparse, but last year welcomed athletic events, Scottish food vendors, highland dancing and bagpipe bands. So, if that’s anything to go by, this year’s festival should be even better! For more information, visit the Highland Games and Scottish Festival Facebook page.
Early August.
Lord Selkirk Campgrounds,
Lord Selkirk Provincial Park, Belfast
Island Fringe Festival
PEI does have it’s own Fringe Festival! The Festival where pretty much anything goes and people with unique stories and ways of getting those stories across can be heard and their stories can be told. It features musical performances, theatrical performances, comedies, tragedies about just about everything under the sun. If you’re interested in a stage-based festival that offers something different, then the PEI Fringe Festival is for you. For more information, visit the PEI Fringe Festival website.
August 1 to 4, 2019
Downtown Charlottetown
Old Home Week
Have fun in this 10 day event. PEI’s Family Fun Fair has everything from live entertainment, educational activities, live stock and horse shows, harness racing, midway amusements, food vendors, competitions. For more information, visit the Old Home Week Fair website.
August 9-17, 2019
Charlottetown
Cloggeroo Folk Festival
More folk music from PEI — there’s a shocker! Cloggeroo is another one of the island’s many summer folk music festivals — but it is described as the “freshest” entering only it’s 6th year of operation. The lineup for 2019 has yet to be announced, but it has previously welcomed the Amanda Jackson and the Beck Sisters, among others, and that’s some quality folk artistry! If you’re a lover of PEI’s folk music, then Cloggeroo is an option for your summer folk music fix. For more information, visit the Cloggeroo Folk Festival website.
August 9-11, 2019
West Street Park, Georgetown
PEI Ploughing Match & Agricultural Fair
For more information, visit the Dundas Agricultural Fair website.
Aug 23 – 25, 2019.
Dundas, PEI
River Days Festival
The River Days festival takes place this year in late August in the small seaside town of Stanley Bridge. The festival uses the waterways well with a boat parade, accompanied by excellent food and music from local sources, and a bridge lighting ceremony. If you’re in the area this summer in late August, check out the River Days Festival. For more information, visit the River Days Festival website.
Late August, 2019
Stanley Bridge
PEI Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival (L’Exposition Agricole et le Festival Acadien)
Join Prince Edward Islanders as they celebrate their Acadian Heritage at the PEI Agricultural Exposition and Acadian Festival. Learn more about the history of Acadians on the Island and how they farmed the land centuries ago, and how they farm it today. Discover the relationship that formed between PEI’s Acadian farmers and the Island and enjoy some fantastic food from the earth and musical celebrations while you’re at it. For more information, visit the Agricultural Expo website.
Late August / 2019: August 28 to September 1, 2019
1745 Route 124, Abram-Village
The Fall Flavours Festival
A unique culinary adventure highlighting authentic Prince Edward Island tastes & traditions. Incredible food, delightful venues, entertaining hosts, one-of-a-kind experiences. Some of the most fabulous and intimate food experiences you can imagine, including Signature Events hosted by popular celebrity chef personalities! website.
August 30 to October 6, 2019
Across PEI
PEI International Shellfish Festival
Love shellfish? Crabs? Lobster? Quahogs? Well, then the PEI International Shellfish Festival is for you! With live music and other entertainment as well as shellfish eating contests, oyster shucking championships, and the Tie One On Mussel Competition, there’s no shortage of food and enjoyment at the PEI International Shellfish Festival, attended by shellfish lovers from around the Island and indeed around the world. For more information, visit the PEI International Shellfish Festival website.
September 19-22, 2019
360 Grafton Street, Charlottetown.