Festivals and Events

June through mid-October, the calendar is crowded with events—many of them arts-oriented. Summerside, Georgetown, and Victoria-by-the-Sea also host their own summer theater festivals. Different musical genres are represented, too, and sporting events are prevalent. Witness eating as an extreme sport at numerous over-the-top seafood festivals.

Cavendish Beach Music Festival. Cavendish goes a little bit country during July's three-day Beach Music Festival—make that a lot country: Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Reba McEntire are past headliners. 8779 Rte. 6, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. 855/929–6336; cavendishbeachmusic.com.

Charlottetown Festival. PEI's marquee theatrical event is the Charlottetown Festival, where Anne of Green Gables—The Musical takes center stage among around a dozen shows in five venues. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 902/628–1864; 800/565–0278; www.charlottetownfestival.com.

Gran Fondo PEI. Cyclists mount up for rides and races during the three-day Gran Fondo PEI event in late August. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 902/368–4985; granfondo-pei.ca.

Old Home Week. A favorite among locals, Old Home Week centers on harness racing, with other events including agricultural shows, concerts, and entertainment for kids. It's held in Charlottetown each August. Eastlink Centre, 46 Kensington Rd., Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 7N9. 902/629–6623; oldhomeweekpei.com.

PEI International Shellfish Festival. Democratic as always, Charlottetown plays no favorites with seafood during the four-day PEI International Shellfish Festival in mid-September. It promises all kinds of seafood galore (some of it prepared by celebrity guest chefs) along with fishing excursions, cooking demos, and other themed events. Charlottetown Event Grounds, corner of Grafton and Water Sts., Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 866/955–2003; peishellfish.com.

PEI Jazz & Blues Festival. The capital gets jazzed up in August for the PEI Jazz and Blues Festival. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 902/894–7131; www.jazzandblues.ca.

Prince Edward Island Marathon. Runners from across Canada race for the finish line during the Prince Edward Island Marathon in October. It starts out from Brackley Beach in the Prince Edward Island National Park, follows part of the Confederation Trail, and the finish line is at the south end of University Avenue in Charlottetown. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 902/566–5841; www.peimarathon.ca.

Summerside Lobster Carnival. Summerside holds a weeklong Lobster Festival every July, with a parade, concerts, triathlon, crafts, sand-castle building, and all kinds of other family fun—and, of course, lobsters. The hub of the action is at Green's Shore. Summerside, Prince Edward Island. 902/724–4925; www.summersidelobsterfest.com.

Tyne Valley Oyster Festival. Tyne Valley, an attractive Prince County community, hosts an Oyster Festival in late July/early August, complete with fried oyster suppers, oyster chowder competitions, and the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship. Concerts and food vendors complete the five-day lineup. Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island. 902/439–1716; www.peioysterfest.com.