Destinations Canada
YouTube/Newstate Nomads
Caitlyn Knuth
Whether you’re enamored with changing seasonal colors or looking for the perfect moment to enjoy outdoor recreation, minus the soaring temperatures, fall is a fantastic time to travel. This shoulder season often enjoys fewer crowds to contend with, too. If you’re an adventurer who has a passion for fall festivals, there’s no better place to find yourself this time of year than Prince Edward Island.
Adored by many for its lighthouses, beautiful beaches, and Acadian forest trails, Prince Edward Island is ideal for those who love to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors. While it’s deemed the smallest of all of Canada’s provinces, Prince Edward Island has earned a big reputation for hosting fun fall festivals that bring in visitors from across the map. Saltwire reported on exciting projections by Tourism Minister Matthew MacKay in April of 2022, estimating that around 1.3 million non-resident visitors would make their way to Prince Edward Island by the end of 2023.
One of the first fall festivals on the lineup for locals and visitors to enjoy is the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival, which happens each September. This four-day event showcases the province’s robust shellfish scene with an agenda that includes celebrity chef demonstrations, tasting sessions, oyster shucking competitions, and plenty of live music and dancing to go around as well. Events are hosted at the Charlottetown Event Grounds with participating restaurants across Charlottetown hosting specialized events during the festival too.
Festival fun from scarecrows to fall flavors
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Expanding your fall festival itinerary when you make your way to Prince Edward Island isn’t a difficult task. Throughout the month of October, you can enjoy time with family and friends at the Charlottetown Scarecrow Festival, hosted downtown. This event utilizes this charming seaside city’s colorful and historic setting to work as a backdrop for hundreds of scarecrows on display during the festival. Don’t be surprised if you see scarecrows popping up in store windows and restaurant entryways as well this time of year. The festival incorporates even more fun for participants through scarecrow-making workshops, harvest dinners, wine-tasting events, and self-guided scarecrow tours.
Additional flavor and thrills can be found at the Prince Edward Island Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival. This highly-anticipated event happens each year in the first half of October, and includes two weeks of celebration focused on the island’s impressive culinary scene. The Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival is scheduled to align with the harvest season and was first established back in 2007. Festival events span communities across Prince Edward Island and include everything from lobster catching and clam digs to culinary workshops, community mussel boils, and chef-led sit-down dinners at participating restaurants.
Pair history and culture with entertainment
YouTube/Tourism PEI
Yet another exciting and inviting fall festival to add to your list this autumn when you’re exploring Prince Edward Island is the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival. This festival is designed as a weekend of entertainment for locals and visitors who find themselves in the Abram-Village area. It’s a family-friendly event designed to celebrate Acadian culture and local agriculture where participants can enjoy live music and local cuisine too.
Beyond the performances and fantastic flavors available, the Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival includes a parade, an arts and crafts area for kids, a talent competition, and local artist exhibitions for browsing. The step-dancing show at the festival is always a delight, while many visitors drop by specifically looking forward to the time they plan to enjoy at the home-cooked lobster supper. When you participate in this Canadian island fall festival, you’ll be part of a meaningful Labor Day weekend tradition dating back to 1902.
Heading to Prince Edward Island in the fall is a great choice for festival attendees from near and far. Locals see this as an exceptionally special time of year brimming over with reasons to celebrate culture, food, and drink in good company. Being a part of that experience is something you won’t soon forget.
