Lobster Carnival cancelled
SUMMERSIDE – The City of Summerside has cancelled the 2020 Summerside Lobster Carnival.
The decision was made a day after the P.E.I. Association of Exhibitions cancelled a number of festival events for the summer, including Old Home Week.
"COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of the 2020 Summerside Lobster Carnival, which celebrates three of Prince Edward Island passions, lobster, harness racing
and good entertainment,” read Carrie Adams from a statement provided by Culture Summerside.
Also cancelled is the 64th annual Summerside Lobster Carnival parade.
Lori Ellis, manager of Heritage and Cultural Properties with Culture Summerside, said the Summerside Lobster Carnival will be back in 2021.
Meanwhile, as a way to still celebrate the industry this summer and bring the Summerside communities together, Culture Summerside has developed an alternative plan – A Seafood Taste of P.E.I. This virtual event will be held on Saturday, July 11, with supper and a kitchen party live-streamed into people’s homes.
“We wanted to be able to offer the community some of what they would get at the carnival grounds, without risking anyone’s health. So, we developed our virtual evening by identifying the elements that really resonate with carnival-goers – lobster, Island culture and great entertainment,” said Ellis.
Event chef Robert Pendergast will create affordable lobster dishes people can prepare along with him from their kitchen for family and guests. Then while people gather at the table, the Richard Wood Trio will provide kitchen party entertainment.
There will also be several special guests and contests.
Adams praised the staff at Culture Summerside and the city for working to develop an alternative event.
“We are very lucky to have a dedicated team in place to pull off this virtual event. We are hoping that, since we won’t have tourists from far and wide, we will be able to reach even more people virtually. So those families out West and in Ontario, for example, that couldn’t come home this summer, will be able to have a party of their own like they would if they were here,” said Adams.
Adams is hopeful the running of the Governor’s Plate will go ahead after Premier Dennis King announced during a recent press conference that he would like to keep longtime running events going, like the Gold Cup and Saucer.