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PEI Exhibitions – A Cherished Island Tradition

There’s no argument that PEI in the summer is pure magic, but every Islander and visitor will have their take on what makes for a ‘quintessential PEI summer’.

Sun worshippers and swimmers will cite the blissful beach days.

Foodies will tell you that fresh seafood, PEI potatoes and ice cream cones are the stuff of an unforgettable Island summer.

Culture lovers will rave about the ceilidhs, historic sites, and public art installations.

And while we agree these are all key ingredients for an unforgettable PEI summer, let’s not forget the most ‘PEI’ of PEI summer traditions – a visit to one (or more) of the 13 exhibitions that span the Island from June through to September.

Born out of the Island’s rich agricultural roots, ‘going to the exhibition’ has become a rite of passage for every Islander. And once you’ve paid that first visit as a youngster, it’s bound to become a lifelong tradition.

A closer look at PEI’s exhibitions reveals just how integral they are to the fabric of our communities, celebrating our rural ways of life and providing spaces for young and old alike to showcase their talents in everything from singing to raising cows, baking, oyster shucking, and woodworking. Plus, they serve up boatloads of fun for every age.

Community-Focused + Grassroots

At PEI Mutual, we love anything and everything that’s community-focused and grassroots. The PEI exhibitions fit that bill to the T. Under the umbrella of the PEI Association of Exhibitions since 1973, each event is a community-driven undertaking that relies on dedicated volunteers, local business sponsors, local government funding, and other community support.
From Irish moss to oysters, tractor pulls, potatoes and lobsters and more, every exhibition has its own unique flair that reflects the host community’s rural roots.

Here’s the full lineup of exhibitions across Prince Edward Island:

• Tignish Irish Moss Festival
• Summerside Lobster Carnival
• PEI Potato Blossom Festival
• Prince County Exhibition
• Tyne Valley Oyster Festival
• L’exposition agricole et le festival acadien
• Crapaud Exhibition
• Crapaud Tractor Pulls
• Dundas Plowing Match & Agricultural Fair
• PEI Provincial Exhibition/Old Home Week
• Northumberland Fisheries Festival
• PEI Provincial Plowing Match & Agricultural Fair
• Eastern Kings Exhibition

You can get the full schedule and learn more about each event on the PEI Association of Exhibitions website.

A Tradition Since 1839…

The Eastern Kings Exhibition in Souris holds the title of PEI’s oldest exhibition, first established in 1839. Back then, the goal was simply to gather local farmers, share best practices, and showcase the best livestock, crops, and homemade goods.

Almost fifty years later, the PEI Provincial Exhibition (also known as Old Home Week) held its first two-day event in 1888 in Charlottetown. That makes it almost as old as PEI Mutual, which opened its doors in 1885. From these humble beginnings, Old Home Week has grown into one of the Island’s best-known and highly anticipated celebrations. Spanning eight days in mid-August it features high-stakes harness racing, midway rides, the iconic Gold Cup & Saucer Parade, agricultural competitions, live music, and plenty of community fun.

The Crapaud Exhibition also has a long and proud history, with roots stretching back to the 1890s. Like many exhibitions of the era, it centred around rural community life and provided a space where neighbours could connect, engage in friendly competitions, and showcase their prized livestock, pies, and other works.

In the Evangeline region, residents of Urbainville organized their first local exhibition in 1903, laying the foundation for what is now L’Exposition agricole et le festival acadien.

By 1926, Alberton had joined the fun with the first Prince County Exhibition, offering another celebration of farming, food, and community in Western PEI.

Over the decades, other towns and villages followed suit, until exhibitions could be found in nearly every corner of the Island.

Showcasing the Next Generation of PEI Talent

Since 1999, we have donated $419,000 to the PEI Association of Exhibitions to support the PEI Youth Talent Competition, along with other local entertainment featured at the events. Our on-going sponsorship reflects our commitment as a mutual company to building stronger communities and empowering Island youth.

Open to permanent residents of PEI aged 13 to 21, the Youth Talent Competition provides young Islanders with the opportunity to step onto the stage and showcase their talents in an encouraging environment.

For many young performers, it’s their first moment in the spotlight. Whether they’re singing, dancing, playing an instrument or demonstrating another novel skill, the Youth Talent stage offers a platform to build confidence, connect with fellow talents, and pursue their grandest dreams.

The competition features 8 preliminary contests at festivals/exhibitions across the Island and culminates in the Provincial Finals Competition, where the top performers will give it their all in hopes of clinching top place. This year, the finals will be held at L’Exposition agricole et le festival acadien in Abram’s Village on August 29th, 2025.

Celebrating Our Agricultural Roots

As we alluded to earlier, PEI’s exhibitions remain deeply connected to the Island’s rural way of life.

You’ll find tractor pulls, draft horse competitions, and livestock shows, where 4-H members proudly showcase the animals they’ve raised with care.These events pay tribute to the industries that have shaped PEI’s economy and way of life, while providing a hands-on education and plenty of entertainment.

Each exhibition has its own traditions worth noting.

The PEI Potato Blossom Festival in O’Leary celebrates the humble spud with a potato peeling contest.

The Summerside Lobster Carnival pays tribute to PEI’s most famous crustacean with culinary demos, lobster trap stacking competitions, and a traditional lobster dinner.

Meanwhile the Tignish Irish Moss Festival pays homage to a lesser-known local harvest — the algae once gathered from the ocean floor for use as a thickening and gelling agent.

Fancy finding out if you have what it takes to be a farmer? Sign up to compete in the Farmer’s Walk competition at the Prince County Exhibition and test your strength and endurance.

Speaking of farming, the Crapaud Tractor Pulls always ‘pull’ in big crowds and mighty competition.

Good Old-Fashioned Fun For Everyone

If ever there were a place to forge childhood memories that will last a lifetime, we reckon a PEI exhibition is that place. From ferris wheel rides to rubber duck races, sock hops, fireworks, petting zoos, and all sorts of other good old-fashioned fun, the kids may just forget they even have an iPhone.

And the fun isn’t just for the kids! Events like the Gold Cup & Saucer Parade during Old Home Week in Charlottetown are a crowd pleaser for all ages from 2 to 92. Trivia nights, community pageants, BBQs, relays, casino nights and plenty of other activities offer opportunities for adults to connect with friends and neighbours, have some laughs, and try to win a prize or two.

Discover the Magic

Whether you’re an avid exhibition-goer or planning your first visit, we encourage you to take some time this summer to discover (or remember) what makes PEI’s exhibitions so special. No matter whether you’re there to try your hand at the rubber boot toss, admire the local quilting entries, watch the youth talent show, or simply soak up the good vibes, every exhibition promises plenty of memories you’ll carry with you for years to come.

At PEI Mutual, we’re honoured to play a small role in this big-hearted Island tradition by giving PEI youth a stage on which to shine.