Summerside
Around Summerside
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Prince Edward Island · 18k people
Summerside
A harbour town with red soil and warm hearts
PEI RedHarbour BlueGolden Sun
Welcome to Summerside, the heart of Prince County! Whether you're here for the boardwalk, the lobster, or the friendly folks, you'll feel at home. Come join the conversation and share what you love about this island town.
Clubs for Summerside
No clubs for Summerside yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Summerside. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Summerside. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Confederation Bridge Iconic 12.9 km bridge connecting PEI to New Brunswick.
- Summerside Waterfront Boardwalk Popular walking path along the harbour with views.
- College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts Centre for Celtic music and dance performances.
- Credit Union Place Multi-purpose arena and event centre.
- Eptek Arts & Culture Centre Museum and gallery with local history exhibits.
- Wyatt Historic House Museum Restored Victorian home showcasing island life.
- Outdoors Walking the Confederation Trail
- Outdoors Kayaking in Summerside Harbour
- With kids Visiting the Eptek Arts & Culture Centre
- With kids Attending a Western Capitals hockey game
- Evenings Harness racing at Summerside Raceway
- Evenings Show at the Harbourfront Theatre
- Locals love Waterfront boardwalks
- Locals love Community lobster suppers
Through the year
- Summerside Lobster Carnival July July celebration of the lobster fishery with food, music, and family activities.
- O'Leary Potato Blossom Festival July Agricultural festival in O'Leary celebrating the potato harvest.
- Summerside Waterfront Concert Series Summer Free summer concerts along the boardwalk.
- Summerside Raceway Race Nights Summer Harness racing season at the local track.
- Summerside Christmas Parade December Holiday parade through downtown.
Summerside has a mild maritime climate with cool summers and cold, snowy winters. The best time to be out is from June to September when the weather is warm and the days are long. Best: June to September
Talk like a local
- “The Island”
- PEI
- “Up West”
- Western part of PEI
- “Down East”
- Eastern part of PEI
- “B'y”
- Friend or buddy
Getaways
- Charlottetown Province's capital with historic sites and dining.
- Moncton Largest city in New Brunswick with Magnetic Hill and zoo.
- Truro Gateway to the Bay of Fundy and tidal bore.
- New Glasgow Historic town on the Pictou County waterfront.
Local flavour
Teams
- Summerside Western Capitals Maritime Junior Hockey League
Eat and drink
- PEI lobster Signature seafood, often served at community lobster suppers
- Mussels Farmed in the surrounding waters
- Potatoes The island's iconic crop
- Covered Bridge potato chips Local brand made in PEI
- Dulse Dried seaweed snack
- Lobster roll Classic coastal sandwich
- Clam chowder Creamy soup with local clams
- Fiddleheads Seasonal fern shoots, foraged in spring
Where people go
- Waterfront boardwalk A scenic walk along the harbour
- Lighthouses Iconic maritime beacons along the coast
- Community lobster suppers Traditional gatherings at local halls
- Red soil farmland Rolling fields of the island's distinctive soil
- Harbours Working fishing harbours and marinas
- Historic homes
Heritage and traditions
Summerside and its surrounding villages are proud of their deep Acadian and Celtic roots, the bounty of the sea and the soil, and the warm, resilient spirit of the people.
This time of year in Summerside
- Hockey season October–March The Western Capitals draw crowds at Credit Union Place.
Say it like a local: “right” — Very or extremely, as in 'right good'.
Festivals
- Festival Acadien de Tignish July Celebrates Acadian heritage with music, food, and a flag-raising.
- Alberton Mussel Beach Festival August A community festival featuring mussel dishes, a parade, and live music.
Landmarks with a story
- Acadian Museum of PEI Located in Miscouche, it preserves Acadian history and culture.
- St. Simon and St. Jude Church A historic Catholic church in Tignish, known for its architecture.
- PEI Potato Museum In O'Leary, it celebrates the island's potato heritage.
- Borden-Carleton Railway Station A former station on the railway that linked PEI to the mainland.
Food traditions
- Acadian fricot A hearty chicken stew with potatoes, a staple from Acadian settlers.
- Rappie pie A potato-based dish with meat, a classic Acadian comfort food.
- Lobster suppers at community halls Churches and halls serve whole lobster with all the fixings, a summer tradition.
- Potato pancakes Made from the local potatoes, often served with applesauce.
Music and arts
- Celtic music and piping The College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts in Summerside trains pipers and dancers.
- Acadian folk music Traditional fiddle and song are kept alive in Tignish and surrounding areas.
A little history
- 1755 Acadian deportation
- 1997 Building of the Confederation Bridge
- 1900s Potato industry boom
- 1870s–1980s Railway era in Summerside
- 1800s Shipbuilding in Summerside
Rivalries
- Summerside vs Charlottetown Friendly rivalry for island dominance and bragging rights.
- Western Capitals vs Truro Bearcats Junior hockey rivalry in the MHL.
- Game day Western Capitals hockey
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Walking the Confederation Trail
- Outdoors Kayaking in Summerside Harbour
- With kids Visiting the Acadian Museum of PEI
- With kids Going to the beach at Chelton
The local accent is a Maritime blend with Irish and Scottish influences, often dropping 'h' and using 'b'y' for friend. In Acadian areas, French phrases like 'c'est beau' are common.
Only here
- The Confederation Bridge—the longest bridge over ice-covered waters in the world.
- The College of Piping—one of only a few such schools in North America.
- The red soil that stains everything—a reminder of the island's iron-rich earth.
- The Acadian Museum—a key centre for Acadian history outside of New Brunswick.
New here? A few tips
- Expect cold, snowy winters—invest in a good parka and boots.
- Try a lobster supper at a community hall; it's a social event.
- Learn a few Acadian French phrases; locals appreciate the effort.
- Drive carefully on rural roads—potato trucks and tractors are common.
- Visit the Acadian Museum to understand the region's roots.
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Nearby
Every areaPrince CountyPrince Edward IslandWhere the red soil meets the sea, and everyone knows your name.CharlottetownPrince Edward IslandThe little city that started a nationKent CountyNew BrunswickWhere the dunes meet the sea, and Acadia lives on.Shediac–SackvilleNew BrunswickWhere the marshes meet the seaNorth ShoreNova ScotiaWhere the sea meets the hills, and the welcome is warm.Queens CountyPrince Edward IslandRed soil, green fields, and the sea's whisperMonctonNew BrunswickWhere the tides turn and the welcome is warm.TruroNova ScotiaTides, trails, and true Maritime charm
Summerside. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.