SUMMERSIDE - Summerside is gearing up for the 54th edition of Lobster Carnival week, set to kick off on Saturday.
Carnival president Vance Bridges said a year-long effort to enhance the annual event has paid off.
"I'm really excited about the new entries in this year's parade," Bridges said. "A number of the floats will have music and I am impressed with the quality of the entries."
Securing pipe bands for the parade is difficult because of scheduling conflicts and costs, Bridges said. But the College of Piping Pipes and Drum band will be making its annual appearance.
Bridges said another major improvement to the Summerside Lobster carnival is with the talent contest. Traditionally, the contest centred around musicians and singers. This year, however, there are four different categories including vocal, instrumental, dance and drama.
Twenty performers have auditioned and will be taking part in the talent competition set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Credit Union Place.
Bridges said the public will have a chance to see and hear many of the artists prior to the competition: they will be performing at Spinnakers' Landing this weekend and will be featured on many of the floats in the Lobster Carnival Parade on Monday.
A major draw for this year's lobster carnival will be the Beach Boys performing at Credit union Place on Friday, July 17.
Patrons are invited to come and sing and dance with the long-time popular group in the sand inside the Credit Union Place arena beginning at 8 p.m.
Lobster Carnival will also feature the traditional events that have been popular with the public.
The cardboard boat race, downtown sidewalk sale, lobster suppers at the Summerside Legion, the midway, bike decorating contest, golf tournament, veterans' breakfast and a week of harness racing concluding with the running of the Governor's Plate
Saturday, July 11
- Veteran's Breakfast Royal Canadian, Summerside Legion
- 12 noon bicycle decorating contest at Spinnakers' Landing
- 2 p.m. SOS Master Packaging Cardboard Boat Races at Spinnaker's Landing. To enter call 436-4925.
- Lobster Carnival Golf Tournament, Summerside Golf and County Club.
Sunday, July 12
- 7 p.m. Lobster Carnival Celebrity Dinner at Summerside Legion with guest Mike Duffy. Admission $35.
- Lobster Carnival Golf Tournament, Summerside Golf and Country Club.
Monday, July 13
- 1 p.m. Lobster Carnival parade, starts from the Marine Terminal
- 4:30-8 p.m. Lobster dinner at Summerside Legion. $25 per plate
- Harness racing
Tuesday, July 14
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Summerside sidewalk sale, and children's playland
- 1 p.m. to midnight Maritime Midway. Every day is bracelet day.
- 4:30-8 p.m. Lobster dinner at Summerside Legion. $25 per plate
- Harness racing
Wednesday, July 15
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Summerside sidewalk sale, along with children's playland
- 10 a.m. spelling bee at Summerside Legion
- 1 p.m. to midnight Maritime Midway.
- 4:30-8 p.m. Lobster dinner at Summerside Legion.
- Harness racing
Thursday, July 16
- 1 p.m. to midnight Maritime Midway.
- 4:30-8 p.m. Lobster dinner at Summerside Legion. $25 per plate
- Harness racing
Friday, July 17
- 1 p.m. to midnight Maritime Midway.
- 4:30-8 p.m. Lobster dinner at Summerside Legion. $25 per plate
- 8 p.m. Beach Boys concert at Credit Union Place
- Harness racing
Saturday, July 18
- 1 p.m. to midnight Maritime Midway
- 7 p.m. Talent showcase at Credit Union Place
- Harness racing - Governor's Plate
Sunday, July 19
- 2 p.m. Bingo at the Summerside Legion



