SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — 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 from Culture Summerside.
"But it has not dampened the spirit to celebrate the sustainable industry worth $400 million to the Island economy, and which plays a major role in our Island culture."
It's sad the community will not be celebrating the 64th annual Lobster Carnival parade together, said Adams.
"But we've found new ways of staying together while being apart ... and that's what this year's lobster carnival is going to do."
As a way to still celebrate the industry and bring the Summerside communities together, Culture Summerside has developed an alternative plan 2020 Summerside Lobster Carnival presents “A Seafood Taste of P.E.I.”
This virtual event will be held on Saturday, July 11 with supper and kitchen party live-streamed into people's homes.
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 be several special guests and contests as well.
"All staff members have been under a lot of stress constantly rethinking programming for this event," said Adams.
"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."
Adams said she is hoepful the running of the Governor's Plate will go ahead after Premier Dennis King announced during a recent press conference that he would like keep longtime running events going, like the Gold Cup and Saucer.
