Summerside, Prince Edward Island's second incorporated city, is 40 mi/65 km west of Charlottetown and home to several distinctive museums. The Eptek Art and Culture Centre, situated on the shore of Bedeque Bay, emphasizes history and fine-art exhibits. If you have a drop of Celtic blood in you, stop in at the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada, North America's only year-round Celtic arts school. Have a look around the impressive facilities and enjoy a free lunchtime miniconcert or a more extensive evening performance during the summerlong Celtic Festival. Tickets to various performances range Can$5-$28. The college also hosts the Summerside Highland Gathering in late June.
The International Fox Hall of Fame and Museum is devoted to the silver-fox industry, once one of the island's main industries. Airplane buffs will want to see the vintage aircraft on display at Slemon Park, a former Canadian air-force base and home of the island's aerospace industry. Summerside also has the Harbourfront Theatre for concerts, dramas and dance performances (open year-round). The theater is home to the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame, which honors island athletes.
West of Summerside, in Miscouche, is the Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island, a log building housing documents and artifacts from the province's Acadian settlers. Among the area's annual events are the Summerside Lobster Carnival in mid-July (parade, step-dancing competitions and a horseshoe tournament) and the Indian River Festival (internationally renowned musicians perform at St. Mary's Church in Indian River).
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