PEI coastal landscape at sunrise with red cliffs and calm ocean waters

Cheryl's Guide to Living on PEI

The Best of
Prince Edward Island

A curated, always-evolving guide to the restaurants, cafés, shops, breweries, wellness spots, outdoor adventures, galleries, and events that make life on PEI so special.

What's Happening on PEI Today

Monday, October 5, 2026

What's Happening on PEI This Week

It is Monday October 5, and the Island is at its most colourful. The leaves have turned, the harvest is coming in, and PEI's calendar is full of ways to mark the season. Fall Flavours: The Food & Drink Festival is in its final week through Saturday October 10, and the Charlottetown Scarecrow Festival has taken over downtown through Halloween with more than 800 scarecrows. Tonight Flavours by the Fire lights up The Great George Hotel, and the week builds toward a full Thanksgiving weekend: Picklefest at PEI Brewing Company, the Island Fringe Festival, tribute concerts, harvest markets, and family outings from corn mazes to apple u-pick. Wherever you are staying on the Island, there is something worth doing nearly every day.

Fall Flavours: The Food & Drink Festival

Food Festival · Sep 24 to Oct 10 · Island-wide

Prince Edward Island's signature celebration of food and drink enters its final week through Saturday October 10, with chef dinners, food walking tours, oyster and lobster experiences, and kitchen parties in communities across the province. This week's highlights include Flavours by the Fire at The Great George Hotel on Monday and Thursday, Feast at Fluke in Grand Tracadie on Tuesday, and Sip & Savour Montague on Wednesday. The full program is published at fallflavours.ca, and popular experiences sell out quickly, so it is worth browsing early.

Food and drink experiences across Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown Scarecrow Festival

Festival · Oct 3 to 31 · Downtown Charlottetown

More than 800 scarecrows fill downtown Charlottetown through Halloween, on a free self-guided walk from Water Street to Connaught Square in what is billed as Atlantic Canada's largest scarecrow festival. The month brings ghost walks, haunted horse and wagon rides, and the Wicked Spirits cocktail crawl, with Harvest Fest at Founders' Food Hall & Market on Saturday. It is free to wander, and details are at discovercharlottetown.com/scarecrow.

Queen Street and Victoria Row, downtown Charlottetown

Flavours by the Fire

Food Experience · Mon Oct 5 & Thu Oct 8 · 6:00 PM · Charlottetown

A candlelit, fire-inspired tasting dinner at The Great George Hotel in the heart of historic Charlottetown, with two nights this week: Monday October 5 and Thursday October 8 at 6:00 PM. The evening opens with steamed PEI oysters and moves through courses built around the hearth, finishing with s'mores by the fire. Tickets are $125, or $289 with an overnight stay at the hotel; details are at fallflavours.ca.

The Great George Hotel, Great George Street, Charlottetown

Feast at Fluke

Food Experience · Tuesday, Oct 6 · 5:00 PM · Grand Tracadie

A Fall Flavours signature seafood feast at Fluke on the north shore of Grand Tracadie on Tuesday October 6 at 5:00 PM. Pre-dinner stations of halibut, mussels, oysters, caesars, and cocktails lead into a multi-course dinner on the water, with Island produce and seafood at the heart of every plate. Tickets are $175 and include the full spread; book at fallflavours.ca.

Fluke, 20 Carrie Me Wy, Grand Tracadie

Sip & Savour Montague

Food Experience · Wednesday, Oct 7 · 6:30 PM · Montague

A Fall Flavours evening in the heart of Kings County on Wednesday October 7 from 6:30 PM, with tastings, live music, and Island hospitality along Montague's waterfront. It is a lovely way to spend a fall evening on the Points East Coastal Drive, about 45 minutes east of Charlottetown. Details are at pointseastcoastaldrive.com/events.

Montague waterfront, Kings County

Island Fringe Festival

Theatre Festival · Oct 7 to 11 · Downtown Charlottetown

PEI's annual performing arts festival opens Wednesday October 7 and runs through Sunday, with seven original productions of theatre, comedy, dance, and puppetry in unconventional venues around downtown Charlottetown. The opening party and show preview is Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the Arts Guild's Black Box, with After Dark events through the weekend. The full program and tickets are at islandfringe.com.

Venues across downtown Charlottetown

Take It to the Limit: The Music & Legacy of the Eagles

Live Music · Wednesday, Oct 7 · 7:30 PM · Charlottetown

The award-winning Eagles tribute brings the harmonies of Hotel California, Desperado, and Take It Easy to the Sobey Family Theatre at Confederation Centre of the Arts on Wednesday October 7 at 7:30 PM. A polished two-hour show that suits anyone who grew up with classic rock radio, staged in one of Charlottetown's grandest rooms. Tickets and details are at confederationcentre.com.

Sobey Family Theatre, Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Picklefest PEI

Food Festival · Saturday, Oct 10 · 11 AM to 7 PM · Charlottetown

Canada's largest celebration of all things pickled and fermented comes to PEI Brewing Company on Saturday October 10 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with 35 to 40 local vendors, fully licensed beverages, and live music. All ages are welcome, and it is a tasty way to kick off Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets start around $17; details are at discovercharlottetown.com.

PEI Brewing Company, 96 Kensington Road, Charlottetown

Country Boys Tribute

Live Music · Saturday, Oct 10 · 8:00 PM · Charlottetown

A tribute to the music of Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, and George Strait takes the Sobey Family Theatre on Saturday October 10 at 8:00 PM. Expect the hits, the hats, and a crowd that knows every word, a big night out to open Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets and details are at confederationcentre.com.

Sobey Family Theatre, Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Gizmo Album Release Party

Live Music · Saturday, Oct 10 · 8:00 PM · Charlottetown

Local band Gizmo celebrates a new album with a live show at the Charlottetown Beer Garden & Seafood Patio on Saturday October 10 at 8:00 PM. Great music, local brews, and one of the best patios in the city make for a relaxed Thanksgiving-eve evening. Details are at beergardenpei.com.

Charlottetown Beer Garden & Seafood Patio, Kent Street, Charlottetown

Harvest Fest at Founders' Food Hall

Family Activity · Saturday, Oct 10 · Charlottetown

A free family celebration at Founders' Food Hall & Market on Saturday October 10 as part of the Scarecrow Festival, with live music, yoga, inflatables, face painting, and pumpkin carving. It pairs perfectly with a wander through the scarecrows and a stop at the market stalls. Details are at foundersfoodhall.com.

Founders' Food Hall & Market, 6 Prince Street, Charlottetown

Scarecrow Festival Haunted Horse & Wagon Rides

Family Activity · Saturday, Oct 10 · 11 AM to 7 PM · Charlottetown

Emerald Isle Carriage Tours runs Scarecrow Festival haunted horse and wagon rides on Saturday October 10 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM from 96 Kensington Road. A spooky, family-friendly way to see the city's scarecrow installations and hear a few tales along the way. Details are at discovercharlottetown.com/scarecrow.

96 Kensington Road, Charlottetown

Charlottetown Farmers' Market

Farmers Market · Saturday, Oct 10 · 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The Island's favourite gathering place brings growers, bakers, and artisans together every Saturday through the end of October, and Thanksgiving weekend is one of its most bountiful stretches. Squash, potatoes, preserves, fresh baking, and artisan crafts fill the stalls at its home on North River Road; arrive early for the freshest selection.

614 North River Road, Charlottetown

Summerside Farmers' Market

Farmers Market · Saturday, Oct 10 · 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM · Summerside

A year-round Saturday market at 250 Water Street in Summerside from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with local produce, baked goods, meat, fish, prepared food, cheese, and artisan wares. A lovely stop on a west-side day trip, about an hour's drive from Charlottetown. Details are at summersidefarmersmarket.com.

250 Water Street, Summerside

Anne & Gilbert: The Musical

Theatre · Through Oct 26 · Charlottetown

Anne and Gilbert's story continues in this much-loved companion production at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall, now in its 22nd season. Running through October 26, the show suits everyone who has wondered what happens after Green Gables, with a warm, tuneful score and the same Island heart as its famous predecessor. It pairs beautifully with an evening in downtown Charlottetown; tickets are at anneandgilbert.com.

Florence Simmons Performance Hall, 140 Weymouth Street, Charlottetown

Confederation Centre Ghost Tour

Walking Tour · Tue, Fri & Sat, through Nov 7 · Charlottetown

Follow a mysterious gravedigger through the heritage streets of downtown Charlottetown after dark on the Confederation Centre's guided Ghost Tour, running Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings through November 7. Departures at 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 PM from Kent and West Streets wind past historic doorways and laneways with tales of the city's dark, haunted past. Part history, part Halloween, it suits an autumn evening well, and tickets are on the Confederation Centre website.

Departs from Kent and West Streets, Charlottetown

Historic Great George Walking Tour

Walking Tour · Daily through Oct 31 · 11 AM & 2 PM · Charlottetown

Follow a Confederation Centre guide down Great George Street, one of Canada's most historic streets, on this walking tour running daily through October 31. It traces PEI's story from the Island's first inhabitants through the birth of Confederation, with stops at landmarks most visitors walk right past. Tours depart from the Confederation Centre Box Office at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM; tickets are at confederationcentre.com.

Departs from Confederation Centre Box Office, Charlottetown

Stompin' Tom Festival Series

Live Music · Saturdays through Oct 24 · Skinners Pond

The Stompin' Tom Centre in Skinners Pond keeps its Saturday concert series going through October 24, celebrating the music of the Canadian legend who grew up in this North Cape community. The centre also offers daily live music, dinner theatre, and tours of the one-room schoolhouse Tom attended. Details are at stompintomcentre.com.

Stompin' Tom Centre, 14024 Route 14, Skinners Pond

Diana's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Family Activity · Fri & Sat 10 AM to 9 PM, Sun 10 AM to 6 PM · Alberton

Harvest season is in full swing, and Diana's Pumpkin Patch opens its themed corn maze, corn bin, and hayrides to families in Alberton, with pumpkins by the wagonload. The patch welcomes visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM through November 1. It is a classic Island autumn afternoon and a lovely day trip from Charlottetown; current hours are posted on the farm's website.

14087 Cascumpec Road, Alberton

MacKenzies Farm Market & Cornmaze

Family Activity · Open daily through October · Stratford

Just across the Hillsborough Bridge in Stratford, MacKenzies Farm Market pairs its seasonal corn maze with a family farmyard full of activities: a pumpkin jumpy pillow, tug-of-war, a bus packed with games, tetherball, corn hole, and a sunflower maze, plus a market stocked with Island produce and fall décor. Open daily through December, with last maze entry an hour before the market closes; current hours are posted at mackenziesfarmmarketandcornmaze.ca.

10971 Trans-Canada Highway, Stratford

Wintermoor Orchard Apple U-Pick

Food Experience · Open Tue to Sun, 10 AM to dusk · Charlottetown

Apple season is peaking at Wintermoor Orchard, where more than a thousand trees grow 14 varieties of apples, plus farm-made cider available year-round. U-pick runs Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to dusk, closed Mondays, so pick a bag of McIntosh and Honeycrisp and take the scenic route home through Island farmland at its most colourful. Ripening changes week to week, so call 902-218-5286 before you go.

906 York Road, Charlottetown

Which PEI events should visitors plan for this week?

The headline this week is the Island Fringe Festival, which opens Wednesday October 7 and runs through Sunday with seven original productions in unconventional venues around downtown Charlottetown. Fall Flavours: The Food & Drink Festival is in its final week through Saturday October 10, with Flavours by the Fire at The Great George Hotel tonight and Thursday, Feast at Fluke in Grand Tracadie on Tuesday, and Sip & Savour Montague on Wednesday. Thanksgiving weekend (October 10 to 12) is packed: Picklefest at PEI Brewing Company and the Country Boys tribute at Confederation Centre share Saturday with Harvest Fest at Founders' Food Hall, haunted horse and wagon rides, and the Gizmo album release at the Beer Garden. The Charlottetown Scarecrow Festival continues through Halloween with more than 800 scarecrows, ghost walks, and the Wicked Spirits cocktail crawl, and the Stompin' Tom Festival series keeps the music going in Skinners Pond on Saturdays. Farmers markets anchor the weekend as always: the Charlottetown Farmers' Market on Saturday morning and the Summerside Farmers' Market in the west. History lovers can take the Historic Great George tour daily or the Confederation Centre Ghost Tour several evenings a week, Anne & Gilbert continues through late October, and harvest outings are in full swing from MacKenzies corn maze in Stratford and Diana's Pumpkin Patch in Alberton to apple u-pick at Wintermoor Orchard just north of the city.

Deciding where to stay, or thinking about something longer? Cheryl Burns helps relocating buyers and repeat visitors understand PEI's communities, waterfront properties, and the market, so you can plan both the trip and the move.

Ask Cheryl what is on this week

Golf Courses

Where are the best golf courses on PEI?

PEI is one of Canada's premier golf destinations, and it is easy to see why. The Island is home to over 30 courses, many of them set along stunning coastlines with views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait. Championship layouts, links-style fairways carved through sand dunes, and tucked-away gems where the pace is unhurried and the greens are immaculate. Whether you are a seasoned player or picking up a club for the first time, golf here is about more than the game. It is about the light on the water, the salt air, and the kind of round that makes you want to come back tomorrow.

The Links at Crowbush Cove

Championship Links

A links-style masterpiece along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with dramatic dunes, coastal winds, and views that will make you forget your scorecard. Consistently ranked among the best public courses in Canada.

Dundarave Golf Course

Championship

A stunning championship layout with over 120 red sandstone bunkers and sweeping views along the Brudenell River. Part of the Brudenell River Resort, it is a true test of golf wrapped in Island beauty.

Green Gables Golf Course

Historic Links

Set inside Prince Edward Island National Park, this Stanley Thompson-designed course plays through sand dunes and coastal terrain in Cavendish. Golf where literary history and natural beauty meet.

Glasgow Hills Resort & Golf Club

Scenic Views

Perched above Tracadie Bay with panoramic views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A Les Furber design that rewards both the eye and the game, with rolling terrain and thoughtful doglegs.

Fox Meadow Golf Course

Local Favourite

A locally loved course just outside Charlottetown with beautifully maintained greens and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The kind of course where you can walk 18, enjoy the Island air, and feel right at home.

Eagles Glenn Golf Course

Championship

A Graham Cooke championship course in Cavendish with rolling terrain, abundant mounding, and a layout that keeps every hole interesting. A challenging but enjoyable round in a beautiful part of the Island.

Brudenell Golf Course

Resort Course

A scenic 18-hole course set along the Brudenell River at Rodd Brudenell River Resort. Tree-lined fairways, water hazards, and a relaxed resort atmosphere make it a great choice for a leisurely round in eastern PEI.

Stanhope Golf and Country Club

Community Club

A welcoming golf course in the Stanhope area of PEI with a relaxed atmosphere and a scenic layout. A great spot for both seasoned players and those new to the game.

Andersons Creek Golf Club

Scottish-Style Design

A Graham Cooke championship course in Stanley Bridge with rolling hills, water on nine holes, and a Scottish-inspired links feel. Bagpipes often play in the background, making for one of the most memorable rounds on PEI.

What is it like to live in Charlottetown?

Living on Prince Edward Island is about more than a postal code. It's a daily experience of community, landscape, food, and pace. Charlottetown offers a walkable downtown, a thriving restaurant and arts scene, and a sense of belonging that's hard to find elsewhere. This page is a living guide to the places and moments I share with clients, friends, and anyone discovering the Island for the first time.

Dining

Where are the best restaurants in Charlottetown?

One of the things I love most about living on PEI is how the food scene keeps getting better. From waterfront seafood shacks to farm-to-table restaurants that showcase local growers, there is always somewhere worth trying. These are a few of my favourites.

Out of Town but Worth the Drive

Some of the best meals I have had on PEI were a short drive outside Charlottetown. The Island is only 140 miles long, so nothing ever feels too far, but these restaurants are worth every minute of the trip. Each one has its own character and a reason to visit that goes well beyond the plate.

Blue Mussel Caf�

North Rustico

In North Rustico, right near the harbour, the Blue Mussel Caf� is everything a PEI seafood spot should be: fresh, uncomplicated, and right on the water. They skip the deep fryer entirely and let the quality of the seafood do the talking. The mussels are outstanding, the lobster rolls are generous, and the patio on a summer evening is hard to beat.

Fin Folk Food

Grand Tracadie

Head out to Grand Tracadie Beach and you will find Fin Folk Food tucked at the edge of the sand. It is a beachside spot with a wrap-around patio, ocean views, and the kind of casual, feel-good atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours. Fresh seafood, comfort food, and a setting that reminds you exactly why you came to the Island.

The Dunes

Brackley Beach

The Dunes at Brackley Beach is one of those places that captures the creative spirit of PEI beautifully. It is part art gallery, part caf�, and entirely worth the visit. Browse the studio and gallery filled with Island-made work, then settle in for a meal surrounded by the gardens and the coastal landscape. It is a destination in itself.

Landmark Oyster Bar

Victoria by the Sea

In the charming village of Victoria by the Sea, the Landmark Oyster House is a must for anyone who loves shellfish. Sit at the bar and watch them shuck your oysters right in front of you. The chowder, the lobster rolls, and the Po' Boys are all excellent, and the covered patio makes it a comfortable stop any time of day. Pair it with a wander through the village and you have one of the best afternoons on the Island.

Inn at Bay Fortune

Bay Fortune

If you want a dining experience unlike anything else on PEI, the FireWorks Feast at the Inn at Bay Fortune is it. Chef Michael Smith and his team prepare a multi-course, farm-to-table meal around a 25-foot wood-burning hearth, using ingredients from their own culinary farm and local producers. It is communal, it is theatrical, and every course is exceptional. Reservations are essential, and it is worth planning well ahead.

Recreation & Sports

Recreation & Sports

Life on PEI means you are never far from the water, the trail, or the golf course. The Island packs an extraordinary amount of outdoor recreation into a small footprint, and it is one of the reasons so many people choose to live here.

Atlantic Pickleball Club

A popular indoor pickleball facility in Charlottetown with courts, leagues, and drop-in play for all levels. A fast-growing community sport that brings people together on and off the court.

Confederation Trail

A scenic trail network spanning the island, perfect for walking, cycling, and exploring PEI's countryside at your own pace.

Paddles PEI (Explore More Watersports)

Kayak, paddleboard, and watersport rentals right downtown at Peakes Quay Marina, perfect for a morning on the Hillsborough River.

MacQueen's Bike Shop

Rentals, guided tours, and everything you need to explore the Confederation Trail and Charlottetown by bike.

Deep Sea Sport Fishing

Head out on the water with one of PEI's charter operators for a day of deep sea sport fishing. From mackerel and tuna to shark, the offshore waters around the Island offer an experience that is hard to find anywhere else in Atlantic Canada.

ParaSport and Recreation PEI

PEI's leading adaptive sports and recreation organization, offering a wide range of programs for people with physical disabilities, including wheelchair basketball, boccia, para ice hockey, and swimming. A valuable community resource that reflects the Island's commitment to inclusive, accessible recreation for all.

Cycling & Mountain Biking

Prince Edward Island is a cyclist's paradise, with kilometres of paved Confederation Trail, coastal road routes, and growing mountain biking terrain. From casual rides through farmland to more adventurous single-track, the Island offers options for every skill level in a setting that is hard to beat.

Boating & Sailing

From leisurely harbour cruises to full-day sailing excursions, PEI's sheltered bays and coastal waters are made for time on the boat. Charlottetown's waterfront marinas offer rentals, charters, and sailing lessons, and the Northumberland Strait provides calm, scenic waters perfect for exploring from the water.

Beaches & Parks

Prince Edward Island is renowned for its stunning red sand beaches, protected coastal parks, and natural beauty. From the dramatic cliffs of the National Park to quiet, sheltered coves, the Island's beaches and parks offer endless opportunities for walking, swimming, and soaking in the coastal landscape.

Wellness

What wellness and spa options are on PEI?

One thing that surprises people about PEI is how much the Island has to offer when it comes to taking care of yourself, physically and mentally. Whether you are looking for a quiet spa afternoon, a yoga class to start your morning, or a naturopathic practitioner you can trust, Charlottetown's wellness community is warm, skilled, and growing. These are the people and places I recommend when clients ask where to go.

Cocoon Wellness Spa

A boutique day spa on Queen Street in the heart of downtown Charlottetown. Massage, facials, and body treatments in a calm, beautifully designed space. A go-to for anyone who needs to slow down.

Grand Senses

A spa and wellness studio on Grafton Street offering massage therapy, aromatherapy, and relaxation treatments. The kind of place where you leave feeling genuinely restored.

Modo Yoga Charlottetown

A hot yoga and movement studio on Prince Street with a focus on community, accessibility, and mindful practice. Welcoming to beginners and experienced yogis alike.

Charlottetown Yoga Space

A dedicated yoga studio on Pownal Street offering a range of classes from gentle and restorative to more dynamic flow. Small classes with attentive, experienced instructors.

The Health Associates

A multi-disciplinary wellness clinic on McAulay Court with practitioners in naturopathic medicine, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and registered massage therapy. A trusted resource for holistic health under one roof.

Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort

PEI's first Nordic spa, set on 18 acres along the shore of St. Peters Bay in Saint Peters Bay. The thermal experience guides you through a cycle of hot, cold, and rest: Finnish saunas, barrel saunas, steam rooms infused with essential oils, cold plunges, and quiet relaxation spaces overlooking the water. It is the kind of place where the outside world just fades away. Sustainability is woven into the whole operation, from the renewable biomass heating to the way the property blends into the surrounding landscape. Whether you spend a few hours or stay overnight in one of the renovated bay-view cottages, it is a genuinely restorative experience and well worth the drive from Charlottetown.

Daniel Schulman

An acupuncturist in Charlottetown offering traditional acupuncture and holistic treatments. A trusted practitioner for clients seeking a natural, whole-body approach to wellness.

The Root Cellar

A community-focused health food store on University Avenue with organic produce, bulk goods, supplements, and a thoughtful selection of natural wellness products. A great resource for anyone looking to eat well and live intentionally on the Island.

Events

What events are happening on PEI right now?

PEI runs on community, and the events calendar reflects that, from farmers markets and food festivals to live music and holiday celebrations. These are some of the gatherings that give the Island its character throughout the year.

"The thing I love most about PEI is that the lifestyle sells itself. When people visit and experience a Saturday at the farmers' market, a walk on a red sand beach, or dinner on a harbour patio, they start to imagine what life here could look like. That's when the conversation gets exciting."

Cheryl Burns, REALTOR� · License #29733 · 25+ years & 1,000+ homes sold

Ready to make PEI your home?

The best way to learn about life on the Island is to experience it. Let's talk about what matters to you and explore your options together.