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Prince Edward Island’s vibrant Acadian culture will be celebrated and commemorated during the PEI 2014 celebrations. Numerous festivals, events and activities will pay tribute to the Island’s Acadian heritage and draw many visitors to Prince Edward Island in 2014.

“2014 is an important year for honouring our culture and heritage. We are proud to have such a rich Acadian culture on Prince Edward Island,” says Minister of Tourism and Culture, Robert Henderson. “We encourage all Islanders and visitors to explore this wonderful part of PEI’s unique culture during the 2014 celebration year.”

A highlight of the PEI 2014 celebrations will be National Acadian Day on August 15. Legendary Acadian band 1755 will headline a free megaconcert in Charlottetown that also features Island favourites Vishten. The concert will cap off a full day of cultural activities and celebrations in each of the six Acadian communities across the province.

Spectacular artistic and cultural programming will be held throughout the year at the new Acadian Musical Village at the Centre Expo-Festival in Abram-Village. Local and provincial artists will be featured in addition to select top-notch entertainers from other provinces and countries. Each Friday night beginning May 16, there will be a music-filled evening featuring an Acadian artist. Running seven days a week, Islanders and visitors can discover the Évangéline Region’s fascinating culture, delicious cuisine and captivating traditional music.

“We are pleased to see such a diverse program of activities within PEI’s Acadian communities during the PEI 2014 celebrations,” says PEI 2014 Community Advisory Committee member, Alcide Bernard. “These events and activities will certainly be of great interest to many Islanders and will have a positive impact on tourist visitation during this very special year.”

PEI 2014 activities will have a special focus on youth. Earlier this month young francophones, aged 14 to 18, attended Camp RE-LÈVE where they attended workshops on leadership, politics and governance facilitated by professionals and experts in those fields. ManiFest jeunesse, a production celebrating the cultural diversity of youth from the Island’s six Acadian and Francophone communities – Tignish, Évangéline Region, Summerside, Rustico, Charlottetown and Souris, will take place from October 6 to 19.

History lovers will want to visit the Acadian Museum in Miscouche where a virtual exhibit celebrating the museum’s 50 years of existence is on display. La Voix acadienne, the Island’s only French newspaper, will run a regular feature with photos of artifacts from the Acadian Museum as well as a series entitled, Parlons du bon vieux temps (Let’s talk about the good old days), in which seniors and families from Acadian communities share their childhood memories. Additionally, Fiérté de notre village (Proud of our village) tells the history of Abram-Village through a series of painted murals in the community.

Fun-filled musical evenings celebrating Acadian music and culture are at the heart of Festival du bon vieux temps. This old time festival is held on the last Sunday of each month throughout 2014 at the Centre acadien de Prince-Ouest in DeBlois.

The 2014 version of the hugely popular Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival in Abram-Village will be bigger and better than ever. This jam-packed weekend features top-notch Acadian-style entertainment, dances, lobster dinners, livestock competitions, crafts, 4-H projects, horse shows, a parade, kids’ games and much more. For the first time ever, a Cajun band from Louisiana – Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys – will take part in the festival.

In 2014, Canadians will mark the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which led the way to the creation of Canada. PEI 2014 Inc. is facilitating the planning, promotion and implementation of the Sesquicentennial celebrations. The PEI 2014 celebrations are made possible through generous support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Prince Edward Island, and the City of Charlottetown. The year-long and province-wide PEI 2014 program of events will honour the past, celebrate the present and plan a bold tomorrow.