ABRAM-VILLAGE – Aug. 26, 2015 – Vivacious colors and decorations, along with a powerful celebratory spirit, will undoubtedly dazzle the thousands of tourists and Islanders who participate in the numerous new and favorite events of the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival in Abram-Village Sept. 3-6. In no time, the visitors will see ample proof of the event’s theme, “Our Community Lights Up.”

« This year, we’ve offering several new events and we’ve tweaked some of our popular events to make them even better, » explains Exhibition and Festival president Alcide Bernard. « All favorite activities are back; in fact, we’ve made sure that we have something for people of all ages and all tastes. »

The festivities get underway Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. with the Acazing Talent Contest and at 9:30 p.m. with the teen dance at the Acadian Musical Village.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4

This year, a lot of emphasis is being placed on Friday, Family Day. All children and students, including those at the postsecondary level, are admitted free. CJSE radio announcer Jean Richard (JR) will host a new relay game at 2:30 p.m. Then, at 3:30 p.m., a women’s strength and endurance competition will be held. Also, that afternoon, a new dunk tank will offer an opportunity for visitors to dunk well-known locals in a tank of water.

Also on the slate Friday: Breakfast at the Acadian Musical Village from 7-8:30 p.m., opening of the grounds and the petting farm at 8 a.m., roast pork dinner from 11:30 to 1 p.m., culinary demonstrations at 1 p.m., official opening ceremonies at 1:15 p.m., opening of handcraft buildings at 2 p.m., provincial rubber boot throwing contest at 2:15 p.m. and the Provincial Youth Talent Competition at 2:30 p.m. Judging of 4-H projects, poultry, miniature horses and cattle will also take place during the day.

The evening, everyone can either enjoy the Acadian Feast With Lobster at the Acadian Musical Village at 5:30 p.m., the Musicians’ Jam at the same location at 9 p.m. or the Djâble dans l’corps beer garden with Mailloche and the Saul Good Band also at 9 p.m. (for adults only).

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

The breakfast as well as the opening of the grounds and the petting farm on Saturday will follow the Friday schedule. Judging of 4-H rabbits and draft horses begins at 9 a.m., while the PEI Provincial Holstein Show (sponsored by ADL) begins at 9:30 a.m. The handcraft and vegetable exhibition buildings, as well as the booths and concessions, open at 10 a.m.  A roast turkey dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Romain the Hypnotist-Comedian will perform at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, there will be culinary demonstrations, judging of pre-4-H Holsteins, judging of the Illsley’s Holstein Futurity Class, judging and a hitch and show of draft horses, a bingo, handcraft demonstrations, an auction and the dunk tank. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a pole-climbing show, a « Clammin n’ Jammin » culinary competition with bar clam recipes and a knitting contest.

Then at 2:30, there will be a concert featuring Les 112 Accords, a group of local teachers and the V’nez veiller dinner-theatre troupe inside the Evangeline Recreation Centre. A lobster eating contest will be held at the same time. The provincial rubber boot tossing competition begins at 3 p.m., followed by a horsepull and a pastry sale. A lobster supper will follow at the Acadian Musical Village.

In the evening, the Ross Family will entertain at the Acadian Musical Village at 8 p.m while the Evangeline and Gabriel Dance, with the fabulous group Réveil from New Brunswick, rocks the Evangeline Rec Centre at 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

The fair grounds, including the petting farm, open Sunday at 9 p.m. Light horses and ponies will be judged. A parade of fishing boats and a mass at the Abram-Village Wharf is slated for 9:30 a.m. Booths and concessions open at 11 a.m. Soup and dessert will be served at the Acadian Musical Village between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Romain the Hypnotist-Comedian will again present two shows, at 12 noon and at 4:30 p.m. A bingo and a handcraft sale will be held also starting at noon. The ever-popular parade will start at 1 p.m., running from Evangeline School to the Club 50. The dunk tank will be operational until 4 p.m.

Three events will start at 2:30 p.m.: the popular fiddling and stepdancing show, the pole-climbing show and handcraft demonstrations. The provincial championship of the PEI Rubber Boot Throwing Competition will then be held at 3:30 p.m.; the four-wheeler pull will also begin at the same time. Brand new mud races for four-wheelers will then be held. A lobster supper will be served from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The cow patty bingo will wrap up the afternoon.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., a number of presentations, including the Young Acadian of the Year and the Acadian of the Year awards, will be made. The closing show, beginning at 7 p.m., will present a tribute to the late Eddy Arsenault, the legendary fiddler who was an integral part of the Festival for several decades.

People from the local community are invited to decorate their homes in Acadian colors to reflect the « Our Community Lights Up » theme. It is also expected that several floats in the parade as well as the majority of boats at the wharf mass will also reflect the theme.

-30-

 

CUTLINE:  Musicians Brent Chaisson, Anastasia DesRoches and Mylène Ouellette, who make up the new trio DOC, will be performing twice during the Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival: during the Great Acadian Feast with Lobster Friday evening and during the Sunday afternoon fiddling show.

 

For more information:
Alcide Bernard, president
Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival
expositionfestival@gmail.com
902-432-2425