Joni: Why was the name Lobster Carnival Changed to the Lobster Festival ?
Don: To reflect more of what this event really is, a celebration of music, food, and community.
Joey:
What can we expect this year that's different from last year ?
Don:
Several things. First of all we have a new Title Sponsor, Curran and
Briggs Limited. The parade this year is going to be produced by
Generation xx and EastLink is going to be televising it, our website
has been redesigned summersidelobsterfest.com and we are hosting our
first annual world qualifying triathlon which is called
trilobster.ca. It will be taking place on Sunday, July 19 th before
the opening day and of course we are doing a
number
of theme days, and we are having Matt Dean
Pettit and Randall Angus of Lennox Island in the Confederation Bridge
tent as well as all the other things that are happening down at
the waterfront. We are enhancing that whole area and of
course we are going to have a waterfront outdoor stage, four
beach Volleyball courts that are going to be poured down and
there will also be parking on site. "Go Lobster" of
course is the event that is it is running all month long during
the month of July and we have 22 restaurants in Summerside
that are participating. They will all have specialty menu dishes and
you can go get your free passport at the participating
restaurants and it's golobster.ca in case if any one is
wondering.
This year we have a beer tent sponsor, Upstreet Craft Brewing
and those are some of the new things that are coming for Summerside's
Lobster Festival 2015.
Joni: What kind of children's events are you going
to offer this year ?
Don: We have a whole kid's summer fun zone that's going
to be taking place. There is an admission of $5.00 and
that gives them access to bouncy castles, the kids lego building
zone (they get to build a lego lobster and take it home), the
sand castle zone will be there again this year and of course the
midway will be available for kids and families.
Joey: What kinds of entertainment are u going to offer
this year ?
Don: Every one of the days there is going be
entertainment on the out door stage.b As an example, we are
going to have a number of Acadian performances by Louise and Helene,
as well as VISHTEN, the youth talent contest, Meghan
Blanchard, on the Wednesday is the step-dancing comptation and
also we are going to have the Collage of Pipping performing as
well as the Prince County Fiddlers, on Thursday we will have the Mi'
Kmaq Cultural Day Celtic day and diversity day. There are going
to be a number of performers, and drum groups. On Friday we have
the Small Halls Sponsored Stage with a number of singer/
songwriters that will be performing, including Amy and Rachel Beck,
Bret Gallant, Zach Doucette, Nathan Wiley, Taylor Sonier ,
Dylan McKenzie, Johnny Oliver Band and that night we are going
we are going to have a sunset concert with SLOW-COASTER and on
Saturday, its a full lineup for Multi Cultural bands and
performers that are going to be performing as part of diversity from
2:00 pm until 10:00 pm and they will be performing on the out
door stage.
Joni: What venues will be used during the festival ?
Don: Most everything will be down on the waterfront on
Green's shore other than some of the traditional events like
the lobster trap challenge. It will be taking place at the Silver Fox
Curling & Yacht Club also the cardboard box races are taking
place at Spinnakers Landing but aside from that everything else
is down on Green's Shore.
Joey: How many volunteers do you have? Are you looking
for more?
Don: I do have some volunteers but we are always
looking for more. Folks interested in volunteering can contact
the office here. They can E-mail us
here: lobsterfestival@city.summerside.pe.ca or
call the number (902) 432 – 1279. We will have a lot various
things we will need people to help with; some parking, directing
people and helping them find things, maintenance on the grounds,
picking up garbage, so any help would be great.
Joni: What is your vision for the future of the
Summerside Lobster Festival ?
Don: Well, it's not just my vision. It's actually the
community's vision and I think that everyone wants to see this
as a successful event they can come to every year and invite friends
and family. So, really we are trying to build something that is
a combination of entertainment with a huge culinary component
with lots of lobster that brings the community out. It's
really a community event.
On behalf of EOV, Thank you Don Quarles for the interview
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| EOV Reporter - Joni Miner |
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| EOV Reporter - Joey Blacquiere |
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