Summerside: History, Culture and City Trails

Summerside offers unusual insights into the history of Prince Edward Island, along with cultural attractions and trails through the city. The PEI Fox Museum explores fox farming, which grew into a globally significant industry on the island. There is also a large city park, the Confederation Trail and a variety of cultural attractions. You can plan your stay around whether you would rather discover stories and exhibitions, spend time outdoors, or combine both.

Fox Farming and City History

Through exhibitions, artifacts and authentic stories, the PEI Fox Museum tells of the lives of the people who turned fox farming on Prince Edward Island into a globally significant industry. An interactive self-guided tour also explores the history of the island’s silver fox industry. This gives the museum visit a clear focus: it highlights both the development of the industry and the people connected with it.

Other insights into Summerside’s past can be found at houses and exhibition venues with very different focuses. The Lefurgey Cultural Centre at 205 Prince Street is a designated heritage property. It is protected by the municipality and listed on the provincial and national heritage registers. The Wyatt House Museum was built in 1867 and was home to the respected Wyatt family. A one-hour guided tour there covers people, places, ghost stories and artifacts. A golden pocket watch that belonged to Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, is on display in the small exhibition space at the MacNaught History Centre.

City Park, Waterfront and Confederation Trail

If you would like to make time for the outdoors during your stay, Summerside offers different ways to explore the city on foot or by bike. At 53 acres, Rotary Friendship Park is Summerside’s largest city park. You can explore the waterfront and several city trails by bike. Which of these options you include in your day depends on whether you would rather spend time in the city park or be out on the trails.

The Confederation Trail runs through the centre of Summerside. It includes a pavilion marking the birthplace of the Trans Canada Trail. The trail and the routes for cycling in Summerside offer several ways to enjoy an active time in the city. If you like combining outings with culture, you can treat time outdoors and museum visits as different focuses for your stay.

Theatre, Dance and Special Tours

Harbourfront Theatre is an all-year-round theatre with more than 500 seats. Its program features touring productions in comedy, music, dance, drama and family entertainment. The range makes the theatre an option for visitors interested in stage productions; you can choose the type of performance that appeals to you by checking the individual productions.

Local cultural traditions also have a place in Summerside: the College of Piping offers instruction in bagpiping, Scottish snare drumming, step dancing and Highland dancing. The Historic Ghostwalk offers a different perspective on the city’s history. Held annually as a one-day tour, it takes visitors through Summerside’s historic district and covers Halloween stories and the island’s dark history.

When choosing a vacation rental, these interests can help shape your plans: would you like to focus on museums and history, spend more time on trails and in the city park, or include a range of cultural attractions? Summerside’s museums, outdoor activities and stage offerings give you several specific themes around which to plan your trip.

If you would like to explore other places as you plan your trip: Prince Edward, Borden-Carleton, Miscouche, Bedeque, Kensington, Tignish and O'leary.

For the broader travel overview: Prince County.