Festival Route 11

The Fédération culturelle de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard will celebrate five years of Festival Route 11 at Union Corner Provincial Park in Wellington, PEI, from August 1–3 with a weekend-long dance party. As always, audiences can also look forward to the festival’s signature multi-sensory outdoor experience: music, culinary arts, and visual arts. 

Festival-goers will be dancing the weekend away, whether in their seats or on their feet. The barndance is back and bigger than ever, as the main kick-off event of the festival. Capping off Friday night’s mainstage show under the big tent, high-energy dance caller Jean-François Berthiaume will have audience members itching to swing their partner. Folk music-lovers may remember this larger-than-life fellow from calling sets at last fall’s Goolaholla Festival. 

Another festival staple returns: Saturday’s Cajun dance party. This year features the four-time Grammy-nominated Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, widely considered to be among today’s top Cajun bands. With the festival’s signature large scale art installations inside the tent helping to set the vibe, there will be little to stop attendees from being lured into a two-step or two.

The toe-tapping continues on Sunday afternoon with headliner Mary Frances Leahy. Audiences mustn’t underestimate her for her youth: Leahy, the daughter of Cape Breton’s Natalie MacMaster, has been performing since the age of five. An accomplished musician, with collaborations with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma under her belt, she has been developing her own sound, rooted in Celtic, and influenced by jazz and latin music. 

In addition to the barndance and mainstage shows, Saturday will feature all day family-friendly activities (free admission), and Shane Pendergast’s Jack Pine Folk Club under the little tent. 

Tickets are on sale at festivalroute11.com. Volunteer and get a free weekend pass.