Acadian festivities

The 2024 Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition & Acadian Festival, taking place from August 29 to September 1, will feature an array of musical performances. These concerts, organized to cater to all tastes, will aptly reflect this year’s theme: Embracing Our Acadian Pride. Acadian music will fill the air throughout the four days of the festival, emanating from both the exhibition grounds and the main stage at the Evangeline Recreation Centre rink in Abram-Village.

The entire weekend kicks off at 7 pm on August 29 with The Acazing Talent Night, an amateur talent show for Island artists of all ages. The talent can include singing, playing music, dancing, performing monologues, comedy skits, or any other type of performing art. The registration deadline is August 9. Contact Marcia Arsenault at lpmarsenault@hotmail.com or 902-432-0769. Although the evening is not a competition, there will be a draw for a small prize from among those who perform in French.

On August 30, the official opening at 1:15 pm on the main stage will feature several local artists, including a performance of the festival theme song. At 2:30 pm, the PEI Youth Talent Competition finals will take place, featuring young winners from regional competitions.

On August 31, at 2 pm, “Les chansons et la comédie de par chez-nous” will showcase local artists Nick Arsenault, Samantha Arsenault, Debbie Rousselle-Montgomery, and Rémi Arsenault. Mama et les Boys (Caroline Bernard, Rémi, Riel, and Benoit Arsenault) will also perform. At 4:30 pm, the New Brunswick group Réveil will play a soundcheck for the Évangéline et Gabriel dance taking place that evening.

On September 1 at 2:30 pm, the popular fiddle and stepdancing show will be held on the main stage, featuring top Island fiddlers and stepdancers. At 4:30 pm, the young singers’ and musicians’ show on the outdoor stage will highlight the best young artists from the area.

The closing show on Sunday evening at 7 pm will review the artistic highlights of the year, headlined by Gadelle. This renowned local group, featuring fiddler Louise Arsenault, organist and singer Hélène Bergeron, bass player and guitarist Rémi Arsenault, and singer-guitarist-accordionist Caroline Bernard, has performed internationally. The Young Acadian of the Year and Acadian of the Year awards will be presented before the show.

For more information, visit expositionfestival.ca.