Celtic Heritage Fair

On April 18, 2025, the Benevolent Irish Society of PEI marked its 200th anniversary. Founded at the Wellington Hotel in Charlottetown, it is one of the Island’s oldest organizations on PEI, established to support Irish immigrants arriving in search of a new life.

To mark its 200th anniversary and long-standing contribution to PEI’s culture and prosperity, the BIS has been planning a series of events since 2021. These have been unfolding across the Island since April and will continue through mid-August. Among them is a family-friendly, three-day Celtic Heritage Fair at the Irish Hall in Charlottetown, running from 12 noon to 5 pm daily, August 8–10, with activities inside and outside the Hall.

Organizers are confident visitors will be intrigued by the demonstrations and learn from the historical displays inside the Irish Hall. 

Indoor activities include Irish storytelling, an ancestry demonstration, book readings by local authors, and demonstrations of quilting, Celtic appliqué, Clones lace, Aran knitting, and Irish crochet. Set dancing will be performed twice daily. 

Visitors can also enjoy film clips with sound—The Lady Constable Famine Ship Disaster, History of the St. Patrick’s Play, The Great Fire of 1951, and The Honorable Edward Whelan Irish Cultural Centre—alongside PowerPoint displays on The Role of Women at the BIS, Long Service Awards, and major anniversaries at the BIS. Historical video clips include the UPEI 1978 Irish Exhibit and the 2010 St. Patrick’s Parade. 

Outside, there will be Irish fiddle music and step dancing under the tent, the Cavendish Fry Truck, coffee and tea with traditional Irish baking, 200th-anniversary merchandise, and a prize spinning wheel for kids.

Visit benevolentirishsocietyofpei.com for more August events and info.