Our love for autumn in Prince Edward Island began in 2020 when we made an impromptu trip with friends to experience the Harvest Home Festival (Any East Pointers fans out there?). While we traveled for the music, what truly won us over was the genuinely wholesome time we had exploring fall coloured trails, chatting with locals, running through corn mazes, dining at local cafes/restaurants, and seeing (even in the short amount of time we were there) just how much the Island shines this time of year. It was just one of those trips that we will hold dear to our hearts forever. So, when it came to making fall plans in 2021 you bet your pumpkin spice lattes we had PEI in mind again! Something we enjoyed so much that we’re thinking it should become a tradition to visit each and every fall here on out.
Why Spend Fall in PEI
Now, we don’t know about you, but booking a fall vacation is basically the new spring break here in Atlantic Canada. As the weather changes and we trade those bathing suits in for cozy sweaters, you best have a fall getaway planned or you’ll end up wishing you did! Why choose Prince Edward Island? Well, the rolling green hills and farm fields framed with colourful trees speaks for itself, the beaches are still breathtaking despite the chillier temperatures, the towns are still bustling with local events and celebrations, fresh seafood is still plentiful, there are cozy places to stay around every corner, and with the fall harvest season in full force, it’s the perfect time of year to experience some of the most incredible culinary events in all of Canada. One of those events is Fall Flavours!
What is Fall Flavours
Fall Flavours is an annual PEI food festival that takes place Island wide from mid-September to mid-October. It showcases unique experiences, amazing venues, walking tours, tastings, dinner events, and more! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the abundant food businesses that source local ingredients from farmers and fishermen, all while having award-winning chefs create culinary masterpieces. There are so many great events within this festival each year! It is definitely something to check out and plan ahead for if you love food and want to experience the dreamy autumn season on PEI. A word of caution though, some events sell out quite quickly so find one you love and get your tickets fast! A popular signature Fall Flavours event each year was one we actually had the chance to experience - Savour Victoria.
What is Savour Victoria
Savour Victoria takes place in the storybook town of Victoria by the Sea, a small fishing village neatly lined out in a square shape with small shops all within walking distance. To say the town is charming is an understatement.. I mean it literally has the most charming town name we have ever heard of! The event kicks off with a “roving reception” where guests are invited to stroll the picturesque streetscapes and waterfront, while savouring appetizers and pre-dinner drinks at four different stations around town. Then, as the sun sets, guests make their way to one of three beloved restaurants for a harvest-inspired feast. The entire event was so delightful!
Here are the details from our Savour Victoria Evening:
Roving Reception Station One : PEI Corn Boil
PEI Corn with hot butter, fresh herbs, and parmesan cheese. Paired with Beer from Lone Oak Brewing & live music along the waterfront!
Roving Reception Station Two: Island Charcuterie Board
Cured meats, Island cheeses, pickled vegetables, nuts, and artisan spreads constructed neatly on charcuterie kabobs. Paired with Mead by Island Honey Wine Company and live fiddle music at the Island Chocolates shop.
Roving Reception Station Three: Oyster Station
PEI Oysters and a variety of sauces, paired with a “Welcome Signature Drink” (spiced apple liquor, ginger beer, apple cider, Matos white wine, sliced apples & cranberries) by Deep Roots Distillery. Location: The Studio Gallery with live music here too.
Roving Reception Station Four: Fire-Roasted PEI Mussels
½ lb of PEI mussels cooked over the fire with wine, garlic, and vegetables. Paired with Riverdale Orchard cider and another live music scene
Main Event: A Harvest-Inspired Feast
Created by Chef Lynn Crawford, the main dinner course for this event took place at three restaurants in the village - The Lobster Barn, The Landmark Cafe Oyster House, and Casa Mia by the Sea. Our location was at the Landmark Cafe and holy smokes it was good! Here is our menu from the evening..
- Chef Lynn Crawford's PEI Seafood Chowder
- Landmark Oyster Rockefeller - PEI oysters, candied Bacon, creamed spinach, garlic crumb, - baked parmesan
- Certified Island Beef Braised Beef Short Rib - CIB braised beef, pearl onions, caramelized apple mash, ginger and cumin roasted butternut squash, malbec molasses jus
- Spiced Peach Ate au Choux - House made puff pastry, spiced peaches and cream
Overall, this event was so memorable. Whether you are a food lover or not, it was the perfect amount of entertainment from getting to wander around the town to different stations and hearing live music, to quality food and beverages paired with a comforting atmosphere. We’d recommend it especially for couples, a girls trip, or family outing! Then, to top the night off there was an after-party event “Bites, Brews and Tunes” at Lone Oak Brewing in the nearby town of Borden-Carleton (shuttle pickups available).
Where we stayed while in Victoria by the Sea:
Orient Hotel - If you are from out of town, we’d recommend booking a place to stay after the Savour Victoria event is over. Established in 1900, the Orient is a Historic family-run hotel located in the heart of town, offering 7 comfortable rooms and a fantastic breakfast each morning. We had a great stay and it was the perfect spot to relax by the sea after having so much food the night before.
What else we got up to during our fall travels:
5:15 Fermentation Trail Tour - A Fall Flavours Culinary Adventure, this is a self-guided day of visiting five small craft beverage businesses all within 15 minutes of each other and beginning just 5 minutes outside of Charlottetown. Stops included: Matos Winery, Village Green, Deep Roots Distillery, Island Honey Wine Company, and Riverdale Orchard.
Hiking - Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park winds along the Bonshaw River and has over 18km of trails to hike, bike, and enjoy.
Kayaking - View PEI and Victoria by the Sea from the water with a kayak rental or tour from By-the-Sea-Kayaking. Reservations are recommended. They also offer a clam digging experience too!
Local Eats - The Fall Flavours website has a great selection of restaurants to enjoy along your travels. Spots we checked out included Lone Oak Brewing, The Lobster Barn, and The Handpie Company (this last one was recommended by so many people and did not disappoint!).
Corn Maze - On our way to catch the ferry home we had to stop at MacKenzie’s Farm Market & Corn Maze!
Point Prim Lighthouse - Another great spot on your way to the ferry (if you’re going that way) is the oldest lighthouse in PEI. If you visit before the season ends, you can even pay to take a tour up to the top of the light!
Canadas Food Island Gift card
Prince Edward Island is actually known as Canada’s Food Island because it is a foodie's dream destination and famous for the people that harvest and innovate premium food products, as well as hosting experiences from land and sea. So, to promote buying and spending locally, they created a gift card! During our travels, we used these gift cards lots. It is a prepaid card that can be used island-wide at any of the registered merchants. They never expire, sometimes go on sale, and make fantastic gifts!
