The annual Arts and Culture Festival returns to the Montague Waterfront in Three Rivers, Prince Edward Island, from July 29 through August 2, bringing multiple days of local arts and cultural programming to the community. The highlight of this year’s festival is a dedicated Indigenous Culture Celebration on July 31 at Montague Waterfront Park, running from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This special evening will showcase Mi’kmaq culture through music, handmade goods and traditional performances. The Abegweit First Nation and Lennox Island First Nation communities have lived on Epekwitk for thousands of years, and the celebration offers festival-goers a chance to experience that living heritage up close.
At 7:00 p.m., the Redstone Drum Group will fill the park with powwow drumming and singing. At 8:00 p.m., ECMA-nominated pop artist DeeDee Austin takes the stage. The 20-year-old singer from Abegweit First Nation earned a Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel on Canada’s Got Talent Season 4 and was named Music Nova Scotia’s Indigenous Artist of the Year three years in a row. She also performed at the closing ceremonies of the 2023 Canada Games.
Throughout the evening, visitors can browse work by Indigenous artisans and vendors. The celebration is part of a festival organized by the Town of Three Rivers in partnership with DiverseCity Multicultural Festival, Montague Marina and Inclusions East Inc. DiverseCity, now in its 20th year, runs in seven Island communities in 2026, connecting newcomers with long-time residents.
The festival brings people together from across Three Rivers, a town formed in 2018 through the amalgamation of seven former municipalities including Montague, Georgetown and Cardigan. With free admission and a waterfront setting, organizers say the event is one of the largest community cultural gatherings of the summer.
