Clinton Hills gets into show business

Clinton Hills is known as a popular P.E.I. wedding venue, a converted dairy barn that is perfect for those looking for a country theme for their nuptials.

But most weddings happen on Saturday, so now the owners have figured out something else to offer in the space through the summer months.

They're turning it into a performance venue as well, and are presenting two shows this year.

"The Ross Family Ceilidh had approached us last fall, that they had been at another venue for 12 years, and there were lots of evenings where they were selling out," Maribeth Roberts from Clinton Hills told Angela Walker on Mainstreet P.E.I.

"80 to 100 people were not being able to get in. So when that happened we said, okay, this is time to make the move."

Clinton Hills can hold about 250 people. Roberts already had another show in mind, a new dinner and music show called Run For The Hills.

"It's not a dinner theatre, it's more of the music show component, but therewill be a story about rum-running in the show, and they'll kind of be in costume, and they'll be in character," she said.

"So it's really exciting, because it just fits the barn so well, and the music is all East Coast, and it's East Coast food, and it's just such a cultural experience."

Tourists buying tickets

So far, online sales show there are Islanders purchasing the tickets, but there are also a large number of people from Ontario, further west, and from the U.S. booking in advance, said Roberts.

The popular Ross Family Ceilidh is part of the attraction, but she said word is spreading quickly about the whole venue.

"I think it's a combination of the music, the food, and not very many people can say that they actually ate in a dairy barn," she laughed. "Not very many people have been in a dairy barn, let alone ate a meal in one."

The Ross Family Ceilidh runs Monday and Wednesday from June 19 to September 27. Run For The Hillswill play every Sunday and Tuesday from June 25 to August 29.

Tickets are on sale at the website, clintonhills.ca

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