Summerside Lobster Festival adds major sporting events

This July's Summerside Lobster Festival has added two major sporting events to the traditional lineup of entertainment expected at the annual carnival.

The festival, a celebration of P.E.I. lobster, announced the lineup for 2016 festival on Thursday.

The festivities will open and close with sports, beginning with the Tri-Lobster Triathlon an Olympic-qualifying eventon July 17, and close with a national beach volleyball tournament Sandjam Summerside July 22-24.

Atlantic Canadian musical artists will perform on a waterfront stage over the course of the week, and the Kids Summer Fun Zone, featuring sandcastle building and the Lego Lobster Zone, will return.

"This event isgood forour entire community, our residents, visitors, our businesses and our economy," said Summerside Mayor Bill Martin in a news release.

"It is a wonderful event that celebrates all that is great about our community, our music, our food, our heritage and our culture."

The themed days at the festival include Youth Talent Day, Celtic Day, Acadian Day,Mi'Kmaq Cultural Day and DiverseCity Festival.

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