Atlanticade is on the move again, this time to Summerside, PEI.
Atlantic Canada’s biggest motorcycle rally has been bouncing around the last couple of years, after its beginning in Moncton in 2007. Conflicts with event planners there sent the festival to St. Andrews in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, for 2010 and 2011.
The festival did well after the move, but not everyone was happy with the horde of bikers descending on their region. A combination of some ambivalent citizens with a lack of funding money from local municipalities convinced rally organizers to pull up stakes again, this time for PEI.
Atlanticade should benefit from PEI’s tourism-friendly mindset, and they’ll also be able to take advantage of Canada Day weekend scheduling again, after they were forced by St. Andrews politicos and businessmen to change that plan last year. The rally will run June 29-July 3 next summer.
There were only a very small amount of people who had complaints regarding having Atlanticade in St. Andrews, possibly 5 or 6 people. You will most likely find a small group anywhere it may decide to go that will not be pleased that they are there. At least when it was in St. Andrews people did not have to spend close to $50.00 just to cross a bridge to get to it. It’s also a little misleading that Atlanticade is using photos of St. Andrews to promote their rally in Summerside.
It is only $18. for a bike and you only pay upon leaving, so some will pay nothing as they will fall in love with us here and stay.
Curt
Its the stereotype we have I think, little quiet municipalities are intimidated  and unsure and the $$$$ becomes second prio, sad.
It’s incredible how some jurisdictions just don’t understand the tourism dollars available from motorcycle tourism. I can appreciate that having hundreds of bikes descend on an area is off putting for some residents, however the subsequent touring trade throughout the riding months can bring in substantial benefits to local business’. Some people just won’t bend!