PEI

Chase the Ace chases Festival in Charming Churches right out of town

A concert scheduled for the Tignish area Friday night has been cancelled because organizers say they can't compete with the wildly popular Chase the Ace fundraiser.

Musical and storytelling event was supposed to take place in Palmer Road Catholic church

Thousands have been descending on Tignish in recent weeks for the chance to pull the ace of spades in the Chase the Ace fundraiser. (submitted by Malcolm Pitre)

A concert scheduled for the Tignish area Friday night has been cancelled because organizers say they can't compete with the wildly popular Chase the Ace fundraiser.  

The weekly draw for the ace of spades has attracted thousands of players hoping to win the jackpot — now $600,000.

Ray Brow, chairman of the Festival in Charming Churches, said his event was supposed to be in the Catholic church in Palmer Road near Tignish.   

The Festival in Charming Churches concert in the Tignish area has been cancelled. (Festival in Charming Churches)

But the show has been cancelled.

"When the draw didn't happen on Friday night, we started getting calls from West Prince saying, "Folks, you shouldn't go ahead next Friday, you won't have anyone there,'" said Brow.

"The Chase the Ace event has become so strong that people are recognizing that this is a phenomenon going on. We've been chased by the ace."

Brow says the Festival in Charming Church events are raising money for the Syrian refugee relief program.

He says the cancellation of the Tignish-area show means less money for the program. 

Brow added that the person who pulls the ace might find it in their heart to make a donation to the cause.