Lobster festival benefits from changes, new additions

Changes made to the Summerside Lobster Festival over the past few years are starting to pay off say organizers of the annual event. 

Once known as the Lobster Carnival, it was rebranded with a new name and new events in 2014. 

Executive director Don Quarles said the event has grown a lot over the past two years. 

"The infrastructure wasn't here yet. We really built a lot and on top of that, the whole culinary component that we've added, with Go Lobster and this year we have our celebrity chef again, back for the second time along with the musical component has really I think enhanced the entertainment factor for everybody." 

New events to the festival include the Go Lobster promotion, a national beach volleyball tournament and new food vendors.

Quarles said he expects up to 25,000 people to attend the event in 2016 compared to 18,000 in 2015. 

The Lobster Festival runs until July 24.