Old-fashioned fun at Avonlea Village will appeal to kids and Anne of Green Gables fans of all ages.
We have been traveling to Prince Edward Island as a family for many years and one of the things that we love most about the island is the Anne of Green Gables connection. Both of my girls have grown up with Anne stories and some of our best family memories revolve around PEI and the red-headed orphan.
Anne of Green Gables is a novel, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery early in the 20th century, that tells the story of a spunky young orphan who finds a home and a family in the rural village of Avonlea. The novel has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and countless visitors have been drawn to the island for the express purpose of seeing the land that inspired Montgomery.
Avonlea Village is an attraction in the family-friendly Cavendish Resort area of the island (often referred to as Anne’s Land) that features a full schedule of activities to entertain visitors over the course of the day. Avonlea Village is entered through the Bright River Train Station just as Anne arrived in the fictional village and once visitors exit the train station on the village side they will find that they have entered Anne’s world – a magical world of imagination.
Editor’s Note: As of June 2015, Cavendish’s Avonlea Village only features restaurants and shops rather than actors interacting with visitors. There is no longer a fee to enter the village. There will still be musical performances and an evening ceilidh.
A visit to Avonlea Village is one of the most anticipated days of our trip each time that we travel to Prince Edward Island. These are just a few of the reasons why.
Character Interaction
Costumed actors portraying the novel’s main characters act out highlights of the story at various scheduled times during the day, interact with visitors, pose for photos and participate in games with the children. The actors do an incredible job of staying in character for the entire day and visitors who play along will feel like they have stepped into the pages of Anne of Green Gables – children, by the way, have no trouble doing this.
Musical Performances
The Avonlea Showband (Michael Pendergast, Leon Gallant, Brendan Peters, and Rémi Arsenault) entertains the crowds with ceilidh style musical performances featuring island music, fiddling, spoon playing and sometimes step dancers. The band performs several times during the day and Pendergast also performs a show specifically for kids. The characters and the band also get together outside and lead a demonstration of square dancing and visitors are encouraged to participate.
Shopping
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in the village as well ranging from Cows Ice Cream and Anne of Green Gables Chocolates when a sweet treat is needed, the Anne of Green Gables Store for souvenirs and the Avonlea General Store which is “just the place to meet the needs of the human race” (that’s a reference from Anne of Green Gables the Musical which you should also see while visiting PEI).
Old-Fashioned Games
Old-fashioned games such as potato sack races and egg and spoon races similar to what Anne and Diana played when they attended the Sunday School picnic in the novel are part of the fun for kids visiting Avonlea Village. The characters participate in the games alongside the kids and adults are also invited to compete much to the delight of the kids who get to cheer on their parents falling all over the field in a potato sack.
Farm Activities
Horse and Wagon rides are available in the village throughout the day as are pony rides for younger children and there are animals to view in the barn. The highlight of the day though has to be the final event on the schedule – the Avonlea Pig Race. A pig race is impossible to describe – it has to be seen to be believed!
Playing Dress-up
Visitors of all ages can dress up in period costumes and take photos of themselves. This is one of Emma’s favourite parts of the day.
Avonlea Village provides visitors with a full day of old-fashioned family fun. Perhaps it is a bit touristy and it may not appeal to everyone but if you are traveling in the area with kids or if you are a fan of Anne then you might want to pay a visit and judge for yourself. We have visited Avonlea Village on each of our trips to PEI and we have had a delightful day each and every time. As far as my kids are concerned, it is one of the must-see attractions in Cavendish.
What You Need To Know
- The Village of Avonlea is located on Route #6 in Cavendish.
- The Village of Avonlea operates seasonally. There is full programming from mid-June through the end of August and fall programming for the first two weeks of September.
- Visitor information is available at Village of Avonlea information.
- No pets allowed other than working dogs.
- The village is strictly non-smoking.
Related Links
Kindred Spirits: Our Home-Away-From-Home in PEI
Dreaming about Red-Sand Beaches and Red-Headed Orphans
Postcards from Prince Edward Island
Cows – Yummy Ice Cream and So Much More
The Magic of Anne of Green Gables on PEI (Travel Mamas post)
eileen at FamiliesGo!
We have an 18th century farm house nearby where kids can go and play old fashioned games like sack races, egg-and-spoon, rolling hoops, etc. They love it. Looks like a great family adventure.
Lisa Goodmurphy
The games are so much fun – and so new to the kids because they don’t seem to get played anymore. We love Avonlea Village – it’s so much fun and visiting has become one of our family traditions when we’re on PEI.
Tonya {The Traveling Praters}
I love it! I loved the Avonlea series so much that I even attempted to read it to my boys. 🙂 They didn’t really appreciate the stories as much as my daughter, but did enjoy Rilla of Ingleside.
Shelly
How cool! I had no idea this existed – my daughters would love it. 😉
Becca@rwetheryetmom?
It sounds like such a fun place to visit for fans of the book – I would love to see somehting like this done for Laura Ingalls Wilder too!
Thanks for linking up!
Sarah V.
This looks like so much fun! I love the photo of your daughter with Anne…it’s clear that she’s thrilled to be there.
Freya
What a unique place, I remember going to a place like this when my daughter was still small she absolutely loved it. The dressing up, the old games, the farm …
Danielle (Bubs on the Move)
My own children love it when their favourite books are brought to life with character experiences. Gotta love a pig race too!
Lisa Goodmurphy
You would love to visit this area of PEI, Tonya – there are lots of Anne sites to visit! I have read all of the books except for Rilla of Ingleside.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Oh, I’m sure they would, Shelly! A lot of people roll their eyes and say that it’s “touristy” but the kids love it! It’s a really great day of old-fashioned fun and make-believe.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I love the Little House books too!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Emma loves Avonlea Village – she grins from the time we arrive until the end of the day!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It has everything that kids love – dress-up, farm animals and games – which makes for a perfect day!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The pig race is awesome!!
Jess
I wish I had known about this place when I was an Avonlea-obsessed kid! But better late then never. 🙂
budget jan
I think it is great that you keep on returning. I sort of thought of it as being a one off visit, but when you live relatively close, it would be fun to return. It is nice to have photos of the family as they grow and still have fun there.
Steve
This is the one thing I’m dreading when we finally get out to the Maritimes. I’ve avoided everything AOGG, but my wife is obsessed and there’s no way I’ll be allowed to skip this place. Guess I’ll just get myself some ice cream and settle in to watch the pig races. That sounds tolerable to me.
Johanna at ZigaZag
Wonderful old fashioned fun as you say 🙂 What a great place for children, especially being able to relate it to something they have read, and love.
Terumi
Years ago when we were still college students at UBC in Vancouver, the hubby and I drove across Canada and PEI was our last stop:) This post brought back some neat memories! And I love the idea of old-fashioned games and farm animals at Avonlea Village.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
This is someplace my daughter and I could spend a whole day in. I’m not sure my husband would be too happy being here though. I love that they stay in character and have all those cool activities for the kids. BTW, I’ve seen pig races at the fair and you’re right, it needs to be seen in person 🙂
Marisol
Hi Lisa, what a wonderful fantasy place. Even if I’m not a kid, I would be thrilled to feel like I’m stepping into the pages of the book. The old-fashion games are big added fun. Love the photo of 3-year old Emma in a sack. Super adorable!
EverywhereAmy
I wanted to go to PEI during my epic Canada trek this summer, but I knew my daughter would be brokenhearted if I went without her. Hopefully in the next year or so!!
Mel S
What a wonderful place to visit. I loved Anne of Green Gables when I was a child!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel
Love the photos and the detailed description. It looks like a wonderful place to go. I love the Anne of Green Gables books and have the whole set in my boys room ready for me to read to them when they are older. I hope soon we can visit P.E.I. as a family.
Wonderful review.
Thank you for linking up to Travel Tuesday!
Lisa Wood
what a fantastic place to return to. The ice-cream would be where our family checked out first! I like the idea of characters dressing up and acting at various times through out the day – be a great way to learn about Anne of Green Gables.
Emma looks good dressed up as Anne! She looks perfect for the part.
Ann
Even though I haven’t read the books, this makes me want to visit. But, I think I should still read the books first.
Lisa Goodmurphy
The Village of Avonlea was only built in 1999 so it’s a fairly new attraction but it is definitely fun for anyone who is obsessed with Anne and Avonlea.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Well, we don’t live particularly close as it’s a 3 hour flight but we do try to get to PEI as often as possible. 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
You have to give it a try, Steve, you may surprise yourself and actually have a good time!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is a lot of fun for kids. My girls love it because it’s Anne of Green Gables but I’m fairly certain that many of the kids (especially the boys) haven’t read the books but are still having a great time!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I would love to drive cross-Canada some time – what a fantastic trip! You should return with your kids now!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Our last visit was the first time that I have ever seen a pig race – it was something else!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Marisol, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy Avonlea – you just have to be young at heart and you would fit in perfectly!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I know my girls would definitely not be happy if I announced that I was going to PEI without them! Hope you get there soon!
Lisa Goodmurphy
My girls and I all love Anne of Green Gables so we have fun revisiting all the Anne attractions when we are in PEI!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I am so glad to hear that you plan to read the books to your boys. People tend to assume that only girls will like them because the main character is a girl but I think that they are simply great books.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Lisa – I think getting dressed up is Emma’s favourite part!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Definitely read the books first – it enhances the experience to already know the story!
Ann
I have no time to read anything other than book club books (ok, and blogs…), I wonder if my book club will be willing to do this for me? Or maybe I should just give up book club books for a little bit.
Leigh
As a kid I would have absolutely loved a place like this. I do remember visiting PEI when I was 10 and heading to the Anne of Green Gables musical. I loved every minute of it and can see myself playing right along as Emma did with the characters.