Buy Tickets

Cavendish Literary Festival

September 26-28, 2025

Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Buy Tickets

Amid the rolling fields, red sands, and sea-kissed air of Cavendish, stories have always taken root. This is the very land that sparked the imagination of L.M. Montgomery—and now, it’s your turn to be inspired.

See Authors

See Schedule of Events

Buy Tickets

Readers, writers, and storytellers are invited to join us for the first-ever Cavendish Literary Festival.

[elementor-element k="01f2b71853018073381915cab19ef14c" data="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"]
A cozy picnic scene with a person sitting on a textured blanket. An open book lies nearby, with warm sunlight casting soft shadows across the pages. There is a plate of neatly cut sandwiches and a straw hat beside the book. The person is wearing a white dress with green sleeves and is reaching for a sandwich. A container of strawberries is partially visible at the bottom of the image. - Cavendish Literary Festival

Voices of 2025

Donna Jones Alward

Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings since 2006. Her historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire. Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. Find her online at donnajonesalward.com.

Antonio Michael Downing

Antonio Michael Downing is the author of Saga Boy and Stars in My Crown, and host of CBC’s The Next Chapter, where he interviews authors and columnists. He spends his time writing, making music, and honouring his grandmother’s legacy. Black Cherokee is his powerful and highly anticipated debut novel.

Linden MacIntyre

Linden MacIntyre is a bestselling novelist and award-winning journalist. His novel The Bishop’s Man won the Giller Prize. A former fifth estate co-host, he has authored acclaimed fiction and nonfiction, including The Wake. He lives in Toronto and summers in Cape Breton with his wife, Carol Off.

See All Voices

Your Moderators

Laura Chapin

Laura Chapin is an award-winning journalist who spent 30 years with CBC before retiring. A published playwright with several projects underway, she’s excited to be part of the first Cavendish Literary Festival.

Jessica Doria-Brown

Jessica Doria-Brown is a multi-platform journalist with CBC PEI. Before moving to PEI in 2014, she worked with CBC in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Ontario. She lives in Charlottetown with her partner and four children.

Antonio Michael Downing

Antonio Michael Downing is the author of Saga Boy and Stars in My Crown, and host of CBC’s The Next Chapter, where he interviews authors and columnists. He spends his time writing, making music, and honouring his grandmother’s legacy. Black Cherokee is his powerful and highly anticipated debut novel.

George Matthews

For over 40 years, George Matthews’ voice has defined PEI hockey, including 13 NHL seasons and 1,040 NHL games. Best estimates place him near 3,000 total games. A homegrown icon, his PEI Sports Hall of Fame induction is well-deserved.

Vanessa Smith

Vanessa, founder of Refy Agency, draws on 14+ years in marketing to provide strategies, creative direction and training. She hosts a PEI entrepreneur podcast, enjoys her book club, and embraces life with her 8-month-old daughter.

Musicians

Olivia Blacquiere

Olivia Blacquiere, a Prince Edward Island musician, blends heritage and heart, inspired by generations of storytellers and musicians. Through piano, guitar, and soulful voice, she unites timeless tradition with a vibrant, distinctly personal sound.

Luka Hall & Sydney Thompson

Charlottetown’s Luka Hall & Sydney Thompson are a folk duo whose authentic musicianship and harmonies captivate audiences. Luka’s songwriting, guitar, and fiddle skills blend seamlessly with Sydney’s warm, soulful vocals, creating unforgettable musical moments.

Lawrence Maxwell

Lawrence Maxwell is a Prince Edward Island alt-country artist and 2024 Music PEI Entertainer of the Year. With international shows and acclaimed songs, his music blends raw storytelling with neo-traditional country roots.

Events

[elementor-element k="01f2b71853018073381915cab19ef14c" data="eyJpZCI6ImNhOWY1M2IiLCJlbFR5cGUiOiJ3aWRnZXQiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJlZGl0b3IiOiI8cD5Gb3IgYXV0aG9ycywgd3JpdGVycywgYW5kIHJlYWRlcnMgYWxpa2U8XC9wPiIsIl9fZ2xvYmFsc19fIjp7InR5cG9ncmFwaHlfdHlwb2dyYXBoeSI6Imdsb2JhbHNcL3R5cG9ncmFwaHk/aWQ9cHJpbWFyeSJ9fSwiZWxlbWVudHMiOltdLCJ3aWRnZXRUeXBlIjoidGV4dC1lZGl0b3IifQ=="]