Christmas and Boxing Day: What’s Open and Closed on PEI

Restaurants and bars may remain open during the holiday season, but it’s a good idea to check your favorite spot before eating out, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to reduced opening hours and capacity.

In addition to December 25 and 26, some businesses are also closed or have limited hours on December 24.

And something to remember if you experience respiratory symptoms: Islanders seeking a COVID-19 test may not be able to get one on Christmas Day. The COVID-19 testing clinics in Borden-Carleton, Slemon Park, and Charlottetown will close at noon on December 24 and remain closed on Christmas Day. The Charlottetown clinic will reopen at 8 a.m. on Boxing Day.

More details on opening hours testing can be found here.

Here’s a list of what’s open and closed to some of the island’s major businesses and public services:

• Provincial offices, including Access PEI locations but excluding liquor and cannabis stores, will close at 12 noon on December 24 and reopen at 8:30 am on December 29
• Municipal offices in Charlottetown and Summerside will close at noon on December 24 and reopen for normal hours on December 29.
• All Atlantic Superstores will close at 5pm on December 24th and will remain closed all weekend.
• Sobeys, Foodland and Co-ops are all closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On December 24, the Sobeys stores close at 5 p.m. Foodland and Co-op closing times vary by store, but all locations are open until at least 3pm
• All Murphy’s Pharmacies will be closed on Christmas Day. Some, including Summerside, Cornwall, Kensington, Stratford, Parkdale, Queen Street and West Royalty, will reopen on Boxing Day.
• PEI Liquor Control Commission stores and Cannabis PEI stores close at 5pm on December 24th and remain closed all weekend. They will open again on Monday.
• Confederation Court Mall closes at 4pm on December 24 and reopens Monday. The Shoppers Drug Mart is closed on Christmas Day, but open on Boxing Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Other Shoppers Drug Marts on the island are open both days, most closing at 6pm. The 403 University and Kinlock Plaza locations are open from December 26 to 10 p.m.
• County Fair Mall closes at 5:00 PM on December 24 and reopens on December 27. The Lawton’s Drugs location is closed for Christmas, but will reopen on Boxing Day from 12pm-5pm
• Royalty Crossing, the former Charlottetown Mall, will close at 5pm on December 24 and will remain closed all weekend.
• The Island Waste Management collection points are closed on Christmas Day. The regular curbside pick-up will continue on December 27.
• T3 Transit buses do not run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
• Canada Post does not operate from December 27-28 in lieu of public holidays on weekends.