Photos: The Strumbellas perform at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park.

Juno award-winning band, The Strumbellas, performed at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park Wednesday night.

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Photos by Luke Best

Attendees were happy to welcome them back to Kawarthas, by filling the park and dancing into the night. The Strumbellas did not disappoint. With a high-energy performance they had the crowd singing along to their hits such as “Spirits,” “We Don’t Know,” and “In This Life.”

The evening was concluded with an encore featuring a cover of Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”

Lead singer Jimmy Chauveau described the evening as “all sorts of magic” and that he couldn’t wait to come back.

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Kawartha Downs Continues Revving Its 50th Anniversary With Tractor Pull and Demolition Derby

The festivities continue for Kawartha Downs’s 50th anniversary with a tractor pull and demolition during the Aug. 5/6 weekend.

Fair atop his “Executioner” to be one of the many tractors featured at the pulls. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The tractor pull is held on Aug. 5 that boasts a new asphalt track, new bleachers — with a seating capacity of around 2,500 people — and pullers hailing from all over the province and Quebec.

"We've got the best clay track in Ontario," said Dan Fair, Executioner Sled Team operator, "This track is every bit as anything that they run.”

The garden tractor pull starts at 4 p.m. and the truck and tractor pull at 7 p.m. Several antique tractors will be on display throughout the day.

Other attractions include a lamb and rabbit show, live music from a cover band to be announced, vendors and food trucks from Sammy’s Roadhouse & Grill from Cavan-Monaghan. Spectators can access the pit area and get autographs signed from the drivers.

Drivers John Louws (left) and Barb Cochrane (right) are two featured drivers for the Aug. 5/6 weekend. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Aug. 6 features a demolition derby on an asphalt track instead of a traditional mud track. The former allows for a faster-paced derby according to Jim Grant of Ontario Demolition Derby Limited.

“The cars cannot get stuck,” he said. “The cars can tear out a rear axle and still keep on going. They do not get bogged down in the mud, they slip and slide around, they can have four flat tires and keep going so they're always in the action until the car dies.”

@ptbo_canada It’s more than just horse racing and speedways at Kawartha Downs! #harnessracing #harness #speedway #cascar #tractorpull #tractor #demolition #demolitionderby #horses ♬ Country Truck Driving Man - Chris Mc Lernon

Grant believes that Kawartha Downs is the perfect venue to host the event considering the success of past demolition derbies in Peterborough.

"Peterborough used to do 4,000 people for theirs,” said Grant. "We would fill the grandstands at Lakefield and Port Hope had a crazy amount of people. People love demo derby so to come and see it on pavement is awesome.”

There is a total of $10,000 in prize money for the demolition drivers for each respective derby. Categories include figure-8, mini, midsize, junk run, full-sized cards and full-sized trucks.

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Photos: Sam Roberts Band Rocks Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park

Less than one year since their last appearance in town, the Sam Roberts Band performed at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park Wednesday night.

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This was the Sam Roberts Band’s third appearance in Peterborough. Their first appearance was at Showplace Performance Centre on Nov. 24, 2014. Photos By Luke Best.

Fans packed the park and were ecstatic to see the Sam Roberts Band return since their last appearance in August. The drive-in concert at the Peterborough Memorial Centre was cut short due to a storm.

After so much time without concerts, Sam Roberts told the crowd to “Throw your shame out the window and dance!”

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Throughout the evening, the alternative rock band played fan favourites such as “Shapeshifters” and “Brother Down.” Roberts shared stories of playing Peterborough for the first time in 2002 at the since-closed nightclub, Sin City to a single attendee named Kevin.

The Sam Roberts Band marks the first Wednesday concert and third performance for the 2022 Peterborough Musicfest. The New Pornographers is the next act and performing next this Saturday at 8 p.m.

Peterborough Musicfest is a free event hosted every Wednesday and Saturday in Del Crary Park. Concert-goers can bring their lawn chairs or rent them for $4 at the event.

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Kawartha Downs Unveils 50th Anniversary Schedule Including Two-Year Master Plan Project

Kawartha Downs is going all-in for its 50th anniversary.

The racetrack has released its 2022 lineup and given Master Plan details to revitalize the facility over the next 18 months with entertainment facilities announced on Wednesday.

Richard Weldon, Kawartha Downs managing director was representing the subsidiary of Romspen Financial Corp. during the media conference on Wednesday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Romspen Investment Corp. — the subsidiary of Kawartha Downs — has approved the Master Plan which is a $30 to 50-million-dollar investment that will require Provincial and Federal support within a three-part plan.

The track is building several new amenities including:

• Large outdoor concert venue with a 15,000 person capacity

• An indoor concert venue with 3,000-4,000 seats

• A full-scale, permanent tractor pull facility with a spectator capacity of over 5,000 people

• A new convertible horse/cattle and exhibit space

• A 220-room hotel

• One FIFA outdoor soccer field

• Over 4000 parking spaces

Richard Weldon, Kawartha Downs managing director says the project will not only become a tourist hub but a way to generate employment opportunities all-year round.

“This is where we want people to stay,” said Weldon. “They grow here, we have some housing to support them but we have a major event here of employment, we have all kinds of events, we have entertainment and we have everything for people to stay."

The Downs will experiment with bringing in small-business opportunities such as a pop-up high-end steakhouse, Friday night rib fests with dancing and local acts and a newly renovated retro diner.

Opening day for the track is on May 28 which will feature a classic car show with over 200 vehicles from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a 2 p.m. concert by Kim Mitchell, harness racing at 6 p.m. and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. — that will also be displayed again on July 2/3 and Aug. 5 — that contains $100,000 of fireworks over four displays.

July 2 will feature a Festival of Retro Music and a fireworks show. The following day will have a Festival of Country and Western Bands with evening fireworks.

On Aug. 5, the Downs will hold a tractor pull, agricultural fair, country/western concert to be announced and the fireworks show finale.

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Downtown Restaurant Adds A Side of Drag Queens to Sunday Brunch

Peterborough’s newest restaurant, “The EL[P]” added some glitz and glamour to their weekend service as they hosted two sold-out drag brunch events on Sunday.

The EL [P] had its grand opening on March 2. The da Silvas also rented the former Olde Stone property but unknown to what it will be. Photo by Luke Best.

The event, “Hot As EL,” had an all-ages 11 a.m. show followed by an adults-only version at 1 p.m. Both were hosted by Just Janis and featured three additional drag queens, Banshee Waylon, Sahira Q and Betty Baker.

“We had worked with Betty Baker over in Cobourg and we had three drag brunches there already and it’s always been phenomenal,” said Greg da Silva, The EL [P] co-owner. ”It’s just great energy and we really appreciate it. When Janice reached out to us and asked us if we want to do it, we’re ‘like yeah, of course, we’re down.’”

The drag queens paraded around the venue during the sold-out shows, lip-syncing and dancing to songs. Guests enjoyed their meal and offered up cash tips to the performers. The closing performance was a group number to the song “Time Warp” that had the audience dancing beside the drag queens. 

“I have to say they’re kind of the leaders of doing safe shows throughout the pandemic and it’s just so much fun,” says Shawna Blackwood, who brought her mother with her to see the show. ”You come here and there’s just pure joy.”

Drag performances were on-and-off during the pandemic as Peterborough’s queens often cancelled their shows. Performers found it challenging to lip-sync with a mask and preferred not to cover their makeup after spending hours on it.

The EL [P] is located downtown on 378 George St. N., Hot Belly Mama’s former location. Owned by wife and husband Amanda and Greg da Silva, The EL [P] is a sister restaurant of their other location in Cobourg, called “The El.”

“We’re new to Peterborough and the community has seemed to embrace us,” said Greg. We’ve been open for just over 10 days and it’s going great!”

Peterborough has had successful drag shows with a sold-out show at the Gordon Best Theatre last weekend with Icesis Couture — Canada’s Drag Race’s second-season winner — in attendance. PTBO Live Summer Concert Series hosted its first drag show at the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on July 24 last year. 

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Lindsay Exhibition Returns to COVID-Friendly In-Person Event

The 2021 Lindsay Exhibition (LEX) will be held in person with COVID-19-friendly protocols this year from Sept. 18–26 announced by the Lindsay Agricultural Society (LAS) on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Agricultural Society.

Events, displays and competitions will be part of the attractions this year alongside other favourites such as the WoofJocks, Demolition Derby, midway rides and grandstand entertainment will also be available, restrictions pending.

LEX’s scheduling distributes the competitions across four additional days to reduce the number of people on the grounds and at the barns at any one time to allow for better physical distancing.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Agricultural Society.

LAS is confident that all competitive aspects of the LEX will be able to be held in-person using comprehensive protocols that have been designed with the health and safety of competitors, officials, visitors, and volunteers in mind according to the press release.

“We’re confident that we can give exhibitors an opportunity to compete in a safe environment that adheres to all the required COVID-19 safety protocols,” said Lois Batty, LAS president. “The spacious LEX Grounds and our multiple airy buildings work well in this type of situation.”

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Agricultural Society.

“We’re building on the experience we’ve gained hosting smaller events over the last six months to create a plan that will work safely within the protocols that have been established,” stated Harry Stoddart, LAS general manager.

More information about tickets and the full LEX entertainment schedule will be available in late summer.

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A Dash of Denney Invites Locals to Doodle Dash Around The Kawarthas

A Lindsay in-home bakery, Dash of Denney, is inviting locals to explore the Kawarthas with Doodle Dash - a scavenger hunt celebrating local businesses.

Photo Courtesy of A Dash of Denney

Bakery owner Leaha Denney is a mental health nurse who organized the event.

“When I started my own business a few months ago I started to connect with all these people and find out about all of these businesses around me and I thought ‘how did I not know about all of these?’" she said.

Denney decided something needed to be done to bring more attention to the businesses operating in the area.

Along with The Lunch Box, a food truck located in Rosedale, A Dash of Denney has planned “Doodle Dash.” It is a scavenger hunt-style game that will lead players to different store fronts in the Kawarthas.

Participants must order a Doodle Dash Kit and map for $50 from A Dash of Denny on Instagram. The map will act as a ‘key’ for participants to show at stops along the way. It will earn them discounts or free stuff at certain locations.

“This scavenger hunt is our way to share all of these businesses we have found and hopefully people will find ways to connect to their community that they didn’t even know existed before,” said Denney.

Prizes will be awarded based on a point system.

Participants can earn points by ‘checking in’ at participating locations on Instagram. There will also be riddles and games along the way to earn extra points.

10 per cent of proceeds will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Lakes Food Source, Womens Resources and Community Care Hospice.

Participants are also encouraged to bring physical donations with them on the scavenger hunt to leave at designated locations. A list of preferred items can be found on Dash of Denney’s Instagram.

Those wanting to participate in a 19+ version of Doodle Dash will add a $5 donation to the cost of their kit and map.

Doodle Dash will begin on Thursday and end on Sunday.

Prizes can be viewed at the ‘hub’ of Doodle Dash, Strike Point Bowling in Lindsay.

“You get to explore and reconnect,” said Denney. “People are reopening again so it’s just nice to remember where these locations are and go see what they have to offer.”

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Public Energy Brings Circus Sundae to Peterborough

Public Energy Performing Arts is kicking off a seven-part outdoor event on Sunday at two separate locations.

Spumoni the Clown. Photo Courtesy of Public Energy.

The seven-part series will showcase a 25-minute program called Circus Sundae: Sweet & Salty by Flying Solo, a Toronto-based circus company that uses their own originally designed and fabricated apparatuses to create unique choreography, performed on the one-of-a-kind City Circus Truck.

Aerialists Nicole Malbeuf and Laura Lawless and contortionist Flexy-T will perform on the City Circus Truck, a flatbed trailer that will be parked on site.

Ice cream treats will be served to the audience while Spumoni the Clown attempts to create the ultimate mouth-watering ice cream sundae.

Circus Sundae will be at two parking lot locations on Sunday. Performances can be seen at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at noon and at Peterborough Collegiate (PCVS) at 3:00 p.m.

Both shows are free or pay-what-you-wish. Book your spot on the Public Energy website here.

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Peterborough's First-Ever Drive N' Drag Show In the Books

Peterborough’s first-ever Drive N’ Drag show filled the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot where fans danced all night on Saturday.

A fan celebrates her birthday at Saturdays Drive N’ Drag show. Photo By Angela O’Grady

Despite on-and-off torrential downpours during the show, local drag performers Ms. Madge Enthat and Sahira Q were in the spotlight on the Enbridge Energy Stage. They joined other stars such as Tynomi Banks, BOA, Virgo, Tash Riot, Baby Bel Bel with host Dancing Phil.

Performers danced and lip-synced to music from famous artists like Whitney Houston and Beyonce during a night filled with expression and energy.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to express yourself and this is a form of expression or an outlet to release frustrations,” said Tynomi Banks.

Photo By Angela O’Grady

Fans were seemingly unbothered by the weather and danced along with the performers - some embracing the rain and some hiding under their umbrellas.

One on-scene security personnel speculated that the Drive N’ Drag show may have been one of the busiest PTBOLive performances to date.

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Peterborough Musicfest is Returning as a Drive in Concert

Peterborough Musicfest is returning with its first ever drive in concert on August 29, 2021.

The Sam Roberts Band has been nominated for fifteen Juno Awards, winning six, including Artist of the Year (2004 and 2009) and Album of the Year (2004). Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

The Sam Roberts Band with special guest The Webbers Brothers Band will take to the Enbridge Energy Stage at the Memorial Centre for this free event.

“All Musicfest concerts are free of charge thanks to our incredible sponsors, says Musicfest board chair Paul Rellinger. “We’re so pleased we could partner with the Memorial Centre to bring our fans this show, it’s going to be a great time.”

Free-admission tickets to the show will be available starting at 10:00 a.m. on August 9 online or by phone at 705.743.3561.

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