Peterborough Blogs
10 Things To Do In-and-Around Peterborough This Weekend; Dec. 16 - 18
/There is just one weekend until Christmas!
With a variety of events and activities in Peterborough City and County this weekend, there is sure to be fun for the whole family.
Visit with Santa and support SickKids at Dr. J’s!
Santa Claus is coming to Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews, raising money for SickKids! Get your photos taken with Santa from noon to 6 p.m. with a $5 donation. Gift wrapping will be available from Dec. 16 to 18 from noon to 6 p.m. with a donation of your choice.
When: Sun. Dec. 18, 12 p.m.
Where: Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews, 282 Aylmer St. N, Peterborough, Ont.
Hang out with the donkeys at PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary
Come to the Donkey Sanctuary for a curbside visit and meet the animals! These visits are free, however donations are gratefully accepted by the sanctuary.
Personal tours are offered on Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon. There is a maximum of five people (including children) and is $20 a person. Be sure to email the sanctuary to schedule your tour in advance!
Email: primrosedonkeysanctuary@gmail.com
When: Sun. Dec. 18, 1 p.m.
Where: Primrose Donkey Sanctuary, 1296 Bowmanton Rd. RR 4 Roseneath, Ont..
Enjoy the ‘Seasons of Ravenwood’ holiday display and food drive!
Extravagant Christmas displays are back at the Glasbergen’s as they invite the public to tour their grounds and support their “Fill the Sleigh” food drive in support of St. Vincent de Paul.
Walkways are created to guide visitors through their front lawn to view the display filled with ornaments, lights, signs and more. The family has requested everyone not to touch the decorations because of its fragility.
Anyone driving by is also requested to stop and see the display to not disrupt traffic flow and for everyone’s safety.
When: Fri. Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
Where: 1723 Ravenwood Dr. Peterborough, Ont.
Cheer on your Peterborough Petes at the annual Christmas game
Join the Peterborough Petes at the Peterborough Memorial Centre as they take on the Kingston Frontenacs.
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Sat. Dec. 17, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne St. Peterborough, Ont.
See Dreamer the Supertramp Experience
DREAMER is the authentic re-creation of the legendary '70's rock band Supertramp. The 8-piece group of multi-instrumentalists perform all of the sounds used in the real Supertramp show, from sax, clarinet, trombone, vintage keyboards and the unmistakable Supertramp vocal sound.
The musicians were hand-picked for their expertise in capturing the often intricate arrangements of Supertramp's material, and are a strong compliment to the feature vocals of Roger Hodgson (performed by Emmy award-winning Phil Naro) and Rick Davies (performed by keyboard player & singer Rich Hamelin). Complete with projections and period style costumes, DREAMER will take you on a musical journey back in time!
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Sat. Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. Peterborough, Ont.
Get cozy ‘Under A Winter’s Moon’ with Loreena McKennitt!
A series of seasonal concerts were held in a historic sanctuary in Loreena’s home base of Stratford, Ontario in Dec. 2021 and recorded live. She’s now releasing that magical concert as her 16th album with a two-week companion tour of Ontario. It is a captivating live performance rich with a miscellany of carols and tales that incorporates McKennitt's eclectic Celtic sound with elements of Indigenous oral traditions.
The evening will feature such favourites as “Coventry Carol”, “Good King Wenceslas” and the “Huron Carol” and include a special appearance by Ojibway artist and flautist Jeffrey Red George. The second set embodies Gemini Award-winning actor Cedric Smith with a reading of, A Child’s Christmas in Wales (in six parts). It is a moving and nostalgic piece of prose by the late Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
Loreena will be accompanied by Caroline Lavelle on cello and recorders, Graham Hargrove on percussion, Errol Fischer on fiddle, Pete Watson on guitar and 12-string bouzouki and Cait Watson on Irish whistle.
All tickets purchased for the show’s original date will be honoured.
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Sun. Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. Peterborough, Ont.
Enjoy activities for the whole family at the new Quaker Foods City Square
Despite the ribbon-cutting ceremony being postponed, the activities will still continue at Quaker Foods City Square. Activities are scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with outdoor skating, face painting and a DJ who will play music during the event.
The year-round space is located at the former Louis Street Parking Lot off the corner of Aylmer Street and Charlotte Street.
Please be advised that protests are scheduled to take place this Saturday at the Quaker Foods City Square.
When: Sat. Dec. 10, 11 a.m.
Where: Corner of Aylmer Street and Charlotte Street.
Get into the holiday spirit at Christmas Music Morning with the St. James Choir
Join for a special Christmas music morning at the St. James Choir’s Sunday service. Music Director Brian MacDonald and the St. James United Church choir will be belting Christmas tunes in-person and online with Twitch streaming!
When: Sun. Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m.
Where: St. James United Church, 221 Romaine St. Peterborough, Ont.
Jam out with Between the Static at The Black Horse Pub!
Jam out with Between the Static with a night of classic rock at The Black Horse Pub. There is no cover for this event.
When: Fri. Dec. 16, 9 p.m.
Where: The Black Horse Pub and Restaurant, 452 George St. Peterborough, Ont.
Drive-through the Merry and Bright Festival
The Merry & Bright Festival features almost one kilometre of light displays created by local individuals, businesses and organizations to raise donations and support the community.
The drive-through festival is a joint fundraiser for the Lindsay Agricultural Society, United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes, BGC Kawarthas, Kawartha Food Source, Lindsay Lions Club and Heritage Christian School.
Tickets: Can be purchased online here or $20 cash at the gate.
When: Fri. Dec. 16, Sun. Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Lindsay Fairgrounds, 354 Angeline St. S, Lindsay, Ont.
8 Things To Do In-and-Around Peterborough This Weekend; Dec. 9 - 11
/Santa Claus is coming to town!
Get into the holiday spirit with a number of events in Peterborough City and County this weekend.
Have brunch with Santa and Kitchen Farmacy at Farmhill’s ‘Naughty or Nice Santa Brunch’
The event is back for the third year in a row at the Farmhill venue in Keene, in partnership with multiple local businesses.
Start the morning off with a moment with Santa Claus (Santa Brian), captured by Wild Lace Photography, then head in for a buffet-style, farm-to-table country brunch from Kitchen Farmacy.
Afterwards, enjoy a stroll around the farm or join in on a guided alpaca tour and take part in a mess-free kids’ Christmas craft.
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Sun. Dec. 11, 9 a.m.
Where: Farmhill Weddings + Events, 2709 Dillon Rd. Peterborough, ON.
Carole with the Donkeys at PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary!
Come to the Donkey Sanctuary to meet the amazing animals and shop calendars and confectioneries. Complimentary refreshments are available. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted (charitable tax receipts available).
When: Sat. Dec. 10, 1 p.m.
Where: Primrose Donkey Sanctuary, 1296 Bowmanton Rd. RR 4 Roseneath, ON.
Join the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s Digital Publication Launch
Join the Art Gallery of Peterborough to launch their first digital publication documenting Brad Copping’s 2016 exhibition!
This digital publication offers a dynamic experience with image, video and audio, as well as writing by Spencer J. Harrison and AGP curator Fynn Leitch.
Celebrate the launch with a casual panel discussion about the project while exploring the digital site. Refreshments will be served in the Gallery Shop.
When: Sat. Dec. 10, 2 p.m.
Where: Art Gallery of Peterborough, 250 Crescent St. Peterborough, ON.
Get into the Christmas spirit at Charlea’s Riverside Gardens!
Celebrate the holidays at Charlea’s! There will be Christmas workshops, Christmas trees for sale, a makers market, food trucks and beverages, live music and more.
Food competitions will take place every Saturday, and Santa visits are every Sunday.
When: Sat. and Sun. Dec. 10, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.
Where: Charlea’s Riverside Gardens, 4115 County Rd. 32, Douro, ON.
Enjoy a magical holiday show at Showplace’s 19th annual A Cozy Christmas
The Foley Family and musical friends bring you the 19th annual Christmas concert. You'll hear favourite seasonal songs by Bridget Foley and the Gospel Girls (and guys), Sheila Prophet, Norma Curtis, Theresa Foley, Amelia Foley, Colleen Anthony (Foley), Victoria Yeh, Vera Vandermey, Danny Bronson, Steve Lynch and the Stage Cafe Band, Glen Carradus, Bob Trennum and so many more, all designed to get you and your family into the Christmas spirit.
All proceeds from this concert will be sent to a school in Africa that Foley works with to pay teachers salaries. There will also be a "Christmas Village" set in the Nexicom Studio where you can browse and purchase lovely hand crafted gift items and bid on silent auction items from many small businesses.
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Sun. Dec. 11, 2 p.m.
Where: Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. Peterborough, ON.
Jam out with Ty Wilson & the River Spirits with vanCamp & Caitlin Currie!
Join Ty Wilson & the River Spirits, vanCamp & the Skeleton Crew and Caitlin Currie for some indie, folk and country music at The Gordon Best Christmas show!
Tickets: Available online or $10 at the door.
When: Sat. Dec. 10, 8 p.m.
Where: Gordon Best Theatre, 216 Hunter St. W Peterborough, ON.
Be mystified at the Champions of Magic show!
Break away from the screen and experience live entertainment like never before with Champions Of Magic – an evening of impossible illusions and spectacular special effects. Described by the press as ‘The Avengers of magic’ catch the only team of magicians in the world as they present their original, phenomenal ensemble illusions at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Tickets: Available online here.
When: Fri. Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne St. Peterborough, ON.
Do some Christmas shopping at the Community Christmas Market!
For two days only, the Bridge Youth Centre will be hosting a Community Christmas Market featuring local vendors and artisans to bless our community and create some Christmas cheer! This is a community event and all are welcome.
When: Fri. and Sat. Dec. 9 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: The Bridge Youth Centre, 256 Brock St. Peterborough, ON.
2023 Monster Spectacular Revs Into the Peterborough Memorial Centre on June 18
/The thrills of monster trucks, motocross stunts and lawnmower races from Monster Spectacular roar into the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on June 18 announced on Thursday.
The monster trucks will compete in high-octane side-by-side racing, freestyle competitions and unique driver skill contests.
The show also features stunts from the world’s most popular monster trucks, including Overkill Evolution, Black Stallion and more.
Other family-friendly events will be at the event such as lawnmower races and Motocross backflips.
Presale for PMC Scoop members will run online only on Monday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets go on public sale on Tuesday at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online, over the phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office.
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Kawartha Downs Launches Their 2023 Event Program; Monster Trucks, Demolition Derby and Tractor Pulls
/Kawartha Downs has launched their event program for 2023 featuring events such as the Monster Madness Tour, Kawartha Smackdown, Country Music Festival and more announced at their racetrack on Friday morning.
Richard Weldon, Kawartha Downs managing director says these events help ensure the venue becomes an entertainment hub for the surrounding community and aid in tourism.
“(Kawartha Downs) It's an unbelievable location,” he said. “It's been underutilized. It was always good for harness racing and for casinos and so forth but we thought, since the people were already here, why don't we get more entertainment for them to spend more time here? It's a facility that should be used more often.”
The following is a list of special events for harness racing that runs from May 20 until Sept. 23.
May 20 - Grand Opening Celebration
June 10 - Take Mom to the Races
June 17 - Father’s Day
July 15 - Kids Night
July 29 - Bring a Friend Night
Aug. 19 - Own a Horse for the Night
Sept. 16 - Memorial Night
Sept. 23 - Customer Appreciation Night
Kawartha Downs has released their schedule for their 2023 event program with several acts currently in contract discussions, to be announced at later dates:
May 20: Opening Day
Classic Car Show: Noon to 4 p.m.
Concert (TBA): 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Harness Racing: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
June 3/4: Monster Madness Tour
Pit Party: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Monster Trucks and Freestyle Motocross: 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
June 17: Kawartha Smackdown
Pit Party: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Power Wheels: 1:30 p.m.
Demolition Derby: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Concert (TBA): 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Harness Racing: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
July 1/2: Country Music Festival
Concert (TBA): 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (July 1)
Concert (TBA): 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (July 2)
July 22/23: Truck and Tractor Pull
Details TBA
Aug. 4/5/6: Kawartha Fair
Tractor Pull (Aug. 4)
Demolition Derby (Aug. 5)
Concert (TBA) (Aug. 6)
Aug. 12/13 Retro Concert Weekend
Concert (TBA): 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Aug. 12)
Concert (TBA): 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Aug. 13)
Sept. 2/3: Truck and Tractor Pull
Details TBA