The June 29th Downtown Pop-Up celebrations in Peterborough are just a warm up for another party in downtown Peterborough, this one taking place on Friday, June 30th.
The Bash 150 is a full day of family events, art, and live music.
Organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), most of the events for The Bash 150 take place on Hunter Street West between George and Alymer streets, which will be open to pedestrians only on June 30th.
The day begins with a focus on the arts, featuring a student art exhibit called “Canada Assembled” that will be display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Hunter Street West. In this interactive exhibit, students from St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough have created large wooden puzzle pieces that can be assembled to create the Canada 150th logo.
The exhibit is one of four Canada-themed exhibits by students, facilitated by the Art School of Peterborough, being shown during the four days of Canada 150 celebrations in Peterborough.
Also beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. is unique media arts exhibition called “New Visions/Old Land” from Electric City Culture Council and Artspace.
Five artists (Kerri Kennedy, Shannon Taylor, Meagan Christou, Joeann Argue and Cara Mumford) have created four original works in film or video that reimagine what Canada means. The works will be tucked into stores, office fronts, alleyways, and tents along Hunter Street West between George Street and Sam’s Deli.
Trent Radio 92.7 will be broadcasting live from a booth on Hunter Street West and there will also be a camera-less film production table, where you can scratch, paint, stamp, and draw directly on 16mm film.
Washboard Hank – Honkey Tonk Woman
Meanwhile, over at Peterborough Square, Catfish Willie and Washboard Hank will be performing in the courtyard from noon until 1 p.m. at the DBIA’s Live and Local Lunches free concert series. From 3 to 6 p.m., the Peterborough Public Library will host a colouring contest for kids at the front entrance of Peterborough Square, where ‘The Puppet Tamer” Tim Holland will be performing 30-minute shows at 3, 4, and 5 p.m. (UPDATE – These events will now take place inside Peterborough Square due to rain).
Family activities are also happening at Millennium Park, with The Paddling Puppeteer performing from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and J’s Magic offering a children’s magic show from 6:30 to 7 p.m. (UPDATE – These events will now take place inside Peterborough Square due to rain).
At dusk, the movie “Beauty and the Beast” will be screened outside, part of the Ben van Veen Summer Family Film Series (UPDATE – due to a risk of a thunderstorm, this event has been rescheduled to Monday, July 3rd).
The grand finale of The Bash 150 will be a street dance on Hunter Street West, featuring live music from local performers between 4 and 10 p.m. The music begins with Washboard Hank from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by Mayhemingways (Josh Fewings and Benj Rowland) from 5:15 to 6 p.m., Rick Fines from 6:15 to 7 p.m., Melissa Payne from 7:15 to 8 p.m., and The Rocket Revue — featuring Beau Dixon and harmonica master Jerome Godboo — from 8:15 to 10 p.m.
For kids and the young at heart, Faces by 2 will also be offering Canada-themed face painting along Hunter Street West from 4 to 8 p.m. (UPDATE – This event will now take place inside Peterborough Square due to rain).
All the Canada 150 celebrations over four days in Peterborough are free. Some events are subject to last-minute changes, and other events are weather dependent. For more information and for last-minute updates on Peterborough’s Canada 150th celebration schedule, visit www.peterborough.ca/ptbo150, www.facebook.com/PTBO150, or @Ptbo150, and search for the hashtag #Ptbo150 on social media.
