kawarthaNOW | News, events, and community information for residents, visitors, and cottagers in Peterborough and The Kawarthas

Special weather statement for showers and embedded thunderstorms in effect for Kawarthas region starting Monday night

Local rainfall amounts of 20-40 mm are expected, possibly more in areas affected by thunderstorms

kawarthaNOW - August 31, 2026

In October 2026, Angela McDonald's Sweet Fern Floral Studio will move from its current location at 387 Water Street in downtown Peterborough to a larger space at 208 Charlotte Street, where her parents once operated a flower shop for 22 years. (Photo: Sweet Fern Floral Studio)

businessNOW: Local businesses open, expand, relocate and celebrate milestones across the region

"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson in an Instagram reel posted from Minden Whitewater Preserve in the Haliburton Highlands on August 29, 2026, one of the Ontario locations for the fifth season of the popular Amazon Prime Video action-thriller series based on the best-selling books by Lee Childs. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)

‘Reacher’ wraps up filming at Minden Whitewater Preserve in the Haliburton Highlands

Having just wrapped up his second season as Patrick Hickey in 4th Line Theatre's "Wild Irish Geese" at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, Darragh O'Connell is a rising star in Peterborough's art scene. The 14-year-old actor has been in about 15 local productions and has starred in commercials for national brands like Staples Canada and AAA Auto Insurance. Now working with a Toronto talent agency, O'Connell is eager to take on more acting gigs ranging from local theatre to on-screen performances. (Photo courtesy of Darragh O'Connell)

From community theatre to national commercials, emerging actor Darragh O’Connell is one to watch

The Township of Cavan Monaghan is a rural municipality in southwestern Peterborough County with a population of over 10,000 residents. (Photo: Township of Cavan Monaghan website)

Township of Cavan Monaghan council hopefuls introduce their campaigns ahead of October election

Candidates in Peterborough County municipality discuss growth, affordability, rural identity, and accountable leadership

Bethan Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter - Updated August 30, 2026

"Here Comes the Sun" by Barbara Miszkiel, one of 27 artists participating in the 2026 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour being held at artists' studios across North Kawartha Township from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20. The self-guided, juried tour features nine studios where artists will display and sell their work, connect with visitors and share their creative process, and lead demonstrations. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)

33rd annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour returns to North Kawartha on September 19 and 20

Ali the serval cat, pictured with Friday at the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough in 2013, has passed away. She arrived at the zoo in 2010, joining Friday and the zoo's other female serval, Kabala, who have also since also passed away. (Photo: Riverview Park and Zoo)

Ali, the last serval cat at Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough, has passed away

A young girl with gear during summer heading to a beach for a swim. (Stock photo)

The Beach Report for August 28, 2026

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is located at 1 Hospital Drive in Peterborough. (Photo: PRHC)

Ontario government provides Peterborough Regional Health Centre with almost $8.2 million to support hospital operations

Funding will support core clinical services, maintain around-the-clock emergency care, and help reduce wait times for surgeries and diagnostic procedures

kawarthaNOW - August 28, 2026

The Township of Asphodel-Norwood is a rural municipality in southern Peterborough County with a population of over 4,600 residents. (Photo: Township of Asphodel-Norwood website)

Township of Asphodel-Norwood candidates explain why they are running in the municipal election

City of Kawartha Lakes councillor Pat Warren and Mayor Doug Elmslie (front row, third and fourth from left) with the recipients of the 2025 "Bee a Hero" and "Environmental Hero" awards at Kawartha Lakes City Hall in Lindsay on August 25, 2026. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

City of Kawartha Lakes honours local champions for pollinators and the environment

Tami J. Wilde and Mark Edwards are two of the five local artists who will be performing at "In Your Own Words" at 100 Acre Brewing Co. in Peterborough on Sunday afternoon in support of the Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA), along with John Bright, K.C. Carter, and Joanna Bronson. A ticketed song-writing seminar with lyric coach Phil Manning takes place before the live music event. (Photo: Mark Edwards / Facebook)

nightlifeNOW – August 27 to September 2

Special weather statement for showers and embedded thunderstorms in effect for Kawarthas region starting Monday night

kawarthaNOW - August 31, 2026

Local rainfall amounts of 20-40 mm are expected, possibly more in areas affected by thunderstorms.

Township of Cavan Monaghan council hopefuls introduce their campaigns ahead of October election

Updated August 30, 2026

Ali, the last serval cat at Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough, has passed away

August 28, 2026

Ontario government provides Peterborough Regional Health Centre with almost $8.2 million to support hospital operations

August 28, 2026

Township of Asphodel-Norwood candidates explain why they are running in the municipal election

August 27, 2026

Kawartha Localist: Discover some of the sweetest stops in the Kawarthas

Megan Gallant - August 25, 2026

These 11 bakeries and bake shops serve everything from handmade scones and brioche doughnuts to butter tarts, French pastries, and decadent cheesecakes.

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features favourite pizza joints in the Kawarthas as selected by our readers, including in Lindsay, Peterborough, Haliburton, Bailieboro, Buckhorn, Coe Hill, Millbrook, Port Hope, and Minden. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Kawartha Localist: Where to find mouthwatering pizza across the Kawarthas

August 18, 2026

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features our favourite animal experiences in the Kawarthas, including in Haliburton County, Douro-Dummer, Port Hope, North Kawartha, Asphodel-Norwood, Roseneath, and Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Kawartha Localist: Amazing animal experiences await across the Kawarthas

August 11, 2026

Know Your Locals: Proud Peterborough native Ruby Byrne supports clients with estate planning and administration at LLF Lawyers

August 10, 2026

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features our favourite farmers' markets in the Kawarthas, including in Haliburton County, Fenelon Falls, Peterborough, Lakefield, Bancroft, Havelock, Cobourg, Millbrook, Lindsay, and Campbellford. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Kawartha Localist: Get a taste of the Kawarthas at these local farmers’ markets

August 4, 2026

‘Reacher’ wraps up filming at Minden Whitewater Preserve in the Haliburton Highlands

Bruce Head - August 31, 2026

The fifth season of the popular Amazon Prime Video action-thriller series is based on Lee Childs' 2015 book 'Make Me'.

From community theatre to national commercials, emerging actor Darragh O’Connell is one to watch

August 30, 2026

33rd annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour returns to North Kawartha on September 19 and 20

August 29, 2026

nightlifeNOW – August 27 to September 2

August 27, 2026

Carissa Kaye and John Austin as actress Vanda Jordan and director Thomas Novachek during a rehearsal for the Peterborough Theatre Guild's season-opening production of the psychological drama "Venus in Fur" by American playwright David Ives. Directed by Lisa Dixon, the play runs for 10 performances from September 18 to October 3, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

Peterborough Theatre Guild opens its 2026-27 season in September with Tony award-nominated ‘Venus in Fur’

August 25, 2026

businessNOW: Local businesses open, expand, relocate and celebrate milestones across the region

Jeannine Taylor - August 31, 2026

The first edition of our revived column features Sweet Fern Floral Studio, Brant Basics, new ventures, anniversaries, People on the Move, and local business events.

Rutger Huntley, Aiden Budd, Zander Bromley, Caleb Galbraith, and Rielle MacDougall are five of the six Peterborough-area student entreprenuers who graduated from the provincially funded Summer Company program, administered locally by Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre. Not pictured is Emma George-Peters. The young entrepreneurs participated in a graduation ceremony at Venture North in downtown Peterborough on August 26, 2026 along with a tradeshow showcasing the businesses they launched and operated throughout the summer. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

Six Peterborough-area student entrepreneurs graduate from Summer Company program

August 26, 2026

Located at 201 St. George Street in Lindsay, Mariposa Dairy has crown from a 100-acre goat farm into one of Canada's largest goat cheese producers and processors, and also produces sheep milk cheese products. (Photo: Mariposa Dairy / Facebook)

Ottawa invests more than $7 million in Lindsay manufacturers ahead of new U.S. tariffs

August 17, 2026

Over seven years of owning and operating Couture Candy PTBO, Lisa Couture has made several adaptations to her business model. From expanding across multiple storefronts to selling exclusively through livestreaming, Couture has trusted her instincts for the better of her business and personal life. In her latest pivot, she will be closing down her downtown Peterborough storefront on George Street at the end of August 2026 to make time for more frequent live selling and community involvement and to have more time to spend with her children and husband. (Photo courtesy of Couture Candy PTBO)

Couture Candy PTBO owner trades bigger margins for more family memories

August 1, 2026

KADEX Aero Supply recently renovated and expanded its warehouse at the Peterborough Airport to add 10,000 square feet of space, ensuring shipping, receiving, and inventory are all in the same hangar to increase efficiency and streamline communication between team members. The renovation and expansion comes as KADEX prepares for a new era of growth following its recent acquisition by Canadian holding company Chorus Aviation. (Photo courtesy of KADEX Aero Supply)

Peterborough’s KADEX Aero Supply is ready to soar to new heights after warehouse expansion

July 27, 2026

The Beach Report for August 28, 2026

kawarthaNOW - August 28, 2026

Water quality testing results for beaches in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings County.

Jakob Payne and Janelle Wiens, two Trent University learning garden teacher candidates, deliver a "Pollen Power" school program to a Grade 1 class at Ecology Park in Peterborough. GreenUP's education program offers a variety of hands-on, curriculum and experiential-based field trip options for students in kindergarten up to Grade 7. (Photo: Melanie Ellison / GreenUP)

Slow down and notice: what a Trent University teacher candidate learned when volunteering at GreenUP Ecology Park

August 27, 2026

Beavermead Beach is the only supervised public beach in the City of Peterborough, with lifeguards on duty daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the last week of June to the end of August. (Photo: City of Peterborough)

The Beach Report for August 21 to 27, 2026

Updated August 27, 2026

Camp Kawartha's executive director Jacob Rodenburg inside the newest addition to the camp, Birch Cabin, next to a "truth window." These small portals into the walls show the straw bale insulation holding up many of the camp's buildings and invite visitors to think about construction and consider sustainability in entirely new ways. (Photo: Rebekkah Hyams / GreenUP)

At Camp Kawartha in Peterborough, sustainable buildings are part of the lesson

August 20, 2026

A recently completed home build through Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre's Beaver Homes & Cottages program, which makes it easy to select a design and customize it to your needs and budget. A local consultant will work with you to finalize a design, and also help you navigate through all the required permits and approvals and find a local builder or contractor. (Photo courtesy of Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre)

Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre helps take the guesswork out of building your dream home

August 18, 2026

Weather

For more local weather, environmental conditions, and travel resources, visit our Weather & Travel page.

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