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

Located in southern Peterborough County along the north shore of Rice Lake, the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan has over 7,000 residents in 20 communities, including Bailieboro, Fraserville, Indian River, Keene (pictured), and Lang. (Photo: Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan)

With three seats acclaimed, Otonabee-South Monaghan municipal election race is down to mayor and one councillor position

Scott Tower is challenging Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark for township mayor, with Joe Crowley and Tara Loucks competing for councillor at large

Bethan Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter - Updated September 13, 2026

Peterborough County is partnering with local consulting firm IntegrAlign Partners to deliver free AI training sessions for business owners in Keene, Bridgenorth, Millbrook, and Norwood in September and October 2026. Led by Sherry Hill, each hands-on workshop will advise on practical uses of AI in the workplace across industries, including construction and trades, small business operations, tourism and hospitality, health and wellness, and non-profits. (Photo courtesy of IntegrAlign Partners)

Know Your Locals: Learn how to use AI for business efficiency and growth at fall workshops across Peterborough County

Directed by Dahlia Katz, New Stages Theatre's staged reading of Kat Sandler's award-winning play "Mustard" on October 4, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough features (left to right, top and bottom) M. John Kennedy as Mustard, Aurora Browne as Sadie, Kris Siddiqi as Leslie, Jason Gray as Bug, Jayda Freeman as Thai, and Matt Schermann as Jay. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)

New Stages Theatre opens 2026-27 season with Kat Sandler’s award-winning dark comedy ‘Mustard’

Peterborough City Hall. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)

Peterborough’s Riverview Park and Zoo would close to public in event of municipal labour disruption

Maryam Monsef of ONWARD speaking at the "A Conversation About The Status of Women In Our Community" event at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on March 31, 2026. On Tuesday, September 22, ONWARD will be hosting "Women & Money" at the Market Hall. Focused on the barriers women face when it comes to economic security, the event will include panel discussions featuring women entrepreneurs, dignitaries, and community leaders as well as networking opportunities. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)

ONWARD puts women’s economic security centre stage at September 22 event at Peterborough’s Market Hall

Organized by Maryam Monsef with presenting sponsor Kawartha Financial Services, 'Women & Money' will explore systemic issues in housing, caregiving, and business

Megan Gallant - September 11, 2026

Located in central Peterborough County on the eastern boundary of the City of Peterborough, the Township of Douro-Dummer has over 7,600 residents in 17 communities, including Douro, Donwood, Warsaw, and Young's Point. (Photo: Peterborough County)

Douro-Dummer municipal election candidates share their visions for the township’s future

Pinnguaq Foundation in Lindsay is one of 14 community projects receiving a total of $67,500 in funding from Kawartha Community Foundation's Social Sustainability Fund for 2026. The non-profit educational organization is receiving a $2,500 grant for STEAM Discovery Days, a free drop-in weekend program in downtown Lindsay that engages children and youth in hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities. Pinnguaq Foundation also received a $2,500 grant for STEAM Discovery Days in 2025 (pictured) during the inaugural year of the Social Sustainability Fund. (Photo: Kawartha Community Foundation)

Kawartha Community Foundation awards $67,500 to 14 community projects through Social Sustainability Fund

Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell, a contemporary folk duo from the UK and winners of the 2025 Robinson Emerging Artist Showcase at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, perform their blend of contemporary folk songwriting with influences from the traditional music of England, Ireland, and Scotland at the Black Horse in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday night. (Promotional photo)

nightlifeNOW – September 10 to 16

ArtsVote Peterborough 2026, a debate organized by Electric City Culture Council (EC3) that will feature all seven mayoral candidates for the October 26 municipal election, takes place the evening of Wednesday, September 23 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre at 144 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough. (Graphic: EC3)

Peterborough’s first mayoral debate of municipal election will focus on arts and culture

All seven mayoral candidates will participate in Electric City Culture Council's 'ArtsVote Peterborough 2026' at the Market Hall on September 23

kawarthaNOW - September 10, 2026

Downtown Peterborough's Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale on August 8, 2026 allowed people to experience Charlotte Street free of car traffic. Many Canadian cities are starting to reimagine their streets as places for pedestrians, not just cars. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)

Reimagining streets: GreenUP working to make school zones safer for local kids

For its Women Build '26 event, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawarthas Region (Habitat PKR) is inviting company teams and individuals to lift a hammer on site at the three affordable homes being built in Norwood. Being held from September 21 to 24 with a celebration on September 25, the initiative aims to support local families while breaking down barriers for women working in residential construction. (Photo: Habitat PKR)

Habitat PKR’s Women Build breaks down barriers while building affordable homes in Norwood

Now a Peterborough mayoral candidate, Rob Hailman (centre) chatted with Monaghan Ward councillor Matt Crowley (left) and Arthur editor-in-chief David King in the lobby at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough during the "So, You Want to Run for Council - Candidate 101 Information Session" on March 31, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)

From frequent council delegate to mayoral contender, Rob Hailman wants to change Peterborough’s priorities

With three seats acclaimed, Otonabee-South Monaghan municipal election race is down to mayor and one councillor position

Bethan Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter - Updated September 13, 2026

Scott Tower is challenging Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark for township mayor, with Joe Crowley and Tara Loucks competing for councillor at large.

Peterborough’s Riverview Park and Zoo would close to public in event of municipal labour disruption

September 11, 2026

ONWARD puts women’s economic security centre stage at September 22 event at Peterborough’s Market Hall

September 11, 2026

Douro-Dummer municipal election candidates share their visions for the township’s future

September 11, 2026

Kawartha Community Foundation awards $67,500 to 14 community projects through Social Sustainability Fund

September 10, 2026

Know Your Locals: Learn how to use AI for business efficiency and growth at fall workshops across Peterborough County

Megan Gallant - September 13, 2026

Free hands-on sessions led by IntegrAlign Partners founder Sherry Hill will take place in Keene, Bridgenorth, Millbrook, and Norwood.

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features wine destinations across the greater Kawarthas region, including Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro, Kawartha Country Wines in Buckhorn, Applewood Farm and Winery just southwest of Kawartha Lakes, Cheeky Duck Vineyard in Selwyn, and Elmhirst's Resort in Keene. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Kawartha Localist: Raise a glass to locally crafted wine experiences in the Kawarthas

September 8, 2026

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features end-of-summer bucket list across the Kawarthas, including Silent Lake Provincial Park, The Canadian Canoe Museum, the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, Ganaraska Forest, Algonquin Provincial Park's South Gate, Sanctuary Flower Fields, The Gut, Haliburton Sculpture Forest, Doube's Trestle Bridge, Liftlock Cruises, and more. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Kawartha Localist: Your end-of-summer bucket list

September 1, 2026

This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features favourite bakeries and bake shops in the Kawarthas, including in Downeyville, Peterborough, Douro-Dummer, Millbrook, Bancroft, Roseneath, Haliburton County, and Bailieboro. (kawarthaNOW collage)

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

August 25, 2026

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

New Stages Theatre opens 2026-27 season with Kat Sandler’s award-winning dark comedy ‘Mustard’

Bruce Head - September 12, 2026

Dahlia Katz directs October 4 staged reading at Peterborough's Market Hall featuring M. John Kennedy, Aurora Browne, Kris Siddiqi, Jason Gray, Jayda Freeman, and Matt Schermann.

nightlifeNOW – September 10 to 16

September 10, 2026

encoreNOW for September 7, 2026 features (from left to right, top and bottom) "Having Hope at Home" at Lindsay Little Theatre, Big Band Day at Peterborough's Millennium Park, the Killer Dwarfs at Lindsay's Academy Theatre, "Venus in Fur" at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, The Deep Dark Woods at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, and Foley's East Coast Pub in the Cogeco Studio at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (kawarthaNOW collage)

nightlifeNOW – September 3 to 9

September 3, 2026

4th Line Theatre's Salon Reading Series will feature staged readings of works by acclaimed playwrights Drew Hayden Taylor and Brad Fraser, along with 4th Line's own managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, in different local homes on October 15, November 11, and January 14. (Graphic: 4th Line Theatre)

Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre invites audiences to experience a ‘house play’ with new Salon Reading Series

September 2, 2026

Fleming College Institute’s new P.E.A.K. Executive Leadership program prepares senior leaders to be more intentional and strategic

Megan Gallant - September 8, 2026

New executive leadership program includes mastermind groups, one-on-one coaching, and in-person sessions held once per month for six months.

Rose Terry, manager of the Business Advisory Centre and corporate communications at Community Futures Peterborough, will be leading three of the nine Entrepreneurship 101 workshops offered in fall 2026. Supported by Scotiabank, all workshops are free and will be held at the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

Community Futures Peterborough expands free Entrepreneurship 101 workshop series for fall

September 3, 2026

New owners Theresa Thibadeau and Mark Walsh cut the ribbon at the entrance to Grady's Feet Essentials at 231 King Street in downtown Peterborough as retiring owners Kelli and Tony Grady look on during a ceremony on September 1, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Grady's Feet Essentials)

Grady’s Feet Essentials in downtown Peterborough begins new chapter under new owners

September 2, 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

August 31, 2026

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

Reimagining streets: GreenUP working to make school zones safer for local kids

GreenUP - September 10, 2026

Next phase of pedestrian-friendly street planning will bring car-free pop-ups to Peterborough school zones.

The 2026 Great Canadian Bioblitz happens from September 18 to 27, with observations recorded through the iNaturalist program. There's no cost to create an iNaturalist account or download the app, pictured in use here. GreenUP and the Peterborough Field Naturalists are hosting a kick-off to the Great Canadian Bioblitz at Ecology Park on Saturday, September 19. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)

Grow your ecological literacy by getting to know the species in your own backyard

September 3, 2026

The 23rd annual Hike Haliburton Festival is returning to the Haliburton Highlands from September 17 to 20, 2026. The award-winning festival features more than 35 guided hikes led by local volunteers, self-guided hikes, paid excursions by local adventure outfitters, and cultural events and activities taking place across Haliburton County. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County)

Award-winning Hike Haliburton returns September 17 to 20 across the Haliburton Highlands

September 1, 2026

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

The Beach Report for August 28, 2026

August 28, 2026

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

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