The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is once again rewarding residents and visitors for supporting locally owned downtown businesses and getting everyone in the festive spirit with the return of the annual Holiday Shopping Passport program and the Holiday Window contest.
Holiday Shopping Passports are now available at over 140 participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in ‘The Boro’ (see the list below). For every $10 you spend at participating businesses, you earn a passport stamp. Free stamps are available at the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitors Centre, and the DBIA office.
When a passport is filled with 20 stamps, the completed passport becomes a ballot for one of three early bird draws on Wednesdays during December for a $500 Boro gift card and a grand prize draw for a $1,500 Boro gift card in January.
The early bird draws take place on December 6, 13, and 20, with the grand prize draw on January 10. Find out more about Holiday Shopping Passports at https://theboro.ca/holiday-shopping-passport-season/.
New this year, the DBIA will be hosting a holiday Boro gift card bonanza where 12 lucky shoppers will receive a $25 Boro gift card just for shopping downtown. Beginning the week of November 13, the DBIA will be randomly drawing 12 downtown business locations to host weekly Boro gift card giveaways.
Aside from winning Boro gift cards, making the conscious choice to shop at locally owned independent businesses means you are contributing to a healthy local economy. Last year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.3 million worth of passports. For every $100 shoppers spend locally, up to $48 stays in the community — compared to just $14 when you shop at big box stores and nothing at all when you shop at internet giants like Amazon.
“We understand that supporting local requires intention and effort, and this year we are finding new and delightful ways to attract and retain holiday shoppers,” says DBIA vibrancy manager Hillary Flood in a media release.
“Holiday shopping in The Boro offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience filled with historic charm and hospitality that you just can’t replicate on Amazon. Now more than ever we need to shop with intent, because when you shop locally your money directly supports our community rather than a big corporation.”
The DBIA is also helping shoppers get in the festive spirit with the annual Holiday Window Contest, where downtown businesses are challenged to decorate their storefront windows in the theme ‘Aurora Borealis’, with this year’s Northern Lights predicted to be one of the most spectacular visual displays in 20 years.
From November 20 to December 30, you can vote online for your favourite storefront display. Visit theboro.ca to see this year’s holiday displays, with storefront window displays being added throughout November.
To make it easier and more affordable to shop in downtown Peterborough, the City of Peterborough will be providing free two-hour parking in the downtown beginning Black Friday (November 24) until the end of December, courtesy of Wolfe Lawyers.
For more information on businesses in downtown Peterborough, visit theboro.ca.
2023 Holiday Shopping Passport Locations
Free Stamp Spots
Peterborough Public Library
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism
Great Eats
Agave by Imperial
Amandalas
Black Horse Pub
Board Walk Game Lounge
BrickHouse Craft Burger
Brothers Pizza
Capra Toro
Champs
Cosmic Charlies
Crepes of Wrath
Crook and Coffer
Curry Mantra
Curry Village
Dirty Burger
The El P
Erben
Food Forest
Fork It
Fresh Dreams
Gerti’s Pub
Island Cream
Jasmine Thai Cuisine
Karma Café
Kettle Drums
La Hacienda
La Mesita
Madoi Sushi
Maple Moose
McThirsty’s Pub
Naka Japanese
Nateure’s Plate
The Night Kitchen
OMG
One Eighty Pub
Papas Billiards
Pita Pit
Poco Burro
Sam’s Place
Speak Easy Café
St. Veronus
Taso’s Pizzeria
Village of Thai
The Vine
Whistle Stop
Sweet Treats
Black Honey Café + Bakery
Bobo Tea
Canoe Café
The Chill Desire
Cork + Bean
Couture Candy PTBO
Dreams of Beans
The Eddison
Kit Café
Milk + Tea
Naked Chocolate
Providence Cafe
Revelstoke Café
Tragically Dipped
Turnbull Café
Yo Yo’s Yogurt Café
Artisanal Food
The Cheese Shop
The Food Shop
Indian Grocery & Bhojan
Minh’s Chinese Grocery
The Pasta Shop
Boutique Fashion
Antionette Bridal
Cahill’s Outerwear
The Capitol PTBO
Charlotte Jewellers
Cottage Toys
Dan Joyce Clothing
Flavour
Gentry Apparel
Grady’s Feet Essentials
Hi Ho Silver
Insight Optical
John Roberts
Just Like New
The Neighbourhood Vintage
Providence
Reiker by Cheslers
S.O.S
Sinders Bridal
Solid Leather
Statement House
T-Elle Boutique
Plant Shops
Avant-Garden Shop
Pammett’s Flowers
Plant Goals
Tiny Greens
Pet Shops
Paws Plus
Turner and Pooch
Cannabis Shops
Fallen Giants
Pipe Dreams
Sparq Retail
Sports Stores
Boaters World
Fontaine’s Source for Sports
Hobies Sport
Rawscoe’s Sport Collectibles
Runners Life
Running Room
Wild Rock
Bike Shops
B!ke: Community Bike Shop
Green Street
Full Tilt Cycle
Speciality Stores
Blue Streak Records
Dueling Grounds
Grey Guardian Games
IceMan Video Games
K C Costumes
Kollect This
Liftlock Escape
Personal Care
Birdhouse Tattoo
EJP Tattoo Parlour
Pettigrew Spa
PTBO Barber Shop
Riverside Tattoo
Spa Euphoria
Starks Barber Shop
Studio East
Sugar Me Right
Tonic Hair Salon
Health & Wellness
The Earth Food Store
Elderberry Clinic
Ritual Apothecary
Summer Soul Yoga
Sustainable
GreenUP Store
Homeware
Cozy Home Design
Gather Home Goods
Knock on Wood
Metaphor home
Tribal Voices
Artisan & Craft
Art School Peterborough
Charlotte Paint
Needle Works
Needles in the Hay
Peterborough Photo Services
Watson + Lou
Tools & Hardware
Kingan Home Hardware
Larry Electric
New to You
Chumleighs
First Stop Swap Shop
The Hawk Shop
Nearly New
Book & Zine
By the Books
Mark Jokinen Books
Services
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
Smiles to You
Sullivan Law
Toys
Boardwalk Games
Things from Mom’s Basement
The Toy Shop
Electronics
The Cell Shop
Reboot
Accommodation
Peterborough Inn & Suites
Peterborough Travel
Convenience
Sandys Variety
The Smoke Shop
