Downtown Peterborough will be getting festive this weekend with a number of holiday-themed events for the whole family.
The weekend kicks off on Friday evening (December 5) when the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and the City of Peterborough host the third annual tree-lighting ceremony at Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street just east of Alymer.
Taking place from 5 to 7 p.m., the event will feature family-friendly activities, festive entertainment, and local vendors. Attendees can browse goods from local makers, enjoy hot chocolate and BeaverTails pastries, and celebrate with live DJ entertainment throughout the evening. The event will also feature the return of the illuminated PTBO sign, which has become a popular photo opportunity for families and friends to capture holiday memories.
“The tree lighting has become a cherished gathering point for our community to kick off the holiday season,” says Peterborough DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum in a media release. “There is something very special about gathering together downtown on a December evening to enjoy local treats and warm drinks, discover unique gifts from our businesses, take in the music and watch the tree light up downtown with your neighbours.”
At 5:30 p.m., Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal will light the tree, which has been supplied by Treescape Canada with lighting by Barry Electric.
“The tree lighting ceremony is a wonderful reminder of the warmth, connection, and generosity that define our City,” the mayor says. “I invite everyone to join us at Quaker Foods City Square as we come together to share in the holiday spirit, celebrate one another, and welcome a season filled with light and hope.”
Downtown shops will be staying open late on Friday with extended shopping hours, and will be offering double stamps on the DBIA’s holiday shopping passports. Completed passports are ballots for early bird draws on December 10 and 17 for a $500 Boro gift card and a grand prize draw for a $1,500 Boro gift card in January.
Also on Friday night, First Friday Peterborough and The Neighbourhood Vintage are presenting the fourth annual Holiday Night Market in the Bankers Commons Courtyard from 5 to 9 p.m., featuring 24 local artists and makers, four local musicians, and food and drink from five downtown restaurants. The courtyard can be accessed through the alley between Watson & Lou (383 Water St.) and Needles in the Hay (385 Water St.) south of Hunter Street.
To get in the holiday spirit while supporting a good cause, head to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre for the 26th annual In From The Cold Christmas benefit concert for Peterborough’s YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, In From The Cold features a mix of seldom-heard traditional and contemporary Christmas and winter season-themed songs, performed by Carried Away, the Claveer cousins, and the 28-member Convivio Chorus, along with special guest musician Benj Rowland. Tickets are available at markethall.org.
The holiday celebrations continue on Saturday, with a matinee performance of In From The Cold at 2 p.m. at the Market Hall and a holiday market of local vendors and makers hosted by the Peterborough DBIA from 1 to 5 p.m. at Quaker Foods City Square.
You can then head over to George Street for the 50th annual Peterborough Santa Claus Parade, which begins at 5:15 p.m. at Peterborough City Hall and proceeds south on George Street toward Morrow Park. Before the parade, drop in to Peterborough Square from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. for a free family-friendly holiday concert by the Peterborough Concert Band.
On Saturday night, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra will be hosting a family holiday concert at Emmanuel United Church at 534 George Street North featuring the Québecois vocal quartet Quartom, who will be singing a mix of French versions of familiar Christmas carols along with carols popular in Quebec as well as English-language family favourites.
Along with accompanying Quartom, the orchestra will also perform works by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, French composer Georges Bizet, and Canadian composer Ronald Roye. There will be an apple cider reception following the concert. Tickets are available at thepso.org/quartom.
Finally, on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m., The Barra MacNeils will be performing An East Coast Christmas at Showplace Performance Centre. Tickets are available at showplace.org.
Visitors to downtown Peterborough can take advantage of free two-hour holiday parking at all downtown municipal parking spaces, including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage. and the Simcoe Parking Garage.
