Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
If you’re still recovering from an eventful summer or still adjusting to the back-to-school transition, you might be overwhelmed thinking about the full holiday season that’s rapidly approaching.
So, over these next few weeks, dedicate some time to taking it easy and slowing down before the stress of holiday shopping, holiday baking, and holiday get-togethers kicks in.
The colder weather and shorter days of November demand a hot latte and a slow, leisurely walk through the town centre on the way to a movie, bookstore, or art gallery. Or, maybe you’d prefer to take this time to work on yourself by taking a new art class, doing some yoga, or going on a spa getaway. However you choose to spend your free time in the coming weeks, make sure it’s quiet, cozy, and all about slowing it down.
Here are nine ways to enjoy the quieter, cozier season in November across the greater Kawarthas region.
Spend a weekend watching acclaimed movies at the Haliburton International Film Festival
Get all the coziness of curling up with a good movie combined with the joy of coming together in community at the Haliburton International Film Festival (HIFF), presented by Those Other Movies from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8.
An initiative of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative, Those Other Movies has been curating year-round movie programming for 20 years as part of Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) national film outreach program, Film Circuit. Every year, the non-profit organization’s volunteer team attends TIFF and the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival to watch and bring to Haliburton some of the newest and most talked-about films that local audiences can’t watch anywhere else.
This year’s HIFF has the theme “Big Dreams, Big Thrills, and Big Questions” and, with a selection of comedies, dramas, and thrillers, promises something for everyone.
Screening over three days at the 226-seat Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion located in Haliburton Highlands Secondary School at 5358 Haliburton County Road 21, the seven-film lineup includes the 2026 comedy-drama The Stunt Driver, the 2025 drama Omaha, the 2026 thriller Someone’s Daughter, the 2026 biographical romance-comedy Le rêve américain (The American Dream), the 2026 dramatic mystery Histoires parallèles (Parallel Tales), the 2025 biographical crime drama L’affaire Bojarski (The Money Maker), and the 2025 comedy Les Furies (The Furies).
A VIP pass, which gets you into every film all weekend long, is $65, with a limited number of $10 rush tickets available at the door before each film. If you’re looking to get even more cozy while you’re at HIFF, you can purchase a 20th anniversary Those Other Movies blanket for $45. You can buy passes and blankets at www.thoseothermovies.com/hiff.
If you can’t make it to HIFF, Those Other Movies also hosts “Thursdays with TOM” on the second Thursday of most months. Films from Canada and around the world are screened at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion. The next screening is the 2026 dramedy “Once Upon a Time in a Cinema” on Thursday, December 10.
Whenever possible, the team at Those Other Movies invites local businesses and organizations to present to the audience and bring a local lens to the conversations explored in the films. Following the film, enjoy the perks of a community screening by connecting with other audience members and giving it a rating on the “TOM Takes” scale. When you get a season pass to Thursdays with TOM, you’ll have access to all eight screenings in a year for the price of seven.
To learn more and buy tickets, visit www.thoseothermovies.com/thursdayswithtom.
Learn a new game and make some new friends at Boardwalk Board Game Lounge in downtown Peterborough
Cold weather calls for game nights with some warm, homemade comfort foods. Fortunately, Boardwalk Board Game Lounge in downtown Peterborough has you covered with new games added all the time.
From strategy and co-operative games to family and party games, you’ll find more than 700 games at Boardwalk, ranging from easy-to-learn to those that will take some time to master. This includes some of today’s hottest games like Magical Athlete and Catan – On the Road.
Board game cafes provide the perfect opportunity to try out a new game you’ve been wanting to try without committing to its purchase. But, if you decide you love the game, you can buy it on your walk out of Boardwalk.
Are you the only board game enthusiast in your home? After 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Boardwalk holds a couple of tables specifically for gamers to meet up with one another, make some new friends, and maybe even learn to play a new favourite game. Owner Dylan Reinhart says they’ve never had a night without people showing up and suggests it’s a good opportunity for couples to play games that require more players.
Every night is game night at Boardwalk and now, due to popular demand, the general knowledge trivia nights are being held twice monthly (reusing the same questions each time). Boardwalk Board Game Lounge also leads kids camps during breaks and PA days, to give an alternative to sport and art camps while still developing skills through imaginative play, team building, and problem solving.
While learning new games at Boardwalk, dine on the evolving menu crafted by Connor Reinhart, like the specialty mac ‘n’ cheese and beloved chocolate chip cookies. Alongside sandwiches, milkshakes, coffee, and local craft beer, you will also find rotating seasonal specialties.
Boardwalk Board Game Lounge is located at 261 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. To learn more, visit www.boardwalkptbo.ca.
Have a coffee, relax, and enjoy some artwork at The Muse Gallery & Café in Bancroft
Nothing says cozy like a small-town coffee shop. Bancroft has a few of those, but The Muse Gallery & Café is hard to beat — it’s not only serving up nana’s own quality recipes but also serves the local arts scene.
Just steps away from the York River, this family-owned café is your one-stop shop for all things cozy. You’ve got flavourful specialty coffees, warm homemade bowls and sandwiches, nana’s freshly baked goods, and cushioned bench seating beneath the large windows overlooking the quaint Bridge Street.
Or, if you prefer to sink into the old-school sofas to enjoy your cappuccino, you can browse from the selection of local books and magazines on display. Colouring pages and toys are available for the younger guests.
While at The Muse, you’ll also want to get a good look at the original paintings and photographs that decorate the walls, often boasting wildlife and lakeside scenery using bold and vibrant colours. You’ll also find shelves full of locally made candles, crafts, gems, jewellery, cards, and jams and preserves.
And that’s not the only way this café is supporting artists. From leading book launches and craft workshops to hosting live music events, The Muse is truly a community hub built for artists of all kind.
The Muse is also a great jumping off point for starting your day of cozy art adventures in Bancroft. Sharing the vestibule is the entrance to A Place for the Arts, a collective of local artists with rotating exhibits. Or take your coffee outside and head toward Hastings Street for a short walk to the Art Gallery of Bancroft, or head to the Bancroft Village Playhouse to take in a show.
The Muse Gallery & Café is located at 23 Bridge Street West in Bancroft. To learn more, visit facebook.com/themusegallerycafe/.
Take up a creative hobby at Needles in the Hay in downtown Peterborough
Nothing says cozy more than a handmade scarf or sweater, and not only is Needles in the Hay in downtown Peterborough a one-stop shop for fibre art supplies, but you can also learn to knit, crochet, macrame, and more.
Owned by Deanna Guttman, Needles in the Hay is a boutique yarn and fibre arts supply shop focused on stocking premium natural fibre yarns from Canada. New to the line-up is Nurtured by Julie Asselin, a 100 per cent fine wool, and Érable Worsted, made from 100 per cent Canadian wool and through an entirely Canadian supply chain. Other bestsellers include enamel pins and kits for the “Elbows up!” toque, which was designed by Guttman herself.
Every season, Needles in the Hay launches a new schedule of beginner to advanced classes in knitting, crocheting, needle felting, macrame, tapestry weaving, and other fibre arts hosted in The Hayloft above the retail store.
Guttman explains that the benefits of engaging in fibre arts are far-reaching for the mind and body, and learning from passionate and knowledgeable fibre artists helps newcomers break bad habits before they even form.
If you’re already a pro at crafting but want to turn the solitary activity into a social one, join the Tuesday evening Purlez-Vous social, held in The Hayloft from 7 to 9 p.m. weekly. This is a space to connect with other fibre artists, gain inspiration, and work out the kinks in your work in progress with a team of creatives on your side.
Needles in the Hay is located at 385 Water Street in downtown Peterborough. To learn more and browse the schedule of classes, visit needlesinthehay.ca.
Treat yourself to a spa day at Ste. Anne’s Spa in Northumberland County
Does your ideal way to escape the cold include an embrace from a soft white robe and fluffy slippers on your feet? In that case, what you need is a trip to Ste. Anne’s Spa, a destination spa situated on the rolling hills of Northumberland County.
As an 1800s heritage fieldstone castle sitting on 500 acres in Grafton, Ste. Anne’s will make any getaway feel like a European vacation — so why not treat it like one and seriously indulge?
Picture this: your morning starts with a swim, before relaxing your muscles in the sauna or steam room. Then, enjoy a leisurely stroll around the property grounds, exploring the cedar forests and the zen garden, before indulging in nourishing farm-to-table cuisine for lunch.
Your afternoon can be dedicated to wellness classes, facials, body scrubs, and some retail therapy in the boutique. A day spent at Ste. Anne’s is yours to curate no matter what your ideal day of pampering looks like.
If one day isn’t quite enough, Ste. Anne’s has several accommodations to extend and enhance your experience. With charming and historic cottages to contemporary, modern rooms on site and sister properties located nearby, an extended stay at Ste. Anne’s will undoubtedly get you feeling revived and rejuvenated this winter.
Ste. Anne’s Spa is located at 1009 Massey Road north of Grafton. To learn more, visit www.steannes.com.
Cozy up to the fireplace at the Silver Bean Café at The Canadian Canoe Museum
There’s a reason all of Peterborough was excited when it was announced in 2024 that Silver Bean Café would be opening a second location inside The Canadian Canoe Museum at its new home on the shores of Little Lake. Not only did this classic café bring their delicious coffee and healthy meals to the new museum, but they’ve crafted a space that’s built for community and comfort.
Owned by Dan Brandsma since 2019, Silver Bean’s Millennium Park location already curates a cozy vibe with its riverside patio and proximity to Peterborough’s downtown core. But, while that location is only open seasonally, the café inside The Canadian Canoe Museum is open year-round, and even serves beer and wine.
A focal point of the café is the three-storey stone fireplace, called the Wipper Hearth (named for Kirk Wipper, founder of the collection that became The Canadian Canoe Museum), which connects to the seasonal outdoor terrace.
With comfortable sofas wrapped around it, the fireplace demands you to stick around awhile. Insider tip for making the most of your fireside coffee: try the seasonal Lake Ontario Latte, a chai latte made with maple syrup and an espresso shot.
Once you’ve warmed up by the fire, you’ll be ready to take a stroll by Little Lake or explore the world’s largest and most significant collection of kayaks, canoes, and paddled watercraft — over 600 of them, each with their own stories to tell.
The Silver Bean Café at The Canadian Canoe Museum is located at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. To learn more, visit canoemuseum.ca/visit/enjoy/cafe/.
Learn about local history at the Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre in Haliburton
Whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or railway enthusiast, cozy up to the Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre in Haliburton.
This railway station was originally owned and built by Victoria Railway between 1878 and 1880, with the line later acquired by Midland Railway in 1881. In 1893, the line was incorporated into the Grand Trunk system, which extensively altered the station to make it appear much as it does today.
Many railway buffs come to the gallery to view some of the original structures — like the exhibition space flooring which is the same original hemlock. Even the old freight scale still works!
The Rails End Station Gallery first opened in 1979 and has since been committed to sharing local art from the region. The gallery is most known for organizing the annual Haliburton Art and Craft Festival, a juried event that was held for the 63rd time in 2026.
Every fall, the Rails End Gallery also hosts the En Plein Air Haliburton juried exhibition, where all work must have been done within the county. Every other year, the gallery also host an “Art Heaven” fundraiser where you can donate your loved artwork to give it a new home.
For nearly 20 years, the Rails End Gallery and Art Centre has been hosting an unstructured and inviting drumming circle beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. It’s also a space for live music nights, book launches, and a monthly craft circle where community members are invited to work on their individual projects.
Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre is located at 23 York Street in Haliburton. To learn more, visit railsendgallery.com.
Reconnect with yourself at Fieldside Yoga and Retreats in Kawartha Lakes
Focus on your breathing and your posture — and yourself — by taking a yoga class at Fieldside Yoga and Retreats in Kawartha Lakes.
Less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Lindsay, Fieldside Yoga and Retreats is an inclusive, female-led studio created by eating disorder and body image registered dietician Atheana Brown.
In a steel barn on a working crop farm, the studio space is surrounded by panoramic windows with views of fields, forests, and wildlife. This landscape replaces the mirrors often on the wallsof traditional studios to foster Fieldside’s mission of empowering people to move their bodies intuitively, without it being rooted in diet culture and restriction.
Celebrating their second year anniversary this month, Fieldside is very focused on restorative, yin, and gentle hatha yoga for a low-intensity practice, with select flow yoga and vinyasa classes offered. They also lead kid and family classes, as well as a class for new mothers and their youngsters.
Alongside the class schedule, Fieldside also hosts a monthly retreat for those who desire a full evening to pause and reflect. These retreats typically include special events and activities like pottery or watercolour painting.
In addition to offering a range of membership and class pass options, Fieldside Yoga and Retreats distributes community access scholarships available for marginalized communities who face barriers to access. With two of these passes available per month, Brown tells KawarthaNOW that the goal is to make yoga inclusive to everyone.
Fieldside Yoga and Retreats is located at 1407 Elm Tree Road west of Lindsay. To learn more, visit fieldsideyoga.ca.
Browse the shelves or join a book club at Readers’ Nook in Cobourg
Need I say more about why an independent bookstore — especially one called Readers’ Nook — is the best place to get cozy this fall?
Owned by Jennifer Bogart, this Cobourg bookstore (formerly called Let’s Talk Books) underwent a rebrand in 2024 to better reflect its purpose in the community.
Grab a coffee from your favourite café in town, browse through the shelves of new releases, and make your way to the vibrant pink readers’ nook — a homey space that’s made for community, connection, and, of course, winter afternoons. It’s a space specially designed so you can lose yourself in a story and a new world.
This nook is where you’ll find a weekly book club that rotates between studying romantasy (first Tuesday of the month), mystery (second Tuesday), historical fiction (third Tuesday), and contemporary (last Tuesday).
There’s also a non-fiction book study that will kick off in the new year, and a silent book club (held on the third Wednesday of the month). The latter invites people to come together and read their own books without the pressure of having to converse or complete a required reading by a certain deadline.
Outside of book clubs, Readers’ Nook is always hosting special events including midnight book releases and movie screenings. In January, the store will be hosting the second Readers’ Nook-A-Thon, a weekend-long reading marathon that takes over the bookstore. The event will be held in support of The Rose Quest, a non-profit that distributes hygiene products to those in need.
Readers’ Nook is located at 29 King Street West in Cobourg. To learn more, visit www.readersnook.ca.
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
