Southwestern Ontario folk/roots trio Cabin Fever (Jessica McKay on upright bass and vocals, Kyle Faulkner on guitar and vocals, and Colin Jolly on mandolin) perform their blend of Canadian Americana, folk, and bluegrass music with captivating storytelling at the Dominion Hotel in Minden on Saturday night. (Photo: Will Ronholm Photography)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 2 to Wednesday, July 8.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Local photographer Kirk Doughty captured this shot of the 2018 Canada Day fireworks over Little Lake in Peterborough. (Photo: Kirk Doughty)
The City of Peterborough is planning to reschedule the Canada Day fireworks display that was cancelled on Wednesday (July 1) due to the weather.
Although the city’s Canada Day parade and post-parade celebrations in Del Crary Park earlier in the day were unaffected, with more than 20 parade entries, over 30 vendors, and live entertainment along with community groups, severe thunderstorms rolled into the area at around 6 p.m.
The thunderstorms were so severe that, just 45 minutes later, Peterborough Musicfest cancelled the Neon Nostalgic concert that was scheduled to take place at Del Crary Park at 8 p.m.
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After many questions on social media from residents about whether the city’s fireworks display — set to take place over Little Lake following the concert at around 9:30 p.m. — was still going ahead, the city announced at 7:15 p.m. that the fireworks were cancelled.
The cancellation of both the concert and fireworks display were made despite the fact the thunderstorms had passed by 7 p.m., although they caused several power outages across the city.
“A severe thunderstorm had just swept through Peterborough and the Environment Canada forecast still showed the possibility of thunderstorms in the evening,” said Brendan Wedley, the city’s director of strategic communications and Service Peterborough, in a media release explaining the cancellation decision.
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“Based on the conditions at the time, the difficult decision was made to cancel the fireworks display,” Wedley added. “The city appreciates it was disappointing for those who were planning to see the fireworks and is working with the fireworks provider to reschedule for a date later this summer.”
The city will announce the rescheduled fireworks date and event details when they have been finalized.
As for the cancelled concert, Peterborough Musicfest has not announced any plans to reschedule Neon Nostalgic to a later date. The next Musicfest concert, featuring Good Lovelies, is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday night.
Wednesday’s thunderstorms also resulted in the cancellation of evening Canada Day celebrations in other communities, most notably in Ottawa.
The day after thunderstorms disrupted Canada Day celebrations in several communities and caused power outages, Environment Canada has issued another severe thunderstorm watch for the Kawarthas region for Thursday afternoon and evening (July 2).
The “yellow” severe thunderstorm watch is currently in effect for southern Peterborough County, Northumberland County, and Hastings Highlands.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms over the area on Thursday afternoon and evening that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
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While strong wind gusts near 100 km/h are the main threat, heavy rain possibly exceeding 30 mm and up to ping pong ball sized hail cannot be ruled out.
Local utility outages are possible, as is damage to roofs, fences, branches, or soft shelters is possible. There is a risk of injury.
Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
Newly announced performers for the 2026 Peterborough Folk Festival, which takes place from August 13 to 16, include (left to right, top and bottom) Juno award-winning Arabic psychedelic funk duo Kazdoura and hip-hop artist Shad, Georgia Harmer, Burs, The Kents, and Cale Crowe. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Two more Juno award-winning musicians will be performing at the 37th annual Peterborough Folk Festival, which takes place from August 13 to 16 in downtown venues and across four stages at Nicholls Oval Park, along with more local bands and musicians.
On Thursday morning (July 2), festival organizers announced that Arabic psychedelic funk duo Kazdoura and hip-hop artist Shad are among the second wave of more than 30 artists who will be performing during this year’s festival. The first wave of performers — including Juno award winners Bahamas and Begonia as well as The Pairs, Kelly McMichael, The Young Novelists, The Lucky Ones, and more — was announced back in May.
Newly announced local performers include Peterborough’s Melissa Payne, The Weber Brothers, and 17-year-old singer-songwriter Ollie Mae, along with Alderville First Nation’s Cale Crowe and the return of Lindsay indie rockers The Kents.
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Other established and emerging artists who will perform at the festival include Tennyson King, Georgia Harmer, Lauren Dillen, Friendly Frogs Freakshow, and Burs.
Short bios of each of the newly announced artists, whose music spans folk, funk, indie, hip-hop, roots, and beyond, are provided below.
Festival organizers say they will be announcing the third and final wave of artists, along with the full performance schedule, later in July.
The 2026 Peterborough Folk Festival runs from Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 16, with ticketed concerts at downtown Peterborough venues on Thursday and Friday followed by a weekend at Nicholls Oval Park including free concerts and workshops, an artisans village, and a free children’s village. (Artwork: Kathryn Durst)
The Peterborough Folk Festival kicks off with ticketed concerts at downtown Peterborough venues on Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14, followed by a weekend at Nicholls Oval Park including free concerts and workshops where artists collaborate for one-of-a-kind performances, an artisans village, and a children’s village with free daily programming from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring crafts, workshops, story time, face painting, and a daily children’s parade.
Canada’s longest-running free admission folk festival, attracting over 16,000 locals and visitors every year and generating an estimated $1.5 million in economic impact, the Peterborough Folk Festival is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers and supported through government grants, sponsors, partners including kawarthaNOW, and community members, with all funds going towards running the festival, including paying artist fees and covering operational costs.
A suggested donation of $25 per person will help to offset a portion of the costs and is eligible for a tax receipt. You can donate online at www.peterboroughfolkfest.com or on-site during the festival.
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Second wave of 2026 Peterborough Folk Festival artists
Kazdoura
Kazdoura — meaning “to stroll” in Levantine Arabic — embodies the spirit of exploration, nostalgia, and groove. Founded in Toronto by Syrian vocalist Leen Hamo and Lebanese multi-instrumentalist John Abou Chacra, the Juno Award-winning duo bridges modern and traditional Arabic music with psychedelia, funk, and soul. Their sound radiates a vintage psych-soul atmosphere.
Shad
Shad (Shadrach Kabango), a Canadian recording artist of Rwandan descent raised in London, Ontario, is known for blending humour and weighty themes, inspiring positivity while exploring a range of sounds. Shad won the Juno Award for Rap Recording Of The Year in 2011 and five of his albums have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize for Canadian Album Of The Year, the most shortlist nominations of any artist in the prize’s history.
The Friendly Frog Freak Show
Amphibian progressive funk energetically charged and ready to fire you up into a vortex of infinite sounds and colours backed by an eclectic rhythm section offering dancey shivers and auspicious ambiances to make you bring out your inner frog.
VIDEO: “Khayal” – Kazdoura
Tennyson King
Tennyson King is an award-winning, nomadic folk musician whose life and music stretch between Hong Kong and Canada. Performing in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, King builds his sound around rhythmic guitar, kick drum, and traditional instruments like the zhongruan. He has performed around the world, including an appearance at Glastonbury Festival, and earned a nomination for Performing Artist of the Year at the Ontario Folk Music Awards.
Georgia Harmer
Known for her ethereal voice and sincere lyricism, Georgia Harmer has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in Canada’s indie music scene. Her songs move fluidly across a wide emotional range-shifting from soaring, cathartic anthems to hushed, intimate reflections with ease. Harmer has toured extensively across North America and the UK, performing at major festivals such as SXSW, The Great Escape, and Focus Wales, and supporting artists including City & Colour, Lake Street Dive, Bahamas, and Broken Social Scene.
Lauren Dillen
While Lauren Dillen’s soothing voice and deft musicianship can be heard through her work with folk-rock quartet Burs, her solo project is all about self-work and following her instincts. Her songs are reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Laura Marling, and Andy Shauf, with soundscapes informed by ambient musicians like Emily A. Sprague.
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Burs
Burs (the small things that stick with you) comprises Lauren Dillen, Ray Goudy, Devon Savas and Aidan McConnell. Hailed as “a rich and often ethereal collection of songs able to change with fluid ease” by The Revue, Burs debut album Holding Patterns was released in September 2022.
Cale Crowe
Born and raised on Alderville First Nation territory, Cale Crowe was fuelled by music from the time he had a heartbeat. That love of music and sense of “life soundtrack” would lead him to picking up his father’s guitar for the first time at age 12 and performing live for his first audience at 14. Crowe’s blend of campfire-style folk and modern pop/rock reflects and builds upon the taste he developed all those years ago.
Ollie Mae
Ollie Mae is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter who channels the classic sound of folk, CanRock, and country roots through her music. Since age 16, Mae has worked as a recording and mixing engineer at Treblecock Studio in Peterborough. She’s been diligently working on her self-produced first album throughout the year, and is elated at the opportunity to play at the 2026 Peterborough Folk Festival.
VIDEO: “Soil” – Burs
The Kents
They’re back! Formed in 2011 in Lindsay, The Kents are composed of homegrown talents Warren Frank, Freddy Kwon, Tanner Paré, Luke Shauf, and 2022 Folk Fest Emerging Artist Nathan Truax. The Kents, who offer a unique indie-pop sound that is reminiscent of Foster the People, Young the Giant, and The Arkells, have appeared on many big stages, including Canadian Music Week in 2018.
The Weber Brothers
Between their renowned musical ability, high-energy, awe-inspiring performances and lessons learned first hand from rock n’ roll pioneers, The Weber Brothers have developed a reputation as the “Baddest Band in the Land.” Over the past 25 years, Ryan and Sam Weber have released 18 albums — with their latest, a self-titled 11-track record, released this past May before a sold-out audience at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
Melissa Payne
Hailing from Ennismore, Melissa Payne has made a lasting impact on the music scene, and her journey has only just begun. Originally rooted in old-time fiddle and traditional Celtic music, Payne has now blossomed into a successful solo artist with three full-length albums under her belt. Her live performances have garnered critical acclaim, and she has had the privilege of collaborating with some of Canada’s biggest names in music. Notable guest collaborators include Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, James McKenty, Matt Mays, Natalie MacMaster, cellist Nathaniel Smith, and Jimmy Bowskill, showcasing Payne’s ability to work with renowned artists.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a sustaining partner of the Peterborough Folk Festival.
Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners mentored new gardeners of all ages at a Growing Together: Gardening Basics workshop on June 6, 2026 at GreenUP Ecology Park. Participants planted a range of herbs and vegetables into containers while connecting with others across multiple generations. (Photo: Andréanna Sullivan / GreenUP)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Andréanna Sullivan, Landscape Program Coordinator, GreenUP.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in early May, more than 40 community members gathered at the New Canadians Centre for GreenUP’s first workshop in the Growing Together series. Participants left with tomato plants, seeds, practical gardening knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to grow something of their own.
Growing Together is a new initiative developed in partnership with the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners and supported through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
The series recognizes the important role seniors play as mentors, educators, and community leaders by creating opportunities for experienced gardeners to share their knowledge with others.
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The inaugural workshop, Starting Your Own Food Garden, focused on helping people take their first steps into growing food. Participants included newcomers to Canada, seniors, experienced gardeners, and people who had never grown anything before.
The workshop created space for conversations about food, gardening, and community while providing practical skills that participants could take home and use immediately.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was the exchange of knowledge across generations. The Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners brought decades of gardening experience, while participants contributed their own questions, stories, and enthusiasm. Learning flowed in many directions.
The workshop was also a reminder that gardening does not need to begin with a large backyard or years of experience. Many people are interested in growing food but feel overwhelmed by where to start.
Questions about soil, sunlight, watering, and plant selection can make gardening seem more complicated than it is. By breaking it down into simple practical steps, the workshop helped make growing food more approachable.
GreenUP is hosting multiple gardening workshops in partnership with the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners in 2026 as part of Growing Together, an event series funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. GreenUP Ecology Park’s accessible infrastructure, like the education shelter shown in this photo from the June 6 Gardening 101 workshop, are important spaces for facilitating knowledge sharing and social connection between community members of all ages. (Photo: Andréanna Sullivan / GreenUP)
That same theme continued at the recent Gardening Basics workshop at GreenUP Ecology Park and will carry through the remainder of the Growing Together series.
Upcoming Saturday afternoon workshops include Gardening with Children on July 4, Gardening with Pollinators on September 26, and Gardening as we Age on October 17.
Each session combines practical activities, discussion, and opportunities for participants to learn directly from experienced gardeners.
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While Growing Together is a new program, the partnership between GreenUP and the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners has deep roots.
Since 2005, Master Gardeners have staffed information tables at the nursery’s opening weekends and other GreenUP events. Several current members were involved in those early years and continue to share their knowledge with the community today.
In addition to leading workshops, the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners have been volunteering as garden mentors at the GreenUP Ecology Park Native Plant Nursery throughout this spring and early summer.
The Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners and GreenUP are building on their long-standing partnership at GreenUP Ecology Park Native plant nursery in 2026. Every weekend until July 5 and 6, volunteer master gardeners have been on hand at the nursery to share their knowledge and answer visitor questions about gardening and plant selection. (Photo: Natalie Stephenson / GreenUP)
“It has been really lovely to see the excitement of visitors who are coming to discover native plant species,” says Mary-Kathleen Dunn, a Master Gardener in training and garden mentor at Ecology Park.
Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Master Gardeners have been on site at the nursery to help visitors select plants, answer gardening questions, and share practical growing advice drawn from years of experience. The final sessions this season are July 4 and 5.
“It’s been truly wonderful interacting with the staff here. We all learn from each other. You’ve never totally arrived as a gardener, and that’s the beauty of it.”
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Gardening naturally brings people together. Whether sharing seeds, comparing successes and failures, or helping someone troubleshoot a struggling tomato plant, gardeners have long built community through shared learning.
The Growing Together series is part of a broader effort to strengthen social connections amongst older adults while celebrating the knowledge and experience that exists within the community.
As the growing season unfolds, these workshops will continue creating opportunities for connections to happen. Some participants may leave with a planter full of herbs. Others may leave with a new gardening technique, a helpful tip, or a renewed sense of confidence. All are valuable outcomes.
For information about upcoming Growing Together workshops and for the registration link, visit greenup.on.ca/events.
The youth team behind Empire Beez in Trent Hills (left to right: Sebastian Smith, Owen Musson, Eloise Smith, and Penelope McEvoy) stand with the beehive they installed at the Simpson Street Community Garden in Campbellford. The group launched the small business last year with the aim of raising awareness around honeybees and installing community beehives. The team will be unveiling the beehive during a garden talk held by IncrEdible Trent Hills on July 9, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Blythe Weber)
Just as a bee colony relies on teamwork to make things happen, so too does Empire Beez.
The youth-led small business reached their goal of installing their first beehive at a community garden in Trent Hills last week. The hive will not only help the gardens and pollinators thrive, but provide public learning opportunities.
The efficiency in which honeybees work together is one of the reasons 13-year-old Sebastian Smith, the founder of Empire Beez, has long held an interest in the insect. His passion proved contagious, and he convinced friends Owen Musson and Penelope McEvoy, also both 13, and his 10-year-old sister Eloise to fall in love with bees alongside him.
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“I really liked them because they aren’t solitary insects — they don’t live by themselves,” Sebastian says. “They work together in one super-organism with all these different bees helping not just for themselves, but for the whole entire colony.”
“They make honey and pollinate one-third of our food. If you’re going to sit down for dinner, one-third of that plate would have been pollinated by bees, and I just find that really amazing.”
“That’s why we can’t lose the bees with colony collapse disorder, because if we do, things are going to be pretty bad,” adds Penelope.
A resident of the Municipality of Trent Hills, 13-year-old Sebastian Smith is the founder of Empire Beez. Always harbouring an interest in bees, he learned about them by joining the junior beekeeper program led by Dancing Bees Equipment in Port Hope. Upon learning about colony collapse disorder, he launched the business to raise awareness about declining bee populations and to raise funds to install community beehives. (Photo courtesy of Blythe Weber)
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony suddenly leave behind the queen, some food, and brood (baby bees). Experts remain uncertain about the core cause of CCD, though some theories include pesticide poisoning, Varroa mite infestations, and changes in habitat.
When Sebastian heard about CCD, he knew he had to do something to raise awareness and try making a difference.
“I thought we could make a business that could help get people noticing more about the declining population and help people get more interested and pulled in and connect the community together,” he says.
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Empire Beez launched last summer with a “My Future My Career” microgrant from the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland. With the microgrant, Empire Beez began attending markets and events to speak to people about declining bee populations and raising funds by selling products like necklaces, artwork, crocheted bees, tattoos, and, of course, honey.
The funds earned through the market sales allowed Empire Beez to purchase the equipment needed to build their beehive from Dancing Bee Equipment in Port Hope, where Sebastian and Eloise learned about beekeeping as members of the junior beekeepers program. The team is grateful to have received a discount from Dancing Bee Equipment.
Earlier this month, Empire Beez built and installed their community beehive at the Simpson Street Community Garden in Campbellford. The garden is maintained by IncrEdible Trent Hills, a not-for-profit organization that aims to unite and nourish the communities of Trent Hills and beyond by supporting and strengthening the local food system.
The Empire Beez team (left to right: Penelope McEvoy, Eloise Smith, Owen Musson, and Sebastian Smith) painted and constructed the beehive they installed at the Simpson Street Community Garden in Campbellford. The youth-led business hopes to raise enough funds to continue installing beehives in community gardens around Trent Hills. (Photo courtesy of Blythe Weber)
Ashley Townsend, the community gardens coordinator at IncrEdible Trent Hills, says the organization has been looking for opportunities to turn their two community gardens — they also steward the Doxsee Avenue garden in Campbellford — into “more of an ecological park” that supports wildlife and provides learning opportunities.
So when they were approached by Empire Beez, she says it was a “no-brainer” to install the beehive.
“They were just so enthusiastic, and they want to talk to people and tell them about sustainability and what we can do,” Ashley says. “That was another thing that just super aligned with what our organization is about, especially the community garden. If it’s educational, I am so there for it, so it felt like the perfect little partnership.”
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For Sebastian, the learning has already started at the garden.
“I’m really liking being with the bees in the hive,” he says. “Even though I’ve only done it twice, I’m jumping up and down to go again and just see how much they’ve thrived and how much they’ve built.”
“I just feel a very special connection with them because we put everything into it. We painted the hive, we assembled the hive, we put the bees into the hive, and I really want them to have a good home.”
Over the past year, the team at Empire Beez in Trent Hills has attended regional markets and events to sell honey, jewellery, tattoos, crocheted bees, and other bee-themed items to raise the funds needed to purchase equipment and build and install community beehives. The business was launched with a micro-grant provided by Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland through its “My Future My Career” program. (Photo courtesy of Blythe Weber)
Eloise named the queen bee of their hive Nyuki, for a character in The Way of the Hive, a graphic novel that follows the life of a honeybee.
“The character really touched my heart in this book, and we actually learned a lot about the hive,” she says.
On Thursday (July 9) at the Simpson Street Community Garden, Empire Beez will be leading a special presentation during the “Herbs & Honey: A Garden Gathering” event hosted by IncrEdible Trent Hills.
Held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the garden talk will begin with Meghan Lewis sharing a curated selection of her favourite herbs and tips for growing healthy plants, with a focus on sustainable, bee-friendly gardening.
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Then Empire Beez will unveil the new beehive and use an observation hive to show guests what’s going on inside.
“I’m going to be explaining what the bees are really doing in that hive, because a lot of people don’t really know what’s actually going on in there,” Sebastian says, noting he’ll also be breaking down some common myths about bees. “We’re going to educate the people about bees and we’re going to try to do some education events throughout the year.”
Empire Beez founder Sebastian Smith holding a jar of honey with his arm around his sister Eloise. Along with Sebastian’s friends Owen Musson and Penelope McEvoy, the pair are working together to run the small business that raises awareness around honeybees and installs community beehives. (Photo courtesy of Blythe Weber)
As for why they chose to put their beehive in a community garden, the team at Empire Beez says the goal was always to get the wider public involved and eager to learn about bees.
“It’s more visible and accessible for people,” says Owen. “It’s a nice place that people can come to and just learn and have an opportunity to learn more about bees.”
“Also, the site is perfect,” adds Sebastian, noting the creek gives the bees a water source. “We thought if we brought the bees there, the bees could pollinate the garden, and it would help the garden thrive more. It’s helping in two ways: it brings the community together and it makes the garden thrive.”
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The group agree that getting to share their knowledge with others while inspiring action from the community is one of the goals at Empire Beez.
“The best part about Empire Beez, in my personal thought, is just seeing all the people who are very engaged and want to learn more,” says Owen. “It makes me happy that people care a lot.”
As they continue to attend events this summer to share their knowledge and raise the funds to support their beehive, the four young entrepreneurs are also interested in installing new hives at other gardens across the Municipality of Trent Hills.
“The more hives we get, the more we help the community, the more the bees will thrive,” says Penelope. “It’s a win-win for everything.”
A 28-year-old Whitchurch-Stouville man who was operating a boat on the Otonabee River on Tuesday afternoon (June 30) is facing two charges after a 39-year-old Oshawa man fell off the boat and drowned.
Just after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, officers with Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with fire and emergency medical services responded to a call about a man who had fallen off a boat on the Otonabee River in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan.
The caller, who was also travelling on the river, advised police that a boat with four people had gone by when one of them fell into the water. The caller said the person was not wearing a life jacket and the caller did not see him resurface.
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Officers arrived on scene while a nearby OPP marine unit made its way to the location by water. Officers then made contact with the three people who were still on the boat, which remained near the location where the person went into the water. Police took them to shore while the area was searched for the missing person.
While speaking with the passengers, police determined they had been consuming alcohol and an officer made a demand of the driver to provide a breath sample. The driver complied and was then was arrested and taken to the Peterborough County OPP detachment for further testing.
Divers with the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit located the body of the victim shortly before 9 p.m. A 39-year-old Oshawa man was pronounced dead at the scene.
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As a result of the investigation, police charged a 28-year-old Whitchurch-Stouville man with operation causing death and operation while impaired (blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus).
The accused man was held in police custody for a bail hearing.
The drowning is still under investigation, and police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has video footage and who has not yet spoken to police to contact the Peterborough County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Running from July 6 to 12, Kawartha Lakes Pride Week 2026 includes the annual family-friendly Pride in the Park event at Victoria Park in Lindsay on Saturday, July 11. Other events takes place during the week in both Lindsay and Fenelon Falls. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
For 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Pride doesn’t end in June.
Kawartha Lakes Pride is celebrating Pride Week from Monday, July 6 to Sunday, July 12 with a series of events in Lindsay and Fenelon Falls.
“Kawartha Lakes Pride exists so that our residents know it’s okay to be exactly who you are, where you are,” Rylee Hynes of Kawartha Lakes Pride told kawarthaNOW. “Radical, unapologetic acceptance is always our goal.”
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Although Pride Month is marked across Canada in June, Kawartha Lakes Pride celebrates Pride Week in July, while Peterborough-Nogojiwanong Pride celebrates Pride Week in September.
Pride Week in Kawartha Lakes officially kicks off with a raising of the Pride flag at the Kawartha Lakes police station in Lindsay on Monday morning and culminates the following weekend with the family-friendly Pride in the Park event at Lindsay’s Victoria Park on Saturday.
Pride in the Park is sponsored by Ampere (formerly Pinnguaq) and the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce with other Pride Week events sponsored by various businesses and organizations.
“Without their unwavering support, none of this would be possible,” Hynes said. “We are so grateful.”
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While Pride Week is intended to be a celebration of diversity and inclusion, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to face discrimination and hate despite the legal and social progress made in Canada and beyond.
When Kawartha Lakes Pride shared a video on its Facebook page promoting Pride in the Park, the video made by a local digital agency attracted a number of homophobic and hateful comments.
“I hope they get everyone’s info and exterminate you all in prison,” stated one commenter.
“The only way we’re going to eliminate this mental illness from the planet is by castrating and neutering the people with this sickness as well as the couple that produced them,” stated another.
For its part, Kawartha Lakes Pride responded to the negative comments rather than simply deleting them, while many other people spoke against the negative comments and expressed their support for Pride.
“Hateful comments from pathetic individuals on posts like this underscore the reason Pride events are necessary,” one person wrote.
A full list of Pride Week events in Kawartha Lakes is provided below.
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Sunday, July 5
Prior to the beginning of Pride Week, St. James Anglican Church at 19 Bond St. E. in Fenelon Falls will be hosting a Sunday Pride 2SLGBTQIA service at 11 a.m. on the topic “Celebrating Life in its Fullness” based on John 10:10.
Attendees will have a chance to meet Reverend Moumita Biswas, the parish’s new minister, who is an ordained Anglican priest and gender justice specialist. She joins the parish following her ministry in India, where she also served as executive secretary for the Women’s Concerns Ministry of the National Council of Churches in India.
Monday, July 6
Pride Week officially begins with a raising of the Pride flag at 9:30 a.m. the Kawartha Lakes police station at 6 Victoria Ave. N. in Lindsay.
Celebrations begin later that morning in Fenelon Falls when the Maryboro Lodge Museum at 99 Francis St. W. will host “Bring Your Own Pride Picnic” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free family-friendly event features face painting, balloons, bandana decorating, Pride Flag sticks, a music circle, rainbow cupcake decorating, karaoke, and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic basket.
The event will also feature a community project led by local artist and author Jamie Milroy entitled “The Pride Stories Project,” which asks attendees to share their stories of Pride.
Tuesday, July 7
Tuesday’s celebrations begin at 11 a.m. at Kindred Coffee Bar at 148 Kent St. W. in Lindsay when Peterborough’s Betty Baker will present her popular Drag Queen Story Time.
In the evening, The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls will present a Pride performance of its show 70s Dance Party at 8 p.m. at the amphitheatre at the Fenelon Fairgrounds. The high-energy tribute to the decade of disco, rock, and glam will feature hits from the Bee Gees, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, Journey, Queen, and more. Visit the box office at 2 Water St. in Fenelon Falls and use promo code PRIDE2026 for discounted tickets.
Following the performance, an after party will be held at Aureum Trattoria at 102 Lindsay St. in Fenelon Falls.
Wednesday, July 8
Two social events will celebrate Pride on Wednesday, including a Pride Tea at 1 p.m. at Maryboro Lodge Museum at 99 Francis St. W. in Fenelon Falls and Coffee and Conversation from 6 to 8 p.m. at White Cottage Café at 45 Lindsay St. in Fenelon Falls.
Thursday, July 9
From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Fieldside Yoga at 1407 Elm Tree Road just outside Lindsay will host Come As You Are Body Positive Yoga, a blend of gentle hatha yoga, restorative postures, breath work, and a grounding guided meditation.
Inclusive to all bodies, identities, and experience levels, the session is free but advance registration is required at l.bttr.to/SavFg.
The popular Pooch Pride event returns to Adelaide Clinic at 1 Adelaide St. N, Lindsay at 7 p.m. featuring a bouncy castle, cotton candy, music and family-friendly activities, with the pet parade starting at 7:30 p.m. After the parade, prizes will be awarded for best-dressed pooch and best-dressed human.
Special guests include Bo Dukes Pet Food Bank and Kawartha Lakes Humane Society. Attendees can meet the Bo Dukes team and learn how they’re helping pets and families in the community, while the humane society will share pet adoption opportunities and ways to support local animals in need.
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Friday, July 10
On Friday evening at 7 p.m., Kawartha Lakes Pride presents “Who Wears the Pants – A Queer Opera Experience” at Immanuel Baptist Church at 20 Bond St. E. in Fenelon Falls.
Hosted by opera singer Catherin Carew, the cabaret-style performance explores the impact 2SLGBTQIA+ people have had on opera and classical music throughout history.
The free all-ages event also features drag king Vivienne Illion and pianist Steven Kettlewell as special guests.
Saturday, July 11
The annual family-friendly Pride in the Park event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Victoria Park at 190 Kent St. W. in Lindsay, features live music, drag story time, caricatures, friendship bracelet station, face painting, temporary tattoos, bubble magic, balloon twisting, art, vendors and community partners, and more.
The event will also include a free clothing swap tent hosted by Vicky’s Values and Women’s Resources. Drop off gently used clothing to Ampere at 12 Peel St. in Lindsay before July 11. Any clothing that remains from the clothing swap will be brought to Vicky’s Values for redistribution in the community.
Saturday’s Pride celebrations conclude in the evening with the Pride After Dark Drag Show and DJ Dance Party at Pie Eyed Monk at 8 Cambridge St. N. in Lindsay. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the age-of-majority event, with the drag show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available at KLPAfterDark2026.eventbrite.com.
Sunday, July 12
Kawartha Lakes Pride Week wraps up on Sunday with two events.
First up is “Bird is the Word” at 8 a.m. at Ken Reid Conservation at 277 Kenrei Rd. in Lindsay. This guided bird watching and nature walk, sponsored by Ampere and led by Bird Friendly Kawarthas Lakes, is free and open to all ages.
At 10:30 a.m., Cambridge Street United Church at 61 Cambridge St. N. in Lindsay will be hosting a Pride service with refreshments.
Peterborough County Tourism has designed four traveller personas that highlight different ways to experience The Kawarthas based on what you enjoy, what inspires you, and how you like to spend your time while you're visiting this region. The Otter represents families travelling with a purpose in mind, whether to explore nature, discover a hidden gem or a unique experience, learn about local history or culture, or just have meaningful fun. (Graphic: Peterborough County Tourism)
Whether you are looking for a family-friendly experience, outdoor adventure, an exploratory road trip, or peaceful relaxation, there’s a version of The Kawarthas that fits your style.
To help you find it, Peterborough County Tourism has designed four traveller personas — The Otter, The Bear, The Fox, and The Bee — that highlight different ways to experience The Kawarthas based on what you enjoy, what inspires you, and how you like to spend your time while you’re visiting this region. To discover your traveller persona, complete the quiz at thekawarthas.ca/quiz/.
This story is for Otters — families travelling with a purpose in mind, whether to explore nature, discover a hidden gem or a unique experience, learn about local history or culture, or just have meaningful fun. Otters enjoy spending quality time together and want to return home with memories that will last a lifetime.
Here are some not-to-be-missed destinations to travel like an Otter in The Kawarthas.
EXPLORE
Lovesick Kayaking
Located in the Township of North Kawartha, Lovesick Kayaking offers guided kayak tours of Lovesick Lake, Stoney Lake, or Burleigh Falls, providing paddling families with the opportunity to experience the flora and fauna of The Kawarthas. (Photo courtesy of Lovesick Kayaking)
Discover why The Kawarthas is the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) word for Land of Shining Waters by exploring the region’s waterways.
At Lovesick Kayaking, located in the Township of North Kawartha, guide and owner Alex Grant will take your family on an immersive kayak tour full of breathtaking views of Lovesick Lake, Stoney Lake, and Burleigh Falls.
The tour will give you an up-close view of the flora and fauna that make up the unique landscape where the granite of the Canadian Shield meets the limestone of the St. Lawrence Lowlands.
Located in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, The Pearly Acre is a not-for-profit sanctuary offering an interactive destination for families seeking fun and education. The Pearly Acre hosts tours where visitors can learn all about the pot-bellied pigs and other animals on the farm where, to make a meaningful impact, visitors can sponsor a pig or order a custom painted pet portrait where all proceeds support the sanctuary. (Photo courtesy of The Pearly Acre)
Did you know that pot-bellied pigs are highly intelligent and sociable animals?
Your family can find out more fascinating facts at The Pearly Acre, a not-for-profit sanctuary in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen for rescued and abandoned pot-bellied pigs. Book an immersive tour that will give you opportunity to go into the pig pen and interact with the animals, including a llama and three alpacas, while learning all about them and their life at the sanctuary.
You can even sponsor a pig or order a custom painted pet portrait done by owner Sarah Heydon, with all proceeds going right back to the sanctuary.
Located in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, Red Mill Maple Syrup is a premium producer of maple syrup where owners and Quebec natives Sebastien Poulin and Julie Vallieres bring decades of syrup-making experience. In addition to producing a variety of all-natural unique maple syrup, Red Mill Maple Syrup hosts regular tours and tastings, inviting families to learn about the production of maple syrup from tree to table. (Photo courtesy of Red Mill Maple Syrup)
Learn about Quebecois culture right here in The Kawarthas with a visit to Red Mill Maple Syrup in the Township of Cavan Monaghan.
Owners Sebastien Poulin and Julie Vallieres, who were both raised in a region of Quebec well-known for maple syrup, bring decades of experience to the sugar shack named for Millbrook’s famous Needler’s Mill.
Kids will discover the magic of maple syrup production from tree to table by getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the sugar shack. When you visit during maple syrup season, they can even take part in a tree-tapping experience. No matter the time of year you visit, don’t forget to sample the unique syrups at the tasting bar!
Located in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Escape Maze hosts a range of activities for families including escape mazes, outdoor trail games, disc golf, and laser tag. To extend the fun, guests can camp overnight by pitching their own tent, staying in a cabin, or staying in an old-timey caravan. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze)
Adventure for the whole family awaits at Escape Maze in the Township of Otonabee South Monaghan, which offers mind-bending immersive escape rooms, fun trail games, disc golf, and laser tag all on one property.
Work together to solve the puzzles to get you out of a themed escape room, race through the fields and woods to complete challenges before time runs out, find out how good you are at throwing flying discs into baskets, or suit up for a high-energy game of laser tag (don’t worry, it’s actually infrared light).
Pair an escape room with another activity for a full day of fun family adventure! To make it even more of an experience, spend the night on the 129-acre family farm beside the Otonabee River by booking a cabin or old-timey caravan, or by pitching your own tent.
For more information and to book an adventure, visit escapemaze.ca.
Canada’s Dinosaur Park
Located in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Canada’s Dinosaur Park was established in 1999 as a sanctuary for hundreds of reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, turtles, and more. To help raise proceeds to care for the reptiles, the park offers families the opportunity to see life-sized replicated animatronic dinosaurs as well as immersive educational experiences such as digging for real dinosaur fossils in the boneyard. (Photo courtesy of Canada’s Dinosaur Park)
Education, fun, and adventure all come together at the country’s only dinosaur park and reptile sanctuary. Canada’s Dinosaur Park in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood was established in 1999 as a not-for-profit registered reptile sanctuary and is now home to 200 rescued alligators, crocodiles, caimans, snakes, turtles, and lizards from around the world. See them up close and take the croc-walk if you dare!
Prepare to be awed by more than 100 life-sized replicated animatronic dinosaurs, including two based on the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils discovered to date. You can also experience the thrill of discovery by digging for real dinosaur bones in the park’s boneyard, check out the new feathers and fossils museum, or tee up for a round of 18-hole championship mini-golf at a unique course that flows through megalithic standing stones like those at Stonehenge.
At the end of the adventure, your entire family will feel good knowing that all proceeds from admission fees are used to maintain the rescued reptiles.
Held every Friday afternoon until Thanksgiving, the Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is the only afternoon farmers’ market in The Kawarthas and offers locally grown produce, meats, maple syrups, and baked goods, as well as artisan products including jewellery, fibre arts, bath and body products, and more. (Photo courtesy of Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market)
Your family can take home a taste of The Kawarthas by visiting the Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market, the only afternoon farmers’ market in the region.
From 1 to 6 p.m. every Friday until Thanksgiving, the market is held on the south side of Highway 7 in the village of Havelock.
From meats, maple syrup, produce, and preserves to jewellery and fibre arts, you’ll find something to remind you of your travels.
Central Smith is a family-run producer of premium ice cream located in Selwyn Township that serves up unique specialty flavours. At the dairy bar, customers can order a cone, sundae, milkshake, frozen yogurt, or a full container to take home. (Photo courtesy of Central Smith)
When the kids are screaming for ice cream, make a stop at Central Smith Creamery in Selwyn Township.
A favourite destination for local residents, Central Smith was founded in 1896 as a farmers’ co-op that produced cheese and butter from milk provided by local farmers. Today, the family-owned business produces premium ice cream in more than 60 unique flavours.
Step up to the dairy bar to get ice cream cones, ice cream and yogurt bars, sundaes, milkshakes, and frozen yogurt, or grab a full container to take home — if it makes it that far!
For more information, including a list of all the ice cream flavours, visit www.centralsmith.ca.
Wildflower Bakery
Located in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Wildflower Bakery specializes in sourdough bread made using certified organic ingredient and bakes European pastries made with local ingredients. With a café on site, the bakery also serves specialty coffee and has small art gallery displaying work from local artists. (Photo courtesy of Wildflower Bakery)
For more treats for the road or to take home, pick up some artisan baking at Wildflower Bakery in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen.
Husband-and-wife team Scott Williams and Lea Tran make European-style pastries made with locally sourced ingredients and specialty sourdough bread using certified organic ingredients.
You can find everything from cinnamon buns and danishes to butter tarts, cupcakes, croissants, and more. This Havelock bakery also serves up specialty coffees and has a small art gallery displaying work from local artists.
Doo Doo’s Bakery in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan is renowned for its award-winning butter tarts and also offers other sweet treats and desserts. (Photo courtesy of Doo Doo’s Bakery)
Originally baked by Canada’s settlers, butter tarts are a popular treat widely considered to be our national pastry. They are a dessert of cultural pride in many communities across Ontario and The Kawarthas is no exception.
Doo Doo’s Bakery in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan is renowned in the region for its butter tarts, which the bakery has been producing for more than 25 years, winning award after award after award-including at the Royal Canadian Winter Fair and at both the Kawartha Northumberland Butter Tart Tour and Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival.
There’s a butter tart at Doo Doo’s Bakery for every member of your family, whether they prefer them plain or with raisins (a national debate), with pecans or walnuts, or in more adventurous flavours including chocolate peanut butter, cheesecake, maple bacon, pumpkin, currant, maple whisky, and more. There’s even a gluten-free version of the classic plain butter tart.
To learn more and to order for pickup or shipping, visit doodoos.ca.
STAY
Beachwood Resort
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, Beachwood Resort in Selwyn Township is a family-friendly destination with a range of accommodations including full cabins and condos, as well as outdoor recreation activities, walking trails, an onsite restaurant, and more. (Photo courtesy of Beachwood Resort)
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer, Beachwood Resort in Selwyn Township has long been a destination of choice for families.
Sitting on 1,100 feet of shoreline on Lower Buckhorn Lake and surrounded by 330 acres of forest and walking trails, Beachwood Resort can accommodate even the largest family gathering with its two to four bedroom lakeside cottages.
There are lots of opportunities for guests to enjoy water activities, playground games, poolside lounging, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, badminton, and many more family-friendly activities. The resort’s onsite restaurant serves a breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner, including a selection of entrees for children.
Located in the Municipality of Trent Lakes, Shambhala Bed and Breakfast draws travellers and families from across the world. Located on more than 40 acres of natural landscape, Shambhala Bed and Breakfast is child and pet-friendly with suites that can accommodate the whole family. (Photo courtesy of Shambhala Bed and Breakfast)
Immerse the whole family in nature at Shambhala Bed and Breakfast, offering child and pet-friendly accommodation on the edge of Buckhorn in the Municipality of Trent Lakes.
The name derives from Sanskrit text meaning “a place of tranquility” and that’s exactly what you’ll find when stepping into this log cabin that rests on over 40 acres of natural beauty.
With a two-bedroom family suite that includes a full kitchen, accessible trails, and a pond onsite, Shambhala Bed & Breakfast attracts families from around the world seeking a unique experience.
Connect with Mobile Visitor Services during your travels in The Kawarthas
During the summer, Peterborough County Tourism’s Mobile Visitor Services team will be popping up at events and attractions throughout The Kawarthas. Share your traveller persona by email or through Facebook or Instagram and you can connect with the team when you’re on the road and pick up a free water bottle and UV-coated and water-resistant stickers branded with your traveller persona. (Photo: Peterborough County Tourism)
When you’re travelling in The Kawarthas, keep your eye out for Peterborough County’s Mobile Visitor Services. Their team will be popping up at events and attractions throughout the eight townships in Peterborough County.
Share your traveller persona by email with tourism@ptbocounty.ca or through Facebook or Instagram @TheKawarthas and you can connect with the Mobile Visitor Services team when you’re on the road and pick up a free water bottle and UV-coated and water-resistant stickers branded with your traveller persona.
Not only will your family get unique keepsakes, but you will also have the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable local ambassadors, receive personalized recommendations, and get insider tips for making the most of your experience in The Kawarthas.
To see where the Mobile Visitor Services team is popping up this summer, check the listings at thekawarthas.ca/findus/.
This story is one of a four-part series created in partnership with the Peterborough County Tourism and Communications Division.
Drawing on national research from the Canadian Tourism Data Collective’s Traveller Segmentation Program, Peterborough County Tourism has identified four visitor profiles that represent the typical travellers who come to The Kawarthas.
Known as traveller personas, each draws its name from wildlife that inhabit the natural landscape of The Kawarthas: The Otter, The Bear, The Fox, and The Bee. Which one are you? Find out by completing the quiz at thekawarthas.ca/quiz/.
The Otter – All Trails Lead Home
The Otter is a purposeful traveller, looking to find meaning in every place they pass by and every face they see on the journey. For the Otter, it is important to move as a unit, because experiences mean more when they’re shared, and memories are more vividly recalled when filled with ones to love.
The Bear – Rest While You Roam
The Bear is a wise, lumbering traveller, understanding that to really know a place, one needs to stop and breathe it in. Appreciating every berry and butterfly around them, they carve out joy from the simplicity of calm days, good food, and beautiful views. In a world of speed, a Bear sees the world for what it is — imperfect, but entirely incomparable.
The Fox – Brave the Unknown
The Fox is an adaptive traveller, ambitious in each new adventure. Their determined spirit means every problem has twice as many solutions. If there can be found a hill to climb, The Fox will climb it. If there exists a gorge to cross, The Fox will be there to leap it. For every great story, you can be sure. A Fox will be behind it.
The Bee – Sweet as Honeycomb
Like moving from flower to flower, Bees make certain to learn from every place and pollinate the next with stories they have collected. For a Bee, it is vital to share the most vast and wonderful parts of the world with every new person they may meet.
Lakelands Public Health has announced that around 60,000 current or former residents of Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough may have been affected by a cybersecurity incident first discovered at the end of January.
In a media release issued on Tuesday (June 30), the health unit says an unauthorized third party gained remote access to a limited portion of its network at Lakelands Public Health’s Peterborough office location.
According to the health unit, the third party accessed, extracted, and encrypted files containing personal information and personal health information from its servers. All files were successfully restored from backups.
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“At this time through continuous monitoring and expert input, there is no evidence that the information involved has been misused for fraudulent purposes or published online,” Lakelands Public Health states in the media release.
Lakelands Public Health, which was formed through the merger of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health, says the incident may affect people who received services from its Peterborough location or whose health-related information, such as laboratory results, was received by the organization between 1996 and January 2026.
The information involved may include some combination of names, birth dates, home addresses, telephone numbers, OHIP numbers, medical diagnoses, medication information, treatment information, OHIP billing codes, dates of service, vaccination information, and healthcare provider information.
Lakelands Public Health says not every individual had all categories of information affected, with the type of information involved varying depending on the services they received.
The media release provides more details about the incident than were available when Lakelands Public Health first publicly disclosed the cybersecurity incident on February 3, after some internal systems were disrupted on January 29.
At that time, the health unit said it had secured its systems and activated its incident-response protocols after becoming aware of the incident and had engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to investigate and contain the breach and support recovery efforts.
Lakelands Public Health said in February that systems used to manage infectious disease data and clinical appointments, including immunization and sexual health services, appeared not to have been affected.
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In Tuesday’s release, the health unit notes it immediately isolated affected systems, contained the incident, launched an investigation with third-party cybersecurity experts, notified law enforcement, and strengthened network security measures.
Lakelands Public Health says it has also notified the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
“Protecting personal information and personal health information in our care remains a top priority,” the health unit states, adding that it will “continue to monitor for any signs that the information involved has been misused or disclosed online” and will post updates on its website at www.lakelandsph.ca.
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The health unit says that, based on the findings of cybersecurity experts, the risk of identity theft or fraud related to the incident is considered low.
However, residents are being advised to remain vigilant by monitoring personal accounts and statements, reporting suspicious activity to service providers or law enforcement, and being cautious of unsolicited communications requesting personal information.
Lakelands Public Health says it will never contact people by email or text message asking them to provide sensitive personal information.
Anyone with questions about the incident can contact Lakelands Public Health at 249-588-0044 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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