"Down on the Farm, Way Back When" is a memoir written by Stephen Nelson that contains over 200 stories about growing up on his family's small dairy farm just north of Campbellford. Available in hardcover, paperback, and as an e-book, the book is a "walk down memory lane" for people who grew up on a farm throughout the 1960s to 1980s and provides insight into farm life for those who did not. (Photos courtesy of Stephen Nelson)
If you’ve ever wanted to know more about daily life on a farm, or if you’ve ever had to explain farm life to your city-slicker friends, Stephen Nelson’s memoir is for you.
Down on the Farm, Way Back When is a collection of stories, some humorous and some touching, about the author’s childhood spent on a dairy farm north of Campbellford. From stories about spending nights at the fair to reflections on how technology has changed agricultural practices, the memoir is filled with behind-the-scenes memories of life on a small family farm.
“The book itself is a walk down memory lane for the older generation and it’s a good way for the older generation to connect with the younger generation,” says Nelson. “But it also tells people, even city people that have never lived on a farm, what it really means to be a farmer and what a farmer in my day had to do.”
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Now retired and living with his wife in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec, just south of Montréal, Nelson spent his career working in publishing. A graduate of Fleming College, Nelson worked in the Public Service of Canada in Ottawa for 35 years, including for the R.C.M.P., where he worked with manuals, and over the last 30 years in National Defence, where he was a publications supply manager and reviewed manuals for format and layout before becoming the department’s publishing policy writer.
During work trips out of town, he would spend his downtime telling a co-worker stories about growing up on the family’s 300-acre dairy farm, where Nelson’s father raised purebred Holstein cattle, exhibiting them at fairs and exhibitions until he sold the farm in 1986.
“I started telling (my co-worker) a few stories and he would say ‘Why did you do that?’ or ‘How is that done?'” recalls Nelson, who began to realize many people did not know what it was like to be raised on a farm.
Author Stephen Nelson exhibiting his calf, Nelcroft Rockman Kam, at the Campbellford Fair in 1968. His memoir “Down on the Farm, Way Back When” features many black-and-white photos depicting life on the farm. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Nelson)
When he retired 10 years ago, Nelson began writing and publishing some of his stories and recollections on a Facebook page called Growing Up On A Dairy Farm. He gained 400 followers from around the world in five years, and when he finished sharing stories on the page, he decided to compile them all into a book.
“It’s something that I can leave the family,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to have a legacy of writing a book.”
Comprised of “stories a farmer would tell to another farmer,” Down on the Farm, Way Back When is divided into various sections covering aspects of farm life like “The Fields,” “The Animals,” and “The Fair.”
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Some of the stories are entertaining, such as the pranks his father would play at the fairs — like convincing people to see a “hairless dog” (which turned out to be a hotdog) — and Nelson getting to meet NHL players Bobby and Dennis Hull and Sam Pollock, then-general manager of the Montréal Canadiens, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
“I remember everyone was congratulating (Pollock) and asking him ‘How are the Montréal Canadiens going to do this year?’ He basically said ‘I don’t care. I’m here because of my cattle,’ and all the farmers started cheering for him.”
As Nelson was writing one story, he would recall more and more, and says some of them affected him more than others. This includes a reflection about what a smock, which is often worn while out in the field, means to a farmer.
“It’s covered in dirt and grease because of the hard work you’re doing,” Nelson explains. “It’s the idea of spilled milk because you might kick (over) a pail. Sure, you don’t cry over spilled milk, but that also affects how much money you’re losing because your milk production is going down. It’s the idea that you could be cut, and you wipe your blood on your smock. All of these little things just hit home when I started writing it.”
The Nelson family’s farmhouse north of Campbellford. Earle R. Nelson raised purebred Holstein cattle on the 300-acre farm, which had in the Nelson family for generations, until he sold the farm in 1986. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Nelson)
In contrast, Nelson also reflects on the white clothes a farmer wears when in the ring at a fair showing their cattle. These clothes are white when the show begins, but they get dirty and soiled like the smocks as time goes on.
“Wearing the white clothes shows how much it means to the farmer and the sacrifices of the farmer that has to do everything to make cows produce milk and to get it to the quota that can be allowed to show at the fair or exhibition,” he says.
“You’ve got to spend time overnight at the fair away from your family, regardless of whether it’s an anniversary or — heaven forbid — a bereavement. It’s just the hard work that goes into it to do it all. And a farmer has to have a love of animals, the outdoors, and hard work. People don’t realize how hard a farmer works.”
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Throughout the book, there are black-and-white personal photographs of Nelson doing chores on the farm and showing at the fairs. The front cover also features a snippet of the painting “Winter Barnyard” by Canadian nature artist Robert Bateman.
Nelson hopes the photos will not only help showcase life on the farm but will appeal to “history buffs that are interested in rural life from the 1960s to the 1980s” while also showing that not much is different today when it comes to small family farmers themselves.
“Even though the technology has changed with bigger and better farm equipment, bigger barns, and more cattle, a farmer is still the same,” Nelson says. “They’re a person of many jobs. You’re not just a person doing the milking — you’ve got accounting, you’ve got forecasting, you’re checking on the weather, you’re doing bookkeeping, and you don’t have anybody else to give the jobs.”
In his memoir “Down on the Farm, Way Back When,” Stephen Nelson describes the pranks his father, Earle R. Nelson, would play at the local fairs and exhibitions where they would show their Holstein cattle. Nelson dedicated the book to his late parents, Eleanor and Earle R. Nelson and to all farmers, past and present. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Nelson)
In sharing stories about his childhood, Nelson also hopes he’ll inspire others to pass down their own stories.
“One thing I want people to take away from it is to not be afraid to (speak) about their lives to the next generation,” he says of the book. “Maybe it will spur ideas for them to talk about how they grew up, whether it was on a farm or not.”
On the Farm, Way Back When is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book through Indigo, Amazon, FriesenPress, and at independent bookstores. To find a copy, visit www.stephen-nelson-author.com. The book is available at Indigo in Peterborough and Belleville and at Coles in Lindsay. The Lindsay Public Library and the three branches of the Trent Hills Public Library also have it in their collections.
Peterborough city council voted unanimously on November 18, 2025 to transfer $3 million from the city's legacy income retention reserve account to reduce the all-inclusive rate increase in 2026 by 1.3 per cent. The proposed increase for 2026 now stands at 6.56 per cent, with the draft budget scheduled to be presented to city council for adoption on Monday, December 8, when public delegations will be heard. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
After two days of deliberations on the City of Peterborough’s draft 2026 budget, city council has recommended changes that would reduce the all-inclusive rate increase in 2026 to 6.56 per cent, including by deferring several projects and by transferring $3 million of interest income from a special reserve fund.
The all-inclusive rate consists of municipal property tax, education tax, and municipal sanitary sewer surcharge rates. A 6.56 per cent increase would add around $340 in 2026 for a median residential property assessed at $260,000.
Prior to councillors meeting as general committee on Monday and Tuesday (November 17 and 18) to review the budget, the proposed all-inclusive rate increase stood at 7.92 per cent.
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The original version of the draft budget presented to councillors on November 3 had a 7.84 per cent increase, but the city’s commissioner of finance and corporate services Richard Freymond noted a reduction of $665,000 in employee benefits costs and an additional $269,000 for the city’s Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant reduced the increase to 7.43 per cent.
The all-inclusive rate increased to 7.29 per cent as a result of council’s November 3 decision to award a $1.12 million contract to One City Peterborough to provide low-barrier shelter services in 2026.
During the deliberations on Monday and Tuesday, council made several recommendations to decrease the all-inclusive rate, including by deferring consideration of a $900,000 project for a public washroom at Jackson Park until 2027, deferring consideration of a $375,000 budget for the Coldsprings Growth Area Planning Studies until 2027, and deferring a $25,000 request to convert a washroom space at City Hall into a kitchenette.
The net tax levy requirement has also been reduced by $204,477 to reflect the increased final current value assessments from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
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However, the largest decrease to the tax levy requirement by far comes from council’s unanimously supported recommendation to use $3 million from the city’s legacy income retention reserve account in 2026 — resulting in a decrease to the tax levy of 1.32 per cent.
Money in the legacy income retention reserve account comes from interest earned on investments using the proceeds of the sale of assets of Peterborough Distribution Inc. to Hydro One. Council approved the establishment of the fund in 2022 with interest income to be used to fund a portion of the city’s capital program.
While commissioner Freymond said using the reserve for operating costs will not impact the capital program in 2026, Mayor Jeff Leal pointed out that doing so only defers the problems with the city’s budget until 2027.
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“In 2027, that’s when the real decisions will have to made,” Mayor Leal said. “There’s fundamental problems, structurally, with the budget of the City of Peterborough. It’s in two areas: it’s on the assessment side — revenue base — and on the operations side. Hopefully, when the report comes back on (city) efficiencies, et cetera, and looking at alternative service delivery models for the City of Peterborough, that’s when the tough decisions will have to be made.”
“This decision to use the interest revenue is a stop-gap measure. It certainly gets us through 2026, I appreciate that, but the tough sledding is down the road in 2027 and beyond, when we really need to put the budget under the microscope and once and for all repair the structural problems we have.”
With the next municipal election scheduled for October 26, 2026, a new council will be dealing with the 2027 budget.
Council also directed that the proposed 2026 police service operating budget of $41,506,841 — representing an increase of 9.8 per cent ($3,704,600) over 2025 — be returned to the police service board for any potential reductions. (The original requested increase of 9.8 per cent has since been reduced to 9.22 per cent to reflect an estimated $220,000 reduction in benefits for police employees.)
Increases in the next tax levy recommended by council include an additional $90,137 in 2026 for the Community Development Program to offset a reduced funding from Peterborough County, an increase of $25,000 for the 2026 individual artists grant program administered by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3), and an increase of $32,000 for the Peterborough Public Library’s collections acquisition fund.
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After council’s budget deliberations, the draft 2026 budget reflects a 2.11 per cent increase in the city’s operating budget, a 2.16 per cent increase for infrastructure and capital needs, a 0.53 per cent increase in the sanitary sewer fee, and a 1.76 per cent increase for external agencies that are funded by the city.
The budget includes $434.2 million in spending on municipal services, funded by $198.4 million in municipal property taxes and $235.8 million in revenues including user fees, grants from other governments, recoveries, interest from investments, and service charges
It also includes $139.2 million for capital projects, including the renovation and expansion of two police stations, Lansdowne Street West improvements between Spillsbury Drive and Clonsilla Avenue, wastewater treatment plant revitalization, extending a taxiway at the Peterborough Regional Airport, road paving, purchasing transit buses, and water service distribution infrastructure.
Beyond the 2026 draft budget, council also made several recommendations for future consideration, including giving Ashburnham Memorial Park priority for the next round of city park improvements, that a pedestrian crossing for the Crawford Trail Extension Project from Monaghan Road to Townsend be at the signalized intersection of Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street, and that staff be directed to bring forward a report to the 2027 budget to explore parking and other revenue opportunities at Riverview Park and Zoo.
The city’s 2026 draft budget is scheduled to be presented to city council for adoption on Monday, December 8, when public delegations will be heard.
The original version of this story has been updated to reflect that the proposed increase to the Peterborough Police Service’s operating budget is 9.22 per cent due to a reduction in employee benefits.
In 2027, Peterborough County is planning rehabilitation work on the Lakefield bridge on County Road 29 (Bridge Street) that crosses the Trent Canal and the Otonabee River. (Photo: Google Maps)
Peterborough County and Selwyn Township are advising local businesses of two significant transportation projects that will affect the village of Lakefield and surrounding area — one in 2027 and one in the years to come.
In 2027, Peterborough County is planning rehabilitation work on the bridge on County Road 29 (Bridge Street) that crosses the Trent Canal and the Otonabee River.
“This project is essential to keep the bridge safe and functional for years to come,” reads an email sent to Lakefield businesses from Breanna Guiotto, Selwyn Township’s acting economic development coordinator.
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According to a five-year forecast for the county’s 2026 capital works projects, the total cost for the bridge rehabilitation project is estimated at $2.725 million, including $1.5 million for the portion of the bridge that crosses the Otonabee River and $1.225 million for the portion of the bridge that crosses the Trent Canal.
As the bridge is the only crossing over the Otonabee River in the Lakefield area, Selwyn Township says the rehabilitation project could bring challenges for nearby businesses, including changes in traffic flow or detour routes, changes to delivery access, and shifts in customer or employee travel patterns.
“That’s why Peterborough County Economic Development and Selwyn Township are committed to early communication and collaboration with the business community,” Guiotto’s email reads. “A meeting with local businesses will be scheduled in the first half of 2026 to review project plans, share timelines, and discuss ways to minimize disruption.”
The sections of the County Road 29 (Bridge Street) that will undergo rehabilitation work in 2027. The total cost for the project is estimated at $2.725 million, including $1.5 million for the portion of the bridge that crosses the Otonabee River and $1.225 million for the portion of the bridge that crosses the Trent Canal. (Graphic: Peterborough County)
The township is also exploring options to support local businesses during the bridge rehabilitation project, including clear signage and maps showing businesses remain open, joint marketing and “shop local” promotions using the Driftscape app in collaboration with Peterborough County, and regular updates on detours, timelines, and access routes.
Another option includes a community event or grand re-opening celebration once the bridge work is complete.
The potential impacts of closing the only river crossing in the Lakefield area is one of the reasons why Peterborough County is undertaking a long-term planning study to understand how the current transportation system meets the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors and to identify infrastructure gaps and outline improvements to support future growth in the Lakefield community.
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A 2022 update to the county’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) for the Lakefield area road network recommended the study identify a location for a new two-lane arterial road and bridge crossing the Otonabee River.
The study is meant to guide future decisions over the next 25 years, with no immediate construction or physical changes planned.
According to a public information centre held Lakefield-Smith Community Centre on October 28 to introduce the study to the community, the County Road 29 bridge crossing of the Otonabee River will be operating over capacity by 2051 based on planned growth in Lakefield and the surrounding area.
One of the display boards from the October 28, 2025 public information centre on the Lakefield Transportation Master Plan showing potential locations for a new Otonabee River crossing, as well as the option to widen the existing County Road 29 (Bridge Street) bridge to four lanes. (Graphic: Peterborough County)
One of the initial options being considered is widening the existing County Road 29 (Bridge Street) structure to four lanes, although the 2022 TMP update did not recommend it as a preferred option because of technical and economic impacts, although it was the preferred option in terms of environmental impact.
Other initial options include constructing a new bridge (and potential new road alignment) at County Roads 32/33, constructing a new bridge between 7th Line and County Road 32, constructing a new bridge between 6th Line and County Road 32, and constructing a new bridge (and new road alignment) between County Road 29 (Lakefield Road) and Centre Road.
Before the end of the year, Peterborough County intends to complete technical and environmental reviews, confirm recommended crossing locations, and identify and evaluate conceptual alignments and crossing design options.
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In winter 2026, county staff will hold a second public information centre to present and gather feedback on the evaluation of alternative crossing alignments, recommended road network improvements, and the conceptual design of a second Otonabee River crossing.
In spring 2026, county staff will finalize recommendations, prepare a Transportation Master Plan report, issue a public notice and begin a 30-day public comment period, and present the report to county council for approval.
Collective philanthropy group 100+ Women Who Care Northumberland has launched an initiative for young people called 100 Youth Who Care Northumberland. (Graphic: 100+ Women Who Care Northumberland)
A group of women in Northumberland County has launched a new initiative aimed at inspiring a kinder and more community-minded generation of young people.
100+ Women Who Care Northumberland is a collective philanthropy group that brings like-minded women together to support local charities, with each member donating $50 four times a year.
Now, members are striving to extend that spirit of giving by introducing 100 Youth Who Care Northumberland, an initiative that invites children and teens to make a difference through simple, everyday acts of generosity.
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“The impetus was to encourage young people to get involved in acts of kindness and philanthropy (through) teachings and activities we do with our kids,” Nicole Beatty, who is co-lead of 100 Youth Who Care along with Erin Kruk and Rebecca Verbeem, told kawarthaNOW. “100 Women is part of 100 People Who Care (Northumberland) and we have the 100 Guys Who Care Northumberland group, so adding a youth initiative completes the circle.”
The “100 Who Care” collective philanthropy movement began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the first 100 Women Who Care group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 19 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone — including in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland.
“Our goal is to engage kids in the community,” Beatty said. “The focus isn’t so much on fundraising as it is about teaching the values of being involved and (instilling) civic values.”
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As part of that aim, young people in the community are invited to take part in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge, which is running now through to December 13. It calls on youth to register online, complete acts of kindness, and then share them, with the goal of celebrating a collective 100 acts of kindness across Northumberland County.
“We believe every child, no matter their age, can experience the joy of giving,” said Kruk in a media release, with Verbeem adding, “Kindness is contagious. When one young person does something good, others follow.”
Free downloadable activity kits are available to download, with suggestions for giving back include activities like a hosting a bake sale for charity, collecting school supplies for those in need, and writing thank-you notes to local helpers.
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Proceeds from all 100 Youth Who Care fundraisers will support a dedicated 100 Youth Who Care fund with micro-grants for youth-focused charities and projects in the region.
A teen philanthropy council called the Kindness Crew will help review applications and decide where funds are shared. This process is aimed at ensuring youth play a hands-on role in giving back.
“100 Youth Who Care helps young people see that they have the power to make real change,” said Beatty. “It’s about planting seeds of compassion that grow into a lifetime of giving.”
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Although a 100 Kids Who Care group was founded in Northumberland before the pandemic, it was stalled due to shutdowns, according to Beatty.
“With new energy and the three of us as moms of young kids, we wanted to reignite the program,” Beatty said of herself and her co-leads. “We renamed it youth to be more inclusive of ages.”
Young people, families, and schools can sign up for the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge and download free resources at 100womennorthumberland.ca/100-youth.
Dr. Fraser Barratt and his wife Cassidy, who is from Ontario, in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Dr. Barratt received his medical education and general practitioner training. The couple is moving to Kawartha Lakes where Dr. Barratt will take over the Fenelon Falls practice of the retiring Dr. Hor Ven Zung effective December 1, 2025. (Photo supplied by Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative)
A new family doctor is coming from Scotland to Fenelon Falls in December to take over the practice of a retiring physician.
On Tuesday (November 18), the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHIC) and the Kawartha North Family Health Team announced that Dr. Fraser Barratt will take over the practice of Dr. Hor Ven Zung effective December 1.
Dr. Zung, who came from Calgary in 2015 to begin practising with the Kawartha North Family Health Team in Fenelon Falls, is retiring on December 1.
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As for Dr. Barratt, he completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2015, where he continued studying to complete his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 2018. In August, he completed his general practitioner training in Edinburgh.
“He is the first recruit through KLHIC’s new International Recruitment program,” says KLHCI chair Stacey Gudmundsson in a media release. “KLHCI sincerely wishes to thank Dr. Zung for the many years of care to her patients, the Kawartha Lakes community, and many hours assisting KLHCI’s overall recruitment efforts.”
Dr. Barratt has a family connection to Ontario in that his wife, Cassidy, is from the province.
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“I look forward to meeting all the patients who will be under my care, and my wife and I are very excited to build a home in the Kawartha Lakes” says Dr. Barratt.
According to the media relase, Dr. Barratt will be unable to accept new patients at the current time as he is accepting all of the patients of Dr. Zung’s practice.
“I feel privileged that Dr. Barratt has chosen to take over my practice,” Dr. Zung says. “I know that my patients will be pleased to have their medical needs addressed by a well-trained and kind physician. I want to welcome him and Cassidy to the Kawarthas and him to my practice with the Kawartha North Family Health Team.”
Victoria SL is the owner of T-Elle Boutique by VSL, a woman's fashion and beauty shop in downtown Peterborough that stocks made-in-Canada outfits by Canadian designers like Joseph Ribkoff and Frank Lyman and offers unconventional dresses for weddings and special occasions as well as casual wear. During the 2025 holiday shopping season, the Charlotte Street store is offering discounts on summer wear collection items and gift certificates as well as Black Friday savings. (Photo courtesy of T-Elle Boutique by VSL)
With sales and exclusive discounts at T-Elle Boutique by VSL in downtown Peterborough, it’s easier than ever to shop for all the fashionistas on your shopping list this holiday season.
Victoria SL purchased the Charlotte Street women’s boutique in 2022, adding entrepreneur to a resume that also includes being a language professor with a PhD in Linguistics, a licensed Zumba instructor, a Chinese opera singer, a voice-over artist, a master of ceremonies, and a YouTuber. As with words, dance, and music, Victoria believes fashion is an important way for people to express their creativity, personality, and individuality.
T-Elle Boutique by VSL focuses on made-in-Canada outfits by Canadian designers like Joseph Ribkoff and Frank Lyman and offers unconventional wedding dresses, mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom dresses, dresses for special occasions like graduations and proms, and casual wears. The boutique also provides in-house alterations, which are not limited to clothing purchased in-store.
In addition to clothing, T-Elle Boutique by VSL stocks quality footwear brands, Atomy skin care products, and jewellery, including both Swarovski and brands that use Swarovski crystals, and will soon be launching partnerships with local vendors to become a full-service fashion and beauty hub.
Staff at T-Elle Boutique by VSL provide each customer with a personal shopping and fashion experience, tailored to their individual features including skin tone, body shape, and personality, ensuring customers walk out of the shop feeling confident, unique, and happy with their purchase.
In addition to offering women’s fashions, T-Elle Boutique by VSL in downtown Peterborough sells skin care products by Atomy and jewellery brands, including Swarovski. All summer wear collection items are currently priced at 40 per cent off and, on Black Friday, the boutique will host additional discounts on select collections and all shoes will be on sale for $30 for one day only. The boutique is also participating in the Peterborough DBIA’s annual Holiday Passport Program, where shoppers can win The Boro gift cards. (Photo courtesy of T-Elle Boutique by VSL)
Exclusive bonus: When shopping at T-Elle Boutique by VSL, mention you read this kawarthaNOW story and receive a $15 credit when spending $250 or more (excluding gift certificates) in one transaction until January 31, 2026.
The holiday shopping season is a great time to drop by T-Elle Boutique by VSL, as all remaining summer wear collections are priced at 40 per cent off until inventory is gone.
You’ll also find Black Friday sales on November 28, when select collections will be marked down and all shoes will be priced at $30 for one day only.
If you’re not sure about the best gift for the fashionista on your shopping list, you can also save big on gift certificates. All gift certificates over $50 will be 10 per cent off if purchased before December 31 (conditions apply).
Once again, T-Elle Boutique by VSL is one of nearly 200 downtown businesses participating in the annual Holiday Passport Program organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA). For each $10 you spend in the store, you earn a stamp on your passport. When your passport is filled with 20 stamps, it becomes a ballot for one of three early bird draws in December for a $500 Boro gift card and a grand prize draw for a $1,500 Boro gift card in January. Boro gift cards can be used at over 150 locally owned businesses, including T-Elle Boutique by VSL.
While doing your holiday shopping, be sure to check out the window display at T-Elle Boutique by VSL, which won the Peterborough DBIA’s annual holiday window contest last year.
“It is always great to be the winner of a contest,” Victoria SL says. “We are also keen to contribute to the aesthetic part of Peterborough.”
Located at 131 Charlotte Street, Unit 2, T-Elle Boutique by VSL is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For your convenience, the boutique is also available outside business hours by appointment only. Contact the store at 705-742-7778 or vselle7778@gmail.com.
For fashion inspiration and updates, follow T-Elle Boutique by VSL on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
The Municipality of Port Hope is celebrating the completion of the Walton Street reconstruction project and the launch of the annual Candlelight Festival with a street party on November 28, 2025, which will include the Candlelight Walk where participants carry lights from Walton and Pine streets to Memorial Park while singing carols. (Photo: Municipality of Port Hope)
Port Hope will be celebrating both the completion of its major infrastructure work downtown and the holiday season with a street party at the end of November.
The municipality will mark the conclusion of the three-year-long Walton Street reconstruction project on Friday, November 28, when it will also celebrate the holiday season with a street party from 4 to 9 p.m. to launch the annual Candlelight Festival, which runs until January 2 and features festive light displays in Memorial Park and Rotary Park.
According to Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky, hosting this year’s affair without construction as a backdrop is a reason for Port Hope and its businesses to celebrate.
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“The Walton Street reconstruction has been a journey for us all,” Hankivsky told kawarthaNOW. “On behalf of the municipality, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our community, especially our downtown residents and businesses, for their patience and unwavering support throughout this once-in-a-generation main street reconstruction.”
“As we move forward, I hope this spirit of pride and unity continues to flourish. Let us keep supporting our local businesses, celebrating our shared resilience, and proudly showing what it means to live in Port Hope.”
The mayor described the Walton Street reconstruction project as crucial for the future of the historic downtown in west Northumberland County. The project involved making improvements to old water mains and sanitary sewers and expanding capacity for storm sewers that had become inadequate over time.
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Now that construction is complete, Walton Street is fully available for the Candlelight Festival launch party that will include an outdoor licensed area, fire pits, photobooths, projected animations, roaming buskers, free hot chocolate, an augmented reality scavenger hunt, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more.
Portions of Walton Street, John Street, Ontario Street and Queen Street will be closed to vehicles to allow pedestrians to safely explore the downtown, and public transit will be running until 9:30 p.m. to make it easier for residents to come downtown.
The Port Hope Heritage Business Improvement (HBIA) is also joining the celebration by hosting Moonlight Madness on November 28, which is also Black Friday when local businesses offer discounts and sales to mark the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.
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In addition, there will be outdoor artisan market on Lent Lane, through the Granary parking lot and out onto John Street, with food vendors also available.
The launch of the Candlelight Festival also features the annual Candlelight Walk, which begins at 6 p.m. at Walton and Pine streets and concludes at Memorial Park, where there will be live music, hot chocolate, and a countdown to the park’s lighting display.
Walk participants are invited to bring their singing voices as well as a lantern, a candle inside a protective container, a battery-operated candle, or a flashlight, although some flame and battery-operated candles will be available at the start of the walk while supplies last.
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Candlelight Walk participants are also encouraged to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Fare Share Food Bank.
During the walk, representatives from Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG) will help lead carolling, featuring holiday favourites from Deck the Halls to Jingle Bells to Silent Night. A list of the carols and their lyrics is available on the Municipality of Port Hope’s website.
The afternoon following the launch of the Candlelight Festival, Port Hope will be hosting the 88th annual Santa Claus Parade, with the theme of “Deck the Downtown.” The parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Ridout Street and Bramley Street and continue along Walton Street to Queen Street, finishing at Augusta Street.
encoreNOW for November 17, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) "Hansel & Gretel - The Sweet & Sticky Panto" at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre, Boreal at Bancroft Village Playhouse, the Colin James Trio at Peterborough's Showplace Performance Centre, "We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes" at Lakefield College School's Bryan Jones Theatre, Hawksley Workman at Peterborough's Market Hall, and "A Christmas Story: The Musical" at Lindsay's Academy Theatre. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights Hansel & Gretel – The Sweet & Sticky Panto at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, Boreal’s “Songs for the Snowy Season” concert at Bancroft Village Playhouse, the Colin James Trio in concert at Showplace, the screening of We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes at Lakefield College School’s Bryan Jones Theatre, Hawksley Workman in concert at Market Hall, and the stage musical version of A Christmas Story at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre.
Naughty or nice, Capitol Theatre’s holiday panto sure to delight
Michelle Yu and Amir Haidar during a rehearsal for “Hansel & Gretel – The Sticky and Sweet Panto” at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. The two actors, who have each performed in several past productions at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope and shared the Capitol stage for the first time in 2023, are taking on the lead roles in the holiday musical comedy written and directed by Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson. Running for 45 performances from November 21 to December 28, 2025 at the historic downtown venue, the panto includes both “naughty” versions for adults and family-friendly “nice” versions. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Rob Kempson is creatively silly and, much to the benefit of Capitol Theatre audiences, that’s a very good thing.
As artistic director of the Port Hope performing arts venue, Kempson remains a breath of fresh air, bringing his imaginative flair to bear on any stage production he has a direct hand in. At no time of year is that more evident than during the lead-up to Christmas when the Capitol presents its annual and much-loved holiday season panto.
On Friday, November 21, Hansel & Gretel – The Sticky & Sweet Panto will debut, with both “nice” and “naughty” versions staged over the following weeks until December 28. As writer and director, Kempson’s fingerprints are all over this one, ensuring smiles and laughter will abound, both on stage and in the audience. Kempson wouldn’t have it any other way.
Portraying the title characters are acclaimed stage veterans Amir Haidar and Michelle Yu. This isn’t their first Capitol Theatre rodeo. Back in 2023, they appeared together in Little Shop of Horrors. For Haidar, this musical comedy marks his fourth Capitol Theatre production; for Yu, this is her third go-round at the Queen Street venue.
Featuring musical arrangements by Jeff Newberry and music direction by Scott Pietrangelo, the story you know, or at least are somewhat familiar with. Hansel and Gretel are siblings who, abandoned in the woods, fall prey to a nasty witch who calls a gingerbread house home. Their adventure is the basis for the story beloved by generations since the German fairy tale was first collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 as part of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
A panto — short for pantomime — is a form of musical comedy that originated in 18th-century England, where it continues to be popular holiday theatre fare. Based on a well-known fairy tale, with a story adapted for a broader audience, key elements of a panto are audience participation, slapstick comedy, theatrical cross dressing, and music and dancing. In short, the perfect fit for Kempson’s playful silliness.
The “nice” version, for ages 8 and up, has matinee performances at 2 p.m. on November 22 and 23, 30, December 6 and 7, 13 and 14, 20, 23, 27 and 28, with an additional matinee performance at 3 p.m. on November 29, and morning performances at 10:30 a.m. on November 26 and December 3, 10, and 17.
The “naughty” version, for ages 16 and up, runs at 7:30 p.m. from November 21 to 27, November 29 and 30, December 3 to 7, 10 to 14, 17 to 20, 22 and 23, and 26 to 28, with an additional evening performance at 8 p.m. on November 28, and matinee performances at 2 p.m. on December 16 and 18.
Tickets are $48 for adults over 30, $40 for youth and adults ages 13 to 30, and $22 for children 12 and under. Visit capitoltheatre.com to order.
Boreal brings their acclaimed “Songs for the Snowy Season” show to the Bancroft Village Playhouse
VIDEO: “Shepherd of the Road” – Boreal
Three award-winning Canadian singer-songwriters will be bringing their acclaimed holiday show to the Bancroft Village Playhouse for one night only on Friday (November 21).
Boreal first came together in 2006 when Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, and Jude Vadala — each with their own longstanding and award-winning careers — decided to join together for a winter-themed show called “Songs for the Snowy Season.”
That show quickly became an annual touring tradition across Ontario, and eventually led to the trio’s 2014 debut album, Winter’s Welcome. When Vadala retired from the trio in 2019, Angie Nussey took her place. In 2025, Boreal released their second album Winterbirds, which has since been nominated for three 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
With Wheatley performing on guitar, Slimmon on percussion, mandolin, and guitar, and Vadala on keyboards, all three women equally share singing duties, taking advantage of the unique timbre of their voices when writing and arranging their songs.
The trio’s songwriting and vocal prowess, including spellbinding harmonies, combined with the humour and honest storytelling in their live shows, has drawn high praise from Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter David Francey.
“I’ll give you three good reasons for catching Boreal in concert,” Francey said. “There are three wonderful writers in this band, and three beautiful voices. That’s two reasons. The third is the magic that happens when these three women combine those wonderful songs and voices on stage. Each brings their own brilliance to the whole. Magical’s the word. I was transported.”
Tickets to the Bancroft Village Playhouse concert cost $30 and are available at www.villageplayhouse.ca.
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Blues rocker Colin James fronts his trio for Showplace visit
VIDEO: “Open Road” – Colin James
It’s not every day that an eight-time Juno Award recipient comes our way, so it’s well worth noting when a musician of such stature does just that.
Since embarking on his journey in 1983 when he opened for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Regina-born Colin James has established himself as arguably Canada’s preeminent blues rock singer and songwriter.
Along with all those Juno statues, James has taken home an astounding 31 Maple Blues Awards, and reaped the rewards that recording seven gold-certified and four platinum-certified albums brings.
James’ most current album, 2024’s Chasing The Sun, co-produced by Colin Linden, marked his 18th studio offering. Over the years, he has worked with a number of celebrated artists — an impressive list that includes Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy, and the late Jeff Healey. All this years on, he’s showing no sign of slowing down.
On Tuesday, November 25 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, the Colin James Trio will see him joined by guitarist Chris Caddell and bassist Steve Marriner. They’ll run through James’ material, including 1990’s “Just Came Back,” which remains his highest-charting Canadian and American single.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert cost $55 at showplace.org.
Ontario’s Farmerettes get their due via documentary screening
VIDEO: “We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” trailer
The best thing about a forgotten story is the prospect of it being discovered and given its due.
In the summer of 2024, Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre presented the world premiere of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes. Written by Alison Lawrence based on the book by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter, it related the story of the 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during, and after, World War II and thus helped sustain the nation’s food supply while young Canadian men, who worked the farms, were fighting overseas.
On Wednesday, November 26 at Lakefield College School’s Bryan Jones Theatre, that inspiring story will be shared again — this time on film.
We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes is an award-winning documentary that comes to us from filmmakers Colin Field and Bonnie Sitter. Following the screening, the pair will sit down for a Q and A session, joined by 4th Line Theatre managing artistic director Kim Blackwell. There will also be an opportunity purchase signed copies of English and Sitter’s book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario’s Farmerettes.
If you attended the 4th Line Theatre production and have a yearning to learn more about this relatively unknown chapter of Canadian history, this event is for you. If you’re not familiar with the story at all, this is a great opportunity to come up to speed.
Tickets to the 7 p.m. screening cost $25, and are available at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to 4th Line Theatres’s 30 to the Future Endowment Fund and to the Lakefield College Northcote Farm Endowment. In addition, a collection will be taken for those displaced by the October 9 fire in downtown Lakefield.
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Hawksley Workman is right at home for Market Hall concert
VIDEO: “Human” – Hawksley Workman
There’s nothing like a short commute to work.
Canadian rock singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman has performed at prestigious venues, Toronto’s historic Massey Hall just one on a long list. But, as a Peterborough resident since 2020, there’s something no doubt something very enticing about headlining a concert just a hop, skip and step away in the city’s downtown core.
So it is that that the singer-songwriter and accomplished multi-instrumentalist will perform as a duo with keyboardist Todd Lumley at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, November 27.
With 17 solo albums to his credit, the Juno award-winning Workman has long garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Since his 1999 ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls, Workman has consistently delivered, bringing his music around the globe to the tune of more than 1,000 shows.
In a March 2020 interview with kawarthaNOW, Workman said he sensed Peterborough was “in transition,” adding, “In a lot of the cities and towns this size in Canada, manufacturing has moved on and they’re sort of redefining themselves. I feel like a strong downtown is still an essential part of the heart of a city.”
Amen to that, and kudos to Workman for backing that up with a hometown performance.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert cost $54 ($64 for cabaret seating) at www.markethall.org.
Ralphie’s quest for that Red Ryder air rifle comes to Lindsay
VIDEO: “A Christmas Story” movie trailer (1983)
On the Rellingers’ list of favourite holiday films, A Christmas Story holds a perennial place. There’s something infinitely captivating about young Ralphie Parker and his no-holds-barred desire for a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle as a gift from Santa.
Set in 1940s Indiana, the 1983 film, based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash and featuring a memorable performance by Darren McGavin as Ralphie’s dad, was actually partly filmed in Canada and earned two Genie Awards as result.
A Christmas Story, of course, earned a stage treatment, which came in the form of A Christmas Story: The Musical. It debuted at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Missouri in 2009 and later enjoyed a short run on Broadway in 2012.
From November 28 to 30, Lindsay’s Academy Theatre is presenting the musical with an all-local cast and crew. Directed by Beth Wilson, Jace Jolicoeur plays Ralphie, with supporting roles played by Tim Brown, Matt Avery, Tara Restrepo, and Jude Collver.
If you love the movie, as I do, you’re sure to enjoy this stage take.
Curtain is 7 p.m. on November 28 and 29, with 2 p.m. matinees on November 29 and 30. Tickets cost $37 for adults and $27 for kids 12 and under and are available at www.flatoacademytheatre.com.
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Encore
I’m delighted to see that super local music fan Les Manley is again organizing Musicians’ Appreciation Night. Set for December 4 at The Social, the love-in, which was first held last year, has at its root a simple premise: an opportunity to thank local musicians for the gifts of their talent and, in the case of many charitable efforts, their time. The 7 to 11 p.m. event will feature music by Bitchin’ Betties, an all-female band comprised of some incredible talent. Manley pays all the associated costs, so there are two things to do here: go and show your love for local musicians, and donate a few bucks to offset Manley’s costs. This is a great gesture. I went last year and the smiles on the faces of those feted lit up the room. Well done, Les.
The apple really doesn’t far fall from the tree. Joanna Bronson, the daughter of Peterborough music treasure Danny Bronson, has just released her debut single “Highway 28.” Produced by J.P Cormier, the inspiration for the song came to Joanna as she drove along — you guessed it — Highway 28. She posted on Facebook that it’s “a reflection of love and life and how both move on and change in ways you never really expect. Then looking back and wishing the past well.” Joanna and Danny performed together this past March at Peterborough Performs VI and were outstanding. No real surprise there, but a treat for anyone who took in the show. Give “Highway 28” a listen below. You won’t be at all disappointed.
Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon is presenting the traditional British panto "Jack and the Beanstalk," a comic retelling of the classic fairytale by artistic director Sarah Quick, from December 3 to 17, 2025. Quick, who both watched and performed in pantos during her childhood in England, has written and produced Globus Theatre's panto every year for almost two decades, most recently including (left to right, top and bottom) 2021's "Mother Goose," 2022's "Cinderella," 2023's "Puss in Boots," and 2024's "Aladdin." (kawarthaNOW collage of photos courtesy of Globus Theatre)
Holiday pantos were a formative tradition for Sarah Quick when she was growing up in England and, since founding Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre with her husband James Barrett in 2003, she has aspired to make the same impact on children who take to the stage or sit in the audience for the professional theatre company’s annual holiday show.
The artistic director of Globus Theatre has written and produced a traditional British panto every year for almost two decades, inviting the whole family to engage in the traditional holiday fun of her childhood.
This year is no exception, with Globus presenting Jack and the Beanstalk from December 3 to 17, with seven performances for area school groups and eight public performances.
Sarah Quick as the Wicked Stepmother and Rebecca Anne Bloom as Cinders in “Cinderella,” Globus Theatre’s 2022 traditional British panto that also featured community actors including participants in Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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“When we talk about accessible theatre and theatre for everyone, that’s what a panto is because it’s for all generations,” says Quick. “It appeals to the very little ones, to grandma and grandpa, and everybody in between.”
For Quick, who hails from northern England, being involved in a panto with her church theatre group as a child was not only synonymous with the holiday season, but led her on the path to working in theatre.
“It was where I learned what performing could be, and it was where I learned that it was something I could do reasonably well which, at that age, was quite an exciting discovery,” says Quick, adding that a role in a panto was also her first professional gig in London’s West End after she graduated from theatre school.
A Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph bookcover from England in 1890 and a cover of pantomime text for Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal in London’s Drury Lane in 1899. Evolving from a form of Italian theatre that made its way to Britain, pantomime had become a staple of London theatres by the early 18th century and, during the Victorian era, grew in popularity to become the holiday tradition that continues to this day. (Public domain photos)
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Very popular in the United Kingdom, a panto (from the word pantomime) is a family-friendly musical comedy, usually based on a classic fairytale and staged during the lead-up to Christmas. Evolving from a form of Italian theatre that made its way to Britain, pantomime had become a staple of London theatres by the early 18th century and, during the Victorian era, grew in popularity to become the holiday tradition that continues to this day.
“You can go your local church hall or your local seaside theatre, and the prices are designed for the entire family to go and have a day out,” Quick says of pantos in England. “All the theatres are packed. It’s a really exciting time, so that’s what I wanted to bring here.”
One reason for the enduring popularity of traditional British pantos is because their storylines appeal to children while adults enjoy humour and innuendos that the children in the audience don’t get.
“I think in more recent years, Disney has done that quite well, where some movies are ostensibly for kids but the adults can get the slightly more risqué comments, the slightly cleverer wordplay, or the political jokes,” says Quick. “Those are there for the adults and go over the kids’ heads, which makes it a lot of fun for everybody.”
A classic British panto also invites audience participation, such as booing when the villain comes on stage. This tradition, says Quick, is one that Globus Theatre audiences have grown to love since the theatre company staged its very first panto in 2006.
The cast of Globus Theatre’s 2021 holiday panto “Mother Goose”. The Bobcaygeon theatre company is presenting its traditional British panto “Jack and the Beanstalk,” a comic retelling of the classic fairytale by artistic director Sarah Quick, from December 3 to 17, 2025. Traditional British pantos are fun for the whole family because the storylines appeal to children while adults enjoy the jokes and innuendos that go over the head of children in the audience. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
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“It was quite funny because the first time, when the evil person came on, all the English people in the audience knew to boo heavily, and you could see all the Canadians looking around asking ‘What’s going on?’ and thinking this is not appropriate theatre behaviour,” Quick recalls with a laugh. “Now everybody knows — as soon as the villain comes on, you hiss and you boo. They’re prepared for audience participation.”
This year, Globus is presenting an original retelling of a classic fairytale with Jack and the Beanstalk. Though audiences may be familiar with the story — Jack sells a cow for some magic beans that grow into a towering beanstalk leading to the realm of a giant, from whom Jack steals treasures to help his poor widowed mother — there are many unique surprises, new characters, and fun twists in Quick’s comical rendition.
“You won’t know exactly who is in Jack and the Beanstalk and exactly what happens,” she says of the Globus version. “In our Jack and the Beanstalk, it’s the Baron Dithers who is trying to evict Dame Trott from the Dottie Dale Dairy and he sent his henchmen to do the job for him.”
Quick herself will be playing Poison Ivy, the giant’s evil sidekick who has her own gremlins. And, once again, Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett will portray the Dame, a classic role in traditional pantos that’s played by a man wearing heavy makeup and flamboyant women’s clothing.
Toronto-based actor Katherine Cappellacci as Snow White with Globus Theatre co-founder and artistic producer James Barrett as the Dame in Globus Theatre’s 2017 British panto “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Barrett has taken the role of the Dame since the theatre company began staging pantos in 2006 and will be doing so during “Jack and the Beanstalk,” running from December 3 to 17, 2025. (Photo: Sarah Quick)
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“The first time James played a Dame, he was putting on the dress and said ‘Are you sure this is traditional in England?'” Quick recalls. “Now if we did not give him the Dame role, he would be absolutely gutted. He loves it.”
Quick and Barrett will be joined by fellow panto regular Kevin Sepaul along with Hayden DiMarco, a recent graduate of the Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto.
“We always bring in somebody who has just graduated theatre school and is embarking on their professional career,” Quick says. “The kids get to talk to them about what it’s like to go on to further education at theatre school and start a job as an actor. It’s great to be able to give that emerging artist a gig, but it’s also really cool for the kids to see theatre as a career option.”
This is important to Globus Theatre because there will be upwards of 40 children involved in Jack and the Beanstalk, both on and off the stage.
Young performers rehearsing for Globus Theatre’s traditional British panto “Jack and the Beanstalk,” a comic retelling of the classic fairytale by artistic director Sarah Quick, from December 3 to 17, 2025. Around 40 local children and youth will be involved in the production, both on and off the stage. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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“It’s not about being a perfect performer or being extremely skilled in certain areas — it’s about being yourself on stage,” Quick says. “My job is to give kids that huge amount of confidence that they can perform, and they can create this environment where they have 150 people laughing because of something they said.”
The opportunity to perform in the panto reflects Globus Theatre’s aim to foster a love of performance in children and youth in Kawartha Lakes.
“It’s important for them to know that they can go on and be an actor if they want to be and if they have that ability,” she explains. “But regardless, even in just the moment, they’ve found their happy place. They’re in a safe place to create and be alongside each other.”
The stage will see performers from as young as six to those into their eighties, as the panto will also include the community choir from Globus Theatre’s season-opening show, Desperate to be Doris. Called the Bobcaygeon Sound Collective, the choir is becoming a vibrant part of the theatre’s productions.
A rehearsal for the Bobcaygeon Sound Collective, a community choir organized by Globus Theatre for the theatre company’s season-opening production of “Desperate to be Doris.” The choir will be once again taking to the stage during the Globus Theatre’s holiday panto “Jack and the Beanstalk,” a comic retelling of the classic fairytale by artistic director Sarah Quick, from December 3 to 17, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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Throughout the panto’s run, Globus Theatre will also be performing the panto for 1,200 students as school groups come from Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, Omemee, and beyond for private showings.
“I love the career that I have — I love the opportunities it’s afforded me,” Quick says. “Being able to go to work each day and feel like you’re enjoying what you do, having fun, and making an impact is massive.”
“If I can give one kid a year that sort of feeling, that this is something that they could go on and do, that would be tremendous.”
A traditional British panto, Globus Theatre is presenting “Jack and the Beanstalk” from December 3 to 17, 2025 in Bobcaygeon, including includes seven performances for area school groups and eight public performances. (Graphic courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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Jack and the Beanstalk runs for eight public performances, opening at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 5 with additional evening performances at 8 p.m. on December 6 and December 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. matinee performances on December 6 and 7 and December 13 and 14.
For a full festive night out, an optional three-course Christmas dinner is available before all evening performances. For those looking to host a holiday celebration for family, friends, or employees, group bookings are also available.
“Coming to see this high energy panto is a great way to get into that holiday spirit,” says Quick. “Everybody is having a ball.”
Tickets are $35 for adults and $22.50 for children 16 and under for the show only, or $85 for adults and $42.50 for children 10 and under for dinner and the show. Tickets can be ordered online at globustheatre.com/shows-all/jack-and-the-beanstalk. For more information on group bookings, call the box office at 705-738-2037 or 1-800-304-7897.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Globus Theatre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
The Illuminated Forest at Ken Reid Conservation Area near Lindsay is open nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. from December 12 to 28, 2025, with free public transit from Lindsay to Ken Reid and back available on December 12 and 13 and 19 and 20. (Photo: Kawartha Conservation)
The Illuminated Forest is returning for its fourth year to Ken Reid Conservation Area near Lindsay, with a new opportunity to help even more residents experience it.
Kawartha Conservation first created the holiday tradition, which sees trees decorated with thousands of lights, in 2022. This year, the front trails of the forest will be transformed into a glowing winter wonderland nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. from Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 28.
Visiting Ken Reid Conservation Area is free, although there is a $4 parking fee per vehicle. Parking is available in both the main parking lot at the dog park and at the administration building parking lot as needed.
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To make the Illuminated Forest accessible to even more residents, Kawartha Conservation and the City of Kawartha Lakes are partnering to provide free public transit between Lindsay and Ken Reid Conservation Area on Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13 and again on Friday and Saturday, December 19 and 20.
On those dates, buses will depart from the rear parking lot at Canadian Tire at 377 Kent Street West in Lindsay to Ken Reid every hour starting at 4:30 p.m., with the last departure at 7:30 p.m. Buses will depart from Ken Reid back to the Canadian Tire parking lot every hour starting at 5 p.m., except for the final departure which will be at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.
Kawartha Conservation is asking residents who have enjoyed the Illuminated Forest and would like to see it continue as a holiday tradition to consider making an online donation.
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