Community leaders, campaign volunteers, supporters, and project partners gathered on October 6, 2026 at the Northumberland Humane Society's property at 363 Theatre Road South to mark the start of construction of the new Animal Care & Adoption Centre and the launch of a $4-million capital campaign to support the three-phase project. (Photo courtesy of Northumberland Humane Society)
Construction is underway on a new Animal Care & Adoption Centre for the Northumberland Humane Society (NHS), marking the launch of a $4-million capital campaign to transform its Cobourg facility.
NHS held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday (October 6) at its 363 Theatre Road South property, where community leaders, campaign volunteers, supporters, and project partners gathered to mark the start of construction. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in August 2027, with the second and third phases planned to follow immediately.
The capital campaign, called “Built on Second Chances — Where Animals Find Their Way Home,” will fund a phased redevelopment of the existing facility, which NHS says was built nearly 30 years ago as a municipal pound and was never designed to meet the needs of a modern animal welfare organization.
Advertisement - content continues below
“For 60 years, the Northumberland Humane Society has been here for animals and the people who care about them,” said NHS board and campaign chair Denise O’Brien.
“Today, we are building for the next 60 years. Built on Second Chances is about creating a facility that reflects the quality of care our animals deserve and gives our staff, volunteers and community the environment and resources needed to continue this important work.”
The first phase now under construction will add 6,100 square feet and significantly expand the humane society’s animal care and adoption capacity.
Plans include three new dog pods with 12 additional adoption kennels, improved cat accommodations with new cat condos and feature rooms, dedicated meet-and-greet spaces, accessible washrooms, upgraded reception and surrender areas, a new kitchen and laundry, and improvements to ventilation and sound management.
The first phase of the Northumberland Humane Society’s Built on Second Chances — Where Animals Find Their Way Home capital campaign is the construction of a new Animal Care & Adoption Centre that will provide expanded and improved housing for dogs, cats, and small animals, quieter and better-ventilated animal care spaces, dedicated areas for intake, isolation, and medical care, welcoming adoption and meet-and-greet spaces, accessible public areas and washrooms, and improved facilities for the staff and volunteers who provide care every day. Construction was officially launched on October 6, 2026 and is expected to be completed in August 2027. (Rendering courtesy of Northumberland Humane Society)
The second phase will add dog enrichment and training areas, grooming and shower facilities, and improved intake and isolation spaces, while the third and final phase will expand veterinary and community animal welfare services.
“Every part of this project is being considered through the lens of how we can better care for animals,” said NHS director of animal care Wendy Riley.
“The new centre will provide safer, healthier, and more appropriate spaces for the animals who come through our doors, while also creating a better environment for the people who care for them and help them find their way home.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Beyond sheltering and adoption, programs include a pet food bank, spay and neuter assistance, crisis care and emergency boarding, lost-pet and reunification services, foster care, surrender support, humane education, and community outreach.
In 2025, NHS supported more than 1,200 animals, including 619 that were adopted into new homes, 214 lost animals that were reunited with their families, 300 animals that were assisted by the pet food bank, and 80 animals supported through crisis care.
NHS receives no government operating funding and relies on donors, volunteers, businesses, foundations, and community partners to support its programs and services.
Advertisement - content continues below
The humane society says the capital campaign builds on its own financial commitment and donations already received during an early phase of fundraising.
“This is a community project,” O’Brien said. “Every animal that finds safety here, every family that finds support and every adoption that brings an animal home is made possible because people in our community choose to care.”
The Northumberland Humane Society is now inviting individuals, families, businesses, foundations, and community organizations to support the campaign.
Hannah Bailey, an early childhood educator who works as Quality Inclusion Coach at Five Counties Children's Centre, with her son Max and husband Tom. During the free "Listen With Love" concerts on October 20 and 21, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, Hannah will share in story and song her own family's inclusion journey, shaped by Max, who was born with a rare genetic condition. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Hannah Bailey, Quality Inclusion Coach, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
The birth of a baby is a joyous, life-changing moment for any new parent. Having a newborn with health complications doesn’t alter that; in fact, some may argue it strengthens the parent-child bond in new and profound ways.
That’s the case for me and Max.
Just over five years ago, my husband Tom and I welcomed Max into the world. As our first child, Max was a little miracle we were so grateful to embrace.
But then came some unexpected news … Max was born with a congenital heart defect and was later diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. That’s a rare motor speech disorder where a child’s brain struggles to plan and coordinate the precise mouth movements needed to speak clearly.
Advertisement - content continues below
This could be seen as devastating, but in fact for our family, it became a journey of inclusion, discovery, and love.
With the help of speech therapy at Five Counties, our funny, kind, and thoughtful little boy Max finally said his first “Mamma” at two-and-a-half-years of age, and has shown tremendous resilience in finding the words to share all the wonderful ideas inside him.
Max has also spoken loudly to Tom and I about the power of inclusion and the need for adults to listen to what children have to say. For me, Max — and both my children — are the “why” … the reasons I invest so much of myself in the work of inclusion and reimagining a world where every child knows, from the very beginning, that they belong.
Hannah Bailey hugs her son Max at the recent Fore the Kids golf tournament, organized by the Rotary Club of Peterborough. Prior to the start of the golf tournament, Hannah spoke about her family’s journey of inclusion, after Max was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, and how Five Counties Children’s Centre helped support his speech skills. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
As adults, we can learn so much from children about what inclusion and belonging look like — if only we’d listen. As a mom, but also as someone who works at Five Counties as an early childhood educator, I firmly believe that children can show us what makes them feel welcomed, safe, valued, and connected.
Young children are often naturally open to one another’s differences. Exclusion is something they can learn from the adults, structures, and messages around them.
That places a responsibility on all of us — parents, families, early childhood educators, and other community members — to model curiosity instead of judgment, possibility instead of limitation, and connection instead of separation.
Advertisement - content continues below
This belief is at the heart of “Listen with Love,” a free performance-style presentation organized by Five Counties and set for Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Through heartfelt storytelling, humour, and live music, Listen With Love lets me share the journey and songs I’ve created along the way to explore what Max has taught me about disability, inclusion, and belonging.
With the help of some talented local musicians, we want the Listen With Love concerts to help us look beyond our differences and start challenging the systems that children are expected to fit into. It’s all about creating environments where every child can be included and belong, just as they are.
The free “Listen With Love” concerts on October 20 and 21, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough will also introduce the new Roots of Belonging inclusion initiative for local day care centres that is being launched by Five Counties Children’s Centre and promoted by centre staff members, Hannah Bailey (left) and Meghan Fife. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
Two Listen with Love concerts will be presented, with the first on October 20 for families and the general public interested in learning more about inclusion and the journey taken with Max, and the second on October 21 for early childhood educators in the Peterborough area.
Falling on Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Appreciation Day, the October 21 concert is a celebration of the ECE profession and the pursuit of inclusion told from a parent and ECE’s perspective. The event will also introduce Roots of Belonging, a Five Counties initiative to help support early educators to create inclusive child-care spaces for all kids
Doors open for each Listen With Love concert at 5:30 p.m., with concerts starting at 7 p.m. To learn more and to save a seat by registering, visit www.fivecounties.on.ca/mt-event/listen-with-love/.
Advertisement - content continues below
The title, Listen with Love, is intentional. Before we redesign a room, change a policy or add a support, we need to ask whose voice is missing. We need to hear children and families without beginning from a place of deficit or deciding in advance what they need.
My hope is that we leave Listen with Love with a better understanding that inclusion is not a destination or a special project reserved for certain children. It’s an ongoing commitment to listen, reflect and act. It starts within us, takes shape in the environments and systems we create, and grows each time a child is seen, heard and welcomed as a whole person.
Max continues to teach me that we do not need to have every answer before we begin. But what he does say is that when adults listen with love, we create the conditions for belonging to take root — and for every child to thrive!
Five Counties Children’s Centre is presenting two “Listen With Love” concerts on October 20 and 21, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. The October 20 concert is for families and the general public, and the October 21 concert (which falls on Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day) is for early childhood educators in the Peterborough area. (Graphic courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features 14 family-friendly activities and destinations across the greater Kawarthas region for the Thanksgiving long weekend, including the Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot and the Northumberland Turkey Trot, Duff Acres in Keene, the Buckhorn Harvest Craft Show, Back Forty Farmstead near Bancroft, the Norwood Fall Fair, Harvest Market in Stirling and other local farmers' markets, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company and Kawartha Dairy, Sir Sam's in Haliburton County, Robin's Nest Farm Market in Warkworth, Ganaraska River in Northumberland County, Leahy's Farm and Market in Douro-Dummer, Frosted Flour Co. in Port Hope, and more. (kawarthaNOW collage)
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
Thanksgiving is meant to be spent with loved ones. Whether your weekend plans involve stuffing the turkey and stirring the gravy, attending a fall fair, or enjoying the taste of some fall treats, the experience will be made even better when your family is by your side.
That’s why this week’s Kawartha Localist is rounding up all the fun ways to enjoy time with your family on the Thanksgiving long weekend. From shopping for holiday décor at a farmstead in Bancroft to joining a community fundraiser in Cobourg, there’s no shortage of things to do with your loved ones — and yes, there are lots of fall-flavoured local goods on the list for you to gobble up, including some items you can’t find anywhere else.
Here are 14 ways to spend Thanksgiving weekend with your loved ones across the greater Kawarthas region.
A message from our sponsor - content continues below
Get some exercise for a good cause at the Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot
The Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot is taking place on October 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. in Garnet Graham Park in Fenelon Falls. With proceeds going to Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes, the turkey trot includes a five and 10-kilometre run, as well as a one-kilometre run for children and families. The event will include prizes, participant massages, a snack table, a used shoe collection drive, and opportunities to win a grand prize of a sweetheart package for two in Fenelon Falls. (Photo: Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot)
Since Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, why not spend the weekend giving back to the community?
The Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot has been held since 2016, encouraging you to earn the turkey dinner and pumpkin pie you’ll soon be sinking your teeth into. This year roughly 550 participants will be showing up, hoping to raise $2,200 for Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes, a not-for-profit organization helping women and their children who are fleeing abuse.
Race day begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 10 at the gazebo in Garnet Graham Park. The course follows a flat out-and-back trail on the Kawartha Rail Trail, with the option for participants to join a family and kids one-kilometre run, a five-kilometre run, or 10-kilometre run for adults and seniors.
Following the race, awards will be given to the top finishers, the best costumes, and the best fundraisers. And you won’t want to miss the grand draw prize of a sweetheart package for a night out in Fenelon Falls. It includes show tickets to The Grove Theatre, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, a bouquet of flowers, and a room package for a local bed & breakfast.
Following their race, participants can enjoy the snack table full of butter tarts, scones, power bars, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, and other festive goods. Throughout the day, there will be an Indigenous drumming performance, cheerleaders, a masseuse for participants, and a shoe collection drive for BioPed, which collects used shoes for the less fortunate.
Garnet Graham Park is located at 98 Francis Street West in Fenelon Falls. To learn more about the Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot, visit www.fenelonfallsturkeytrot.ca.
Pick up a Thanksgiving turkey and homemade sourdough at Duff Acres in Keene
The farm stand at Duff Acres in Keene will be open on Friday and Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend. Limited quantities of pre-ordered turkeys and sourdough will be available, alongside farm-raised beef, pork, and lamb. The farm stand is also stocked with a range of locally made goods including cranberry sauce, honey, and dog treats. (Photo: Duff Acres)
There’s still time to get a locally grown Thanksgiving turkey by dropping into Duff Acres in Keene.
The farm stand at this family farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (October 9 and 10), with turkey pre-orders opening on Thursday. There will be limited quantities available, though, so be sure to reserve your bird soon at www.duffacres.ca.
Otherwise, at the farm stand, you’ll find the farm-raised beef, pork, and lamb, as well as homemade goods including cranberry sauce, honey, creams, and even dog treats from local makers. Handmade sourdough is also available for pick-up, though it must be pre-ordered by Wednesday.
Duff Acres is located at 784 Serpent Mounds Road in Keene.
Shop from a variety of Ontario artisans and crafters at the Buckhorn Harvest Craft Show
The Jam Cupboard is one of more than 85 local and visiting artisans and vendors who will be selling homemade goods at the 47th annual Buckhorn Harvest Craft Show, being held on Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Buckhorn Community Centre. A tradition for many local families, the show features jewelry, original artwork, Christmas décor, baked goods, bath and body products, candles, and much more. (Photo: The Jam Cupboard)
Is it too early to think about your Christmas gift-giving? If not, or if you simply need some last-minute goods for your Thanksgiving plans, drop into Buckhorn Harvest Craft Show hosted by the Buckhorn Community Centre.
On Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this 47th annual juried show will see upwards of 85 artisans and makers hailing from across Ontario. You’ll find jewellery, clothing, home and garden décor, baked goods, bath and body products, stained glass displays, candles, one-of-a-kind works of art, Christmas décor, and so much more.
Alongside a snack bar serving soups and chillies, you can also find baked goods, cheese, preserves, and desserts, and other goods you might just need for your Thanksgiving dinner. All attendees have the chance to win a $100 shopping spree to the 2027 Spring Craft Show.
Admission to the Buckhorn Harvest Craft Show is priced at $5 (kids under 12 are free) and goes toward supporting the community centre’s local programming.
Stock up on Thanksgiving dinner and décor at the Back Forty Farmstead outside Bancroft
For last-minute home décor and food for your Thanksgiving dinner, drop into the Back Forty Farmstead outside Bancroft. Open sunup to sundown, the family farmstead will have cornstalks, varieties of pumpkins and gourds, homemade soaps and bug sprays, as well as limited turkeys for sale. (Photo: Back Forty Farmstead)
Are you hosting this weekend and need some ingredients or home décor to deck out your home? All last-minute décor can be picked up at the Back Forty Farmstead just outside Bancroft in L’Amble.
On a family property purchased by Mallory Kelly and Dillon Trumble in 2019, the Back Forty Farmstead is open from sunup to sundown. Leave cash or send an e-transfer after collecting all the pumpkins, corn stalks, straw bales, and varieties of pumpkins and gourds you need to welcome guests this weekend.
You will also find merchandise branding with the Farmstead’s logo, made by local business J&C Embroidery as well as natural bug sprays, soaps, shower steamers, and more from Wildly Appropriate, based in Coe Hill.
Then, load up on your eggs, pork sausages, pork chops, and ground pork all raised right there on the family farm. The Back Forty Farmstead also has limited quantities of Thanksgiving turkeys available. Those interested can contact Trumble at 416-347-9407.
The Back Forty Farmstead is located at 1579 Detlor Road in Bancroft. To learn more about the Back Forty Farmstead, follow them on Facebook.
Spend a day or three at the grand Norwood Fall Fair
Running from October 10 to 12, 2026, the Norwood Fall Fair is one of the largest and most anticipated events happening across the greater Kawarthas region this fall. Attracting 45,000 attendees every year, the fair will feature animal shows and demonstrations, a petting zoo, an antique car show, a tractor pull, a children’s talent shows, a midway, a parade, and many more family-friendly activities. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Every Thanksgiving weekend, residents and visitors — 45,000 of them! — look forward to the annual Norwood Fall Fair, which is returning to the fairgrounds at 48 Alma Street from Saturday to Monday (October 10 to 12).
First established in 1868, this fall fair celebrates the harvest in the community, with all kinds of fun on the docket for the whole family. Cattle shows, horse shows, sheep shows, goat shows, and poultry shows will all be on the lineup, but, if that’s not enough animal immersion for you, head to the petting zoo to find ponies, piglets, bunnies, rabbits, ducklings, and other animals — and you can feed them, too!
Throughout the weekend, there will also be sheep shearing demonstrations, the Ontario Xtreme Cowboy Competition, an antique car show, a tractor show, flyball (a relay race for dogs), and lawn tractor racing, alongside continuous live music. Kids can also enjoy the midway, join the talent contest, or enter their favourite stuffed animal for the stuffed creature and teddy bear show! Be sure to check out one of the most beloved events of the weekend, the Norwood Fair Parade, starting at the Norwood Public School at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
The Norwood Fall Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each day of the Thanksgiving long weekend (the midway opens at 10:30 a.m.) for $15 daily ($25 for a weekend pass). Children under at 12 are free. To learn more and see the full schedule, visit www.norwoodfair.com.
Get everything you need for Thanksgiving dinner at the Harvest Market in Stirling and other local farmers’ markets
The Thanksgiving weekend marks the final farmers’ markets of the season for many local communities, including in Stirling. To end the season, the Harvest Market is being held in downtown Stirling on Friday, October 9, with a market selling everything needed for Thanksgiving dinner, including vegetables, meat, beer, cider, and maple and honey products. The event will also include food vendors and live music. (Photo: Harvest Market)
If you have to make the Thanksgiving meal this year, why not make it with locally grown produce and goods? We’re coming close to the end of market season here in Ontario, but it’s not too late to get everything you need for all your Thanksgiving Day plans.
The Stirling-Rawdon Business Improvement Area is marking the end of their seventh annual farmers’ market season with the Harvest Market event in downtown Stirling on Friday, October 9. There will be everything you need for the weekend including vegetables, meat, beer, cider, maple and honey products, homemade goods like knit hats and pottery, as well as food vendors selling cozy goods like kebabs, sausages, and hamburgers. Live bands will set the soundtrack as you cross things off your shopping list.
Here are some of the farmers markets that will be open this weekend (some for the last time this year!):
Lakefield Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lakefield Arena Parking lot
Lindsay Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wilson Fields
Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market: Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 45 Bond Street
Haliburton County Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Milne and Prince Streets
Peterborough Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Morrow Park
Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Quaker Foods City Square
Cobourg Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rotary Harbourfront Park
Bancroft Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Riverside Park
Campbellford Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 66 Front Street South
Fall for the innovative flavours at Bobcaygeon Brewing Company and Kawartha Dairy
The Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is one of the local small businesses getting innovative with their fall flavours this year. The company is offering a limited-time brew of the Pumpkin Pie-PA, a pumpkin spice west coast style IPA, made with flavours of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. (Photo: Bobcaygeon Brewing Company)
You’ll have no problem finding pumpkin spice lattes and apple crisp across the greater Kawarthas this season, but there are some places close to home serving up some highly original and creative fall flavours for a limited time only.
First, drop into the Bobcaygeon Brewing Company for a sip of the Pumpkin Pie-PA, a pumpkin spice west coast IPA. This limited-edition cozy beverage is infused with real pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Not much of a pumpkin fan? Bobcaygeon Brewing Company has another fall drink on the menu: the Foliage Autumn Ale, made with cinnamon, ginger, and toffee in a traditional English-inspired ale.
Then, after dinner, head to one of the Kawartha Dairy outlets across the region in Bobcaygeon, Peterborough, Cobourg, Lindsay, Bancroft, Minden, or an independent grocer to get a scoop or pint of pumpkin pie ice cream. This seasonal sweet treat is made with real pumpkin and creamy marshmallow ripple. Another seasonal ice cream being served by Kawartha Dairy is the spiced apple ripple, a creamy vanilla swirled with — you guessed it — spiced apple ripple.
Pick your own apples and pumpkins across the region
Buckhorn Berry Farm is one of many local farms across the greater Kawarthas region that will be open throughout the Thanksgiving weekend to invite guests to enjoy a pick-your-own experience. From pumpkin patches in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County to apple picking in Northumberland County, pick-your-own experiences give you a taste of the region, while providing a family-friendly activity. (Photo: McLean Berry Farm)
Get locally grown produce and do a family activity at the same time by picking out your own pumpkins, gourds, and apples this weekend by visiting a local farm.
Head to Northumberland County to pick your own apples at Dunnett Orchards in Brighton, or at Pieter’s Appleyard, Burnham Family Farm Market, or Moore Orchards in Cobourg.
In the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County, you’ll find an abundance of local pumpkin patches for a large variety of gourds. McQuaid’s Country Market in Omemee, McLean Berry Farm (Buckhorn location), Stellmar Farm in Little Britain, Vanderview Farms in Norwood, and MacArthur’s Pumpkin Patch in Oakwood will all be open throughout the weekend.
Check their respective websites to confirm long weekend hours and opening dates.
Strut your best Thanksgiving look at the Northumberland Turkey Trot
Don’t forget to come dressed in your most spirited Thanksgiving looks at the Northumberland Turkey Trot for a chance to win the acclaimed Golden Drumstick Award, awarded to the most spirited participants. Taking place on October 12, 2026, the Northumberland Turkey Trot will include a 2.5 run or walk, a five-kilometre run, and untimed races for kids. Over 14 years, the event has raised over $60,000 for YMCA Northumberland. (Photo: Northumberland Turkey Trot)
A Thanksgiving Monday tradition, the Northumberland Turkey Trot gives you the opportunity to celebrate with your family and friends, get some exercise in, give back to the local YMCA, and still be home by noon to prep your Thanksgiving meal — and you might just win a turkey or pie to cook up!
Avid runner Rod Simpson has been hosting this family-friendly event since 2012 and, over the years, has raised $60,000 towards the YMCA Northumberland Strong Communities Campaign. Roughly 600 participants will gather, often with their families and friends, to join in this fundraiser that involves walking through an urban green space.
Check-in will begin at 830 a.m. at the YMCA Northumberland Cobourg (339 Elgin Street West), before the turkey trot takes flight, beginning with the Gobble Wobble for participants four years old and under, and the one-kilometre kids Wing Ding untimed fun run, where every participant will earn a prize.
Adults can then join in the fun with their choice of a five-kilometre trot or a 2.5-kilometre run or walk. The first male and female finishers of each race will be given a prize: a frozen turkey for the five-kilometre races and a coveted pie from Burnham Family Farm Market for the shorter trot.
Throughout the morning, there will also be chances to win tons of draw prizes donated from local and international sponsors. Last year’s event saw winners walking out with wheelbarrows and New Balance footwear! And, most importantly, don’t forget to pluck your feathers and practice your gobble to earn the acclaimed Golden Drumstick Award for the best spirit.
Registration is available on the day of the Northumberland Turkey Trot, though advance registration is encouraged given that there is limited availability for each race. To learn more and register, visit northumberlandturkeytrot.org.
Take in the fall colours at Sir Sam’s annual Thanksgiving Festival in Haliburton County
Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride in Haliburton County is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Festival on October 10, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival includes a vendor market, a BBQ, kids’ activities and games, live music, ticket pass sales, and more. The chairlift will also be open for visitors to enjoy views of the stunning fall colours. (Photo: Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride)
Haven’t yet taken the chairlift ride to the top of Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride in Haliburton County to view the stunning fall colours? You have the perfect chance to do so during the resort’s annual Thanksgiving Festival, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 10.
In addition to taking in the fall colours before their gone, there will be opportunities to browse and buy at a local vendor market, engage in kids’ activities and games, get discounts on products from Delancey Sports, enjoy a barbeque on the deck, listen to live music, and get the insider’s scoop on the announcement for the name of the hill’s newest ski lift.
The Thanksgiving Festival is also the last chance to get your season passes and books of eight (eight discounted lift ticket vouchers) while they’re still on sale.
Admission to the Thanksgiving Festival is free, though chairlift rides are priced at $10 per person. To learn more, visit www.sirsams.ca.
Pre-order all your baked goods from Robin’s Nest Farm Market in Warkworth
It’s not too late to pre-order handmade desserts from Robin’s Nest Farm Market for your Thanksgiving dinner plans. The market, café, and caterer in Warkworth raises their own beef, pork, and chicken to sell alongside varieties of locally grown produce, dairy products gifts, and home goods by local makers. (Photo: Robin’s Nest Farm Market)
Want to bring some homemade goods to the Thanksgiving dinner you’ll be attending this weekend, but don’t have the time to actually make them? Place an order with Robin’s Nest Farm Market in Warkworth for any of the country kitchen goods on your wishlist.
Amanda Twigg and her family raise their own beef, pork, and chicken to sell with varieties of locally grown produce and dairy products. Alongside offering catering, Robin’s Nest Farm Market also houses an in-store bakery serving homemade baked goods, freezer meals and lunch, alongside gifts and home goods crafted by local makers.
Until October 7, there’s still time to pre-order your Thanksgiving desserts from fruit or pumpkin pie to tarts, squares, and other fall favourites.
Experience the annual salmon run in the Ganaraska River in Northumberland County
People flock to the Ganaraska River in Port Hope every fall to watch and take photos of tens of thousands of Chinook and silvery Coho salmon swimming upstream to spawn. (Photo: Lee Higginson)
This might not be your typical Thanksgiving activity, but watching the salmon run in the Ganaraska River should certainly be on your radar this weekend.
Every fall, people gather in Port Hope to watch tens of thousands of Chinook and silvery Coho salmon swim up the river on their way to their home spawning grounds. And for good reason! This river is one of the healthiest small rivers into Lake Ontario, populated entirely with naturally reproducing fish.
The best vantage point to view the salmon run is The Fish Ladder, managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and located on the west side of Corbett’s Dam, which is managed by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. You can also see the pooling stations for the fish in the shallow water at locations in town, or take a riverside trail to follow the fish on their journey.
Stop at Leahy’s Farm and Market in Douro-Dummer off Highway 28
Located on Highway 28, Leahy’s Farm & Market in Douro-Dummer is a one-stop shop to stock up on fall décor and produce. Over the weekend, you’ll find at the market a varieties of pumpkins and gourds, as well as fall mums, apples, apple ciders, baked goods, Halloween decorations, and an abundance of other high-quality fruits and produce. The market also offers an ideal vantage point for viewing the fall colours and the team is hopeful the corn maze will be open by the weekend. (Photo: Leahy’s Farm & Market)
Spending your Thanksgiving weekend at the cottage? On the way, be sure to make a stop at Leahy’s Farm and Market where you can stock up on all the produce and décor you need, while having some fun at the same time.
Located on Highway 28 in the Township of Douro-Dummer, this market has been a staple stop for cottagers and locals for more than 50 years. Right now, it’s your one-stop shop for everything you need for Thanksgiving, with varieties of pumpkins and gourds, fall mums, apples, apple ciders, and so much more. You’ll also find baked goods, Halloween decorations, and an abundance of other high-quality fruits and produce.
With its elevated location, this market is the perfect vantage point to view the changing fall colours across the rolling hills, and the team at Leahy’s is hopeful they will have the corn maze open ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Leahy’s Farm & Market is located at 3267 Highway 28 in Douro-Dummer and will be open for extended hours throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Pick up a Thanksgiving treat box at Frosted Flour Co. in Port Hope
Throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, Frosted Flour Co. in Port Hope will be open for extended hours on Friday and Saturday, allowing customers to stock up on Thanksgiving treats. In store, you’ll find pumpkin macaroons, donuts, frosted cookies, cinnamon buns, designer cookies, as well as variety treat boxes. (Photo: Frosted Flour Co.)
Make sure you save some room for dessert after Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, because you won’t want to miss out on trying the wide selection of festive baked goods you’ll find at Frosted Flour Co. in Port Hope.
This week is extra-celebratory for owner and self-taught baker Hannah MacDonald, as she is celebrating nine years since opening the doors to this boutique bakery where you’ll find a rotating selection of baked goods made daily. Frosted Flour Co. will be open for extended hours this weekend — from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday — so you have plenty of time to stock up on sweet treats for whatever you have on the go.
Throughout both days, the bakery will undoubtedly be full of the smells of the seasons, with cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls, pecan pie, caramel apple cookie sandwiches, and frosted cookies all on the shelves. You’ll also find anything and everything in pumpkin flavour — we’re talking pumpkin-flavoured cheesecakes, cookie sandwiches, bars, macaroons, and so much more.
There will also be donuts available on Saturday and, throughout both days, hand-decorated designer cookies that are Thanksgiving and fall-themed. In store, you’ll also find treat boxes filled with a variety of Thanksgiving goods, so you don’t have to make the decisions yourself. Don’t forget to pair it with a pumpkin spice latte on your way out!
Frosted Flour Co. is located at 73 Mill Street in Port Hope. To learn more, visit www.frostedflourco.ca.
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Heather Thoma, operations manager for Farms at Work, leads a plot tour at the Peterborough Community Farm in Otonabee-South Monaghan during the official launch event on October 3, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Farms at Work)
After years of research and planning, Farms at Work has officially launched the Peterborough Community Farm in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan.
More than 40 supporters, growers, and representatives of community organizations gathered Saturday (October 3) at the 1576 Matchett Line property to celebrate the launch, tour the site, and learn about plans for the community-based farming hub.
The Peterborough Community Farm is intended to give aspiring farmers and community groups access to land, shared infrastructure, education, mentorship, and other resources while providing opportunities to test and develop small-scale farm businesses.
Advertisement - content continues below
The initiative became a reality in spring 2026 through an agreement between Farms at Work and property owner Jason McIntosh of JMAC Auctions.
The property already has farming infrastructure and equipment, allowing the project to begin operating with a relatively modest initial investment while leaving room for expansion.
“Growing up in a farm community, it changes the way you think,” McIntosh said in a media release. “I’m lucky to now have a farm that we can share with other people in agriculture and the community, while also supporting the auction.”
Peterborough Community Farm pilot farmer Sara O. Shahsavari of Sheila’s Family Farm (with baby Zayid) and Jason McIntosh of JMAC Auctions, who owns the farm property at 1576 Matchett Line in Otonabee-South Monaghan, during Farms at Work’s official launch event for the community farm on October 3, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Farms at Work)
Peterborough County deputy warden and Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis attended the launch and presented a certificate of recognition from the county to Farms at Work for its efforts to improve access to farmland.
“The Peterborough Community Farm is such an exciting addition to our region,” Senis said.
“More than a piece of farmland, it represents a connection between our agricultural past and our agricultural future. It creates opportunities for new and aspiring farmers to gain experience, access resources, and develop the skills needed to build successful farm enterprises right here in Peterborough County.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Otonabee-South Monaghan mayor Joe Taylor also attended and spoke about the potential for future community partnerships through garden plots planned for the property.
While the community farm was officially launched on Saturday, food has already been grown at the site during the 2026 season.
Pilot farmer Sara O. Shahsavari of Sheila’s Family Farm has been developing her business there after beginning her farming experience with extensive home gardens.
Shahsavari, who is also a local musician, writer, visual artist, and multicultural community builder, has described Sheila’s Family Farm as drawing inspiration from her family’s agricultural and cultural roots and from themes of love, courage, resilience, and peace.
Guests at Saturday’s launch toured Sheila’s Family Farm and heard from Farms at Work staff and board members about the development of the larger community farm initiative.
While the Peterborough Community Farm was officially launched on October 3, 2026, food has already been produced at the site during the 2026 growing season. Pilot farmer Sara O. Shahsavari of Sheila’s Family Farm has been developing her business there after beginning her farming experience with extensive home gardens. Farms at Work is now preparing to expand participation through its new Pathways to Farming Program, with applications for the 2027 growing season to open soon. (Photo courtesy of Farms at Work)
The Peterborough Community Farm project is intended to address some of the most significant barriers facing people who want to enter farming, including the cost and availability of farmland, startup capital, access to infrastructure, practical experience, and mentorship.
Its origins date back to research Farms at Work began in 2018, including interviews with new farmers in east central Ontario and research into community farm models elsewhere in North America.
According to Farms at Work, every new farmer interviewed said a startup farm model would have been valuable when they were beginning their own farming careers.
Advertisement - content continues below
In 2025 and 2026, the organization developed a formal business case for the project with financial support from Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough County Economic Development.
The resulting model combines access to land and shared infrastructure with hands-on education, mentoring, and assistance with business and financial planning.
Farms at Work hired Andrea Hicks as its Community Farm Planner in April to lead the project’s next phase.
Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark with Farms at Work’s Community Farm Planner Andrea Hicks during the official launch of the Peterborough Community Farm in Otonabee-South Monaghan on October 3, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Farms at Work)
During Saturday’s launch event, Community Futures Peterborough board member Raymond Yip Cho spoke about the connections between farming, food security, rural economies, and maintaining a relationship with the land.
Later in the day, Peterborough County warden and Otonabee-South Monaghan deputy mayor Bonnie Clark toured the farm with Shahsavari.
“We are all concerned about food security, and this project creates opportunities for the next generation of farmers to produce food locally, which, as we know, has a lower carbon footprint, supports local economies, and tastes better,” Clark said.
Advertisement - content continues below
Farms at Work is now preparing to expand participation through its new Pathways to Farming Program, with applications for the 2027 growing season to open soon.
Approved participants in the program will receive access to land and shared infrastructure along with education, training, mentorship, and support developing viable farm businesses.
Applicants will need previous food-growing experience, with a preliminary business plan strongly encouraged.
With financial support from Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough County Economic Development, the Peterborough Community Farm is an initiative of Farms at Work, a registered charity based in east central Ontario that works to strengthen regional food systems, protect farmland, and promote farmland stewardship. (Photo courtesy of Farms at Work)
“We are excited to see the Community Farm move from years of research and planning into a place where farmers are actually growing food and building their businesses,” said Farms at Work board secretary Erika Inglis.
“The determination and resourcefulness of our board and staff, and the participating farmers themselves, will allow this project to grow into a thriving centre in the coming years, where the future of our food system will be strengthened and everyone in our community can find a place.”
Farms at Work will announce the 2027 Pathways to Farming intake through its website and newsletter at farmsatwork.ca.
Farms at Work is a registered charity based in east central Ontario that works to strengthen regional food systems, protect farmland, and promote farmland stewardship.
Guests gather in the Atrium at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough during the second annual Lakeside Gala on October 3, 2026, a fundraiser to support the museum's core programming and the care of its nationally significant collection of paddled watercraft. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
The Canadian Canoe Museum’s second annual Lakeside Gala has raised $154,000 to support the Peterborough museum’s collection, exhibitions, and programming.
Held Saturday evening (October 3) at the museum’s lakefront campus on the shores of Little Lake, the “Excellence in the Making” fundraiser brought together supporters, artists, makers, community members, and business leaders.
The $154,000 total came from ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, and auction proceeds, with the event generating another $62,000 in in-kind contributions.
Advertisement - content continues below
The result surpassed the $150,000 raised at the inaugural Lakeside Gala in 2025. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the museum’s core programming including workshops, school trips, camps, on-water experiences, and the Builders in Residence program, as well as the ongoing care of the museum’s nationally significant collection.
Janet McCue of Curve Lake First Nation opened this year’s gala with drumming and a welcome to the museum.
Guests then explored culinary stations featuring food from Cheeky Duck Vineyard, Chemong Lodge, Flying Chestnut Kitchen, Love You, Mean It, MIJA Bakeshop, and Silver Bean Cafe, with beverages from Little Miss Drinky Poo.
A dish from local restaurant Love You, Mean It is served during the second annual Lakeside Gala at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough on October 3, 2026, a fundraiser to support the museum’s core programming and the care of its nationally significant collection of paddled watercraft. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo and local musician JJ Thompson performed during the evening.
A major component of the fundraiser was an expanded live and silent auction featuring original artwork, paddling and tripping gear, dining packages, custom home decor, and outdoor experiences.
For the first time, bidding was conducted through an online platform, allowing guests to place and update bids on their own devices before and during the gala.
Advertisement - content continues below
Items available this year included a museum-branded Swift Prospector canoe, a 10-day guided canoe trip on the Great Bear River in the Northwest Territories, handcrafted outdoor gear, signed books, and original artwork.
A handmade Nuu-chah-nulth paddle donated by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation canoe carver Joe Martin was also among the offerings.
Martin and his daughter Gisele Martin are currently serving as Builders in Residence at the museum. Visiting from Tla-o-qui-aht Nation in British Columbia, they are demonstrating dugout canoe carving and speaking with visitors about the traditional practice during their residency, which continues through October 8 and again from October 15 to 20.
Guests toast to an evening of celebration at the second annual Lakeside Gala at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough on October 3, 2026, a fundraiser to support the museum’s core programming and the care of its nationally significant collection of paddled watercraft. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
The gala also launched a “Paddles Up” campaign in support of the museum’s backcountry canoe tripping program for youth.
The Lindsay Family Foundation provided six new tripping canoes and 12 paddles to begin building a dedicated fleet for the growing program. Gala guests then contributed enough money to purchase two more canoes, bringing the fleet to eight.
The philanthropic organization is led by prominent Canadian business executive Don Lindsay, the former president and CEO of Teck Resources Ltd., and his family.
“The Canadian Canoe Museum is an amazing place, and our family strongly believes in the great work they do,” Lindsay said.
“We’re delighted to support the Backcountry Canoe Tripping Program with six new canoes and help give young people the opportunity to experience the outdoors, build confidence, and create lasting memories.”
Advertisement - content continues below
This year’s “Excellence in the Making” theme was intended to showcase the craftsmanship behind both the museum’s collection and the work of contemporary artists, builders, chefs, and other makers.
Ahead of the gala, museum executive director Carolyn Hyslop told kawarthaNOW the fundraiser had been designed to reflect the museum’s values while celebrating the community, donors, and partners who helped bring its new home to life.
The museum opened its purpose-built facility at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in May 2024 following a decade of planning and more than two years of construction.
Guests browse items in the Collection Hall at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough during the second annual Lakeside Gala on October 3, 2026, a fundraiser to support the museum’s core programming and the care of its nationally significant collection of paddled watercraft. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Located on a five-acre property, the two-storey, 65,000-square-foot building houses the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft and provides space for exhibitions, education programs, on-water activities, and other events.
“It was a really special evening,” Hyslop said following this year’s gala. “There was so much generosity throughout the night. It was a great reflection of the people and organizations who have helped make the Museum what it is today.”
“It was wonderful to see so many people come together for an evening that celebrated the Museum and its place in this community.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Funds raised at the gala will support the care of the museum’s nationally significant collection along with exhibitions and educational and cultural programming.
Havelock Metal Co. and Emily Creek Woodworking Inc., both of which contributed to construction of the new museum, returned as presenting sponsors of the Lakeside Gala.
Other event sponsors included Lancer Electric, LLF Lawyers, Johnston Wealth Partners of RBC Dominion Securities, McInroy & Associates, Libro Credit Union, Part-Time CFO Services LLP, City Welding Works, GeoSolv Design Build, JaniKing – Peterborough – Denise and Keith Rye, JP Rowland, Kelson, LEA Consulting, Unity Design Studios, White Owl Group, Wilkinson & Company, Bobcaygeon Brewing, Chemong Lodge, kawarthaNOW, Porcelain & Vine, PrintHub, Rice Lake Hard Cider, Seven Events, and Windsor’s Dry Cleaning.
Participants in the 2025 Halloween in the Booro event in downtown Peterborough. The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is bringing the family-friendly event back for 2026 on Saturday, October 24 from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by a free screening of the 2015 horror comedy "Goosebumps" at Quaker Foods City Square. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
With Halloween approaching, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is bringing back Halloween in the Booro on Saturday, October 24, with a new addition extending the scary fun into the evening.
Running from 4 to 6 p.m., the free family-friendly event will feature trick-or-treating at more than 50 businesses throughout downtown Peterborough and East City, along with costumed characters, decorated storefronts, a family fun zone, and costume contests for kids, adults, and pets.
New this year, families can head to Quaker Foods City Square after trick-or-treating for a free outdoor screening of the 2015 family adventure comedy Goosebumps at 6:30 p.m. The screening is sponsored by Curate & Co., a new luxury home decor and lifestyle boutique at 386 Water Street.
Advertisement - content continues below
This will be the fifth consecutive year for Halloween in the Booro. Along with giving children a place to trick-or-treat before Halloween itself, the annual event is intended to introduce families to independent businesses in the downtown and encourage people to spend time in the core.
“Halloween in the Booro has grown into a real downtown tradition for local families, and we’re excited to keep building on it,” said Peterborough DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum in a media release.
“There’s something so special about seeing so many local businesses, families, and community partners all get involved. Adding a movie this year extends the celebration beyond trick-or-treating and gives families one more reason to make a night of it downtown.”
Participants in the 2025 Halloween in the Booro event in downtown Peterborough. The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is bringing the family-friendly event back for 2026 on Saturday, October 24 from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by a free screening of the 2015 horror comedy “Goosebumps” at Quaker Foods City Square. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Costumed characters will roam George Street and surrounding blocks during the afternoon, while the family fun zone will feature a Halloween-themed photo opportunity and costume contests.
World’s Finest Chocolate, one of the world’s largest suppliers of chocolate for fundraising, is also sponsoring this year’s event by providing Halloween treats to participating businesses.
“Chocolate has a special way of bringing people together,” said Jennifer King, the company’s director of Canadian sales. “We’re proud to support Halloween in the Booro and celebrate the local schools, teams, and community groups that use fundraising to make great things happen all year long.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Following the afternoon activities, the screening of Goosebumps will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer Street.
Based on R.L. Stine’s popular children’s horror book series, Goosebumps is a horror comedy starring Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine who, alongside his teenage daughter and their new neighbour, must save their hometown after all the monsters from the Goosebumps books magically escape from their original manuscripts and wreak havoc.
VIDEO: “Goosebumps” trailer
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the outdoor movie. Free parking will be available at the adjacent King Street Parkade. The screening will be cancelled if it rains.
Families can plan their trick-or-treating route using the official Halloween in the Booro map at theboro.ca/program/halloween/ or through The Boro on Instagram and Facebook. The map will identify participating businesses, accessible entrances, and family-friendly stops.
As well as fire and emergency response, Peterborough Fire Services provides public fire and safety education and fire prevention, investigation, and Fire Code enforcement. (Photo: Peterborough Fire Services)
An e-bike fire that spread to a home in Peterborough’s south end on Monday night (October 5) caused an estimated $500,000 in damage after the bike’s battery apparently exploded.
Shortly before 9 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services responded to a 911 call from a neighbour who reported an explosion at a home on McKellar Street at Survey Street, between Erskine Avenue and Monaghan Road.
Arriving firefighters found an e-bike leaning against the home engulfed in flames. The fire was burning a fence and the side of the home, with flames reaching into the attic.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control. All occupants were out of the home, and one was treated by emergency medical services at the scene.
Advertisement - content continues below
The fire comes amid growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires across Ontario, particularly those involving e-bikes and other electric mobility devices.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has warned that battery failures can produce intense fires that spread within seconds and release toxic smoke.
In Toronto, fire officials reported on September 21 that crews had responded to 100 lithium-ion battery fires so far in 2026 — a 43 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Those fires left one person dead and 14 others injured. The incidents include lithium-ion batteries in a range of devices, including e-bikes, e-scooters, and other rechargeable electronics.
Advertisement - content continues below
Another suspected e-bike battery fire in Scarborough sent a man to hospital early Tuesday morning (October 6), just hours after the Peterborough blaze.
According to CityNews, Toronto firefighters were called to a building near Victoria Park and Danforth avenues at around 2:45 a.m., where the fire was believed to have started in an e-bike battery at the rear of the building.
A month earlier, on September 6, two people were taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation after an e-bike battery caught fire in a laneway near St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street. Firefighters extinguished the flames before they spread into either neighbouring building, although smoke entered one of them.
An e-bike battery fire at a Scarborough high-rise on July 12 sent three people from neighbouring units to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“E-bike battery fires spread rapidly, produce toxic smoke, and pose serious risks to residents and firefighters,” Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop warned following that incident.
Advertisement - content continues below
The Peterborough fire also coincides with Fire Prevention Week, running October 4 to 10, which this year focuses on safe charging habits.
Toronto Fire Services says lithium-ion batteries are generally safe when used properly, but damaged, defective, or improperly charged batteries can present a serious fire risk. It advises residents to use only manufacturer-approved batteries and charging equipment, follow instructions for charging and storage, and never modify or tamper with batteries.
Devices should be charged on a hard, flat surface away from combustible materials and unplugged once fully charged. Fire officials also advise against charging devices while sleeping or away from home, and recommend replacing batteries or charging equipment that are damaged, swollen, leaking, or overheating.
encoreNOW for October 5, 2026 features (from left to right, top and bottom) The Traveling Milburys at Lindsay's FLATO Academy Theatre, The Last Waltz: A Musical Celebration of the Band at Peterborough's Showplace Performance Centre, "Blood Water Earth" at Peterborough's Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, The Mark Ferguson Quartet at Peterborough's Gordon Best Theatre, "Snoopy! The Musical" at Lindsay Little Theatre, and Pokey LaFarge at Peterborough's New Canadians Centre. (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 The Traveling Milburys at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre, the return of The Last Waltz tribute to The Band at Peterborough’s Showplace, Public Energy’s season opener of Blood Water Earth at Peterborough’s Market Hall, The Mark Ferguson Quartet at Peterborough’s Gordon Best Theatre, Lindsay Little Theatre’s staging of Snoopy! The Musical, and American singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge in concert at the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough.
The Traveling Milburys brings the music of the late 1980s supergroup to life
VIDEO: The Traveling Milburys
Have you ever found yourself at a live music show where you don’t know what to expect in terms of how good it will be … or won’t be.
In late November 2019, I found myself at Peterborough’s Market Hall waiting for The Traveling Milburys to take the stage. Outside of knowing the band would pay tribute to the music and talents of The Traveling Wilburys, I knew little. Close to seven years on, that performance remains one of my favourites since arriving in these parts.
The Traveling Wilburys was formed in 1988 by George Harrison as a one-off to record a bonus track with his close friends Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. When the group realized that song, “Handle with Care,” was far too good for a limited release, they decided to record a full album.
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released in October 1988 and, just two months later, Orbison passed away from a heart attack at the age of 52. While The Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album in 1990, mischievously called Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 to play a joke on fans, they never really recovered from Orbison’s death and soon went their separate ways.
Since The Traveling Wilburys famously refused all offers to tour, any time you get the chance to hear the music of the famed supergroup performed live is a good thing. The collective musicianship of The Traveling Milburys — featuring Jerry Boye as George Harrison, Gavan Rousseau as Roy Orbison, Gerry Parsons as Tom Petty, and John Cassano as Jeff Lynne — is off the charts, as are the performances by the individual members of the icons they are portraying.
On Friday (October 9), The Traveling Milburys will perform at Lindsay’s FLATO Academy Theatre. Expect to hear all the hit songs of the supergroup — “Handle with Care,” “End of the Line,” “Last Night,” and “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” quickly come to mind quickly — as well as classics recorded by each of the five members on their own. But the best part is, unlike myself all those years ago, you know now how good this will be because you just heard it from me.
There are tribute bands and then there are immersive experiences. The Traveling Milburys have a lock on the latter in terms of the sound, the look and the feel, and the sweet sound of their Rickenbacker, Gretsch, and Gibson guitars.
Capturing the magic that was The Last Waltz 50 years on
VIDEO: The Last Waltz: A Musical Celebration of the Band
Choices, choices, choices. On Friday (October 9), the same night The Traveling Milburys do their thing in Lindsay, another long established and widely revered tribute headlines at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Before sharing details of that, let me take you back to November 25, 1976 and San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. It was then and there that the Canadian-American group The Band — Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson — performed its final concert, joined by a number of first-rate musical guests, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Ronnie Hawkins, and more. The Last Waltz concert film, directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1978, is still hailed as one of the greatest concert documentaries ever made.
Fast forward to 2015 in Kitchener and the inaugural performance of The Last Waltz: A Musical Celebration of the Band. It was a huge success, with its all-star Canadian cast of award-winning blues and roots musicians, under the direction of Juno award-winning producer and musical director Lance Anderson, bringing musical history to life note by note.
In the mix then, as he remains, is Jerome Levon Avis, Helm’s godson who sings and plays drums very much in the style of his godfather. And close by is his dad, Peterborough’s Bill Avis, former road manager of The Band.
This show has entertained audiences at the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Beaches Jazz Festival, the Kitchener Blues Festival, the Ottawa City Folk Festival, Peterborough Musicfest, and the CNE Bandshell, and has consistently sold out theatres across Ontario. Now it’s back in Peterborough as the 50th anniversary of that magical 1976 night nears.
If you’re a fan of The Band’s iconic music, or simply appreciate stellar musical performance, you’ve got to take in The Last Waltz at least once before shuffling off.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert cost $55 and are available at www.showplace.org.
Advertisement - content continues below
Public Energy opens its 33rd season with work by renowned Indigenous dancer and choreographer Santee Smith
VIDEO: “Blood, Water, Earth” trailer
The fall season traditionally brings with it new season debuts for most local theatre and performance art presenters, and that’s the case once again.
On Wednesday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m., Public Energy Performing Arts will launch its 33rd season with Blood Water Earth at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
An elemental multimedia dance and music work by acclaimed Indigenous dancer and choreographer Santee Smith and her Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, it combines dance, music, and visual elements, including lighting design by Andy Moro, pottery by Steve T. Smith, and a score by the late Cris Derksen, with live vocal accompaniment by Binne Kwe Elijah.
The production brings together artists from Turtle Island and Aotearoa (New Zealand), with Kahnyen’kehàka artist Smith collaborating with Ngai Tahu projection designer Louise Potiki Bryant to centre Konkwehon:we and Mana Wahine perspectives.
Curve Lake First Nation musician Missy Knott will open the evening with a musical set.
Public Energy’s 2026-27 season, which sees kawarthaNOW return as a media sponsor, features a diverse lineup of contemporary dance, theatre, and interdisciplinary performance, bringing artists from Peterborough and beyond to local stages through next May. In total, there are six mainstage productions, with live music or musical guests incorporated into four of the shows.
Jazz is in the Gordon Best air via The Mark Ferguson Quartet
AUDIO: “Transformation” – Mark Ferguson (2026)
There isn’t a whole lot of jazz performed live in Peterborough, so when there is, that alone is worthy of our attention, — and when a musician who has performed with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett stops by, well, you had me at where and what time.
On Friday, October 16, Canadian jazz veteran Mark Ferguson will lead his quartet through its paces at the Gordon Best Theatre on Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough.
The Ottawa-based pianist, trombonist, composer, arranger, producer and music educator has a resumé that’s longer than both your arms.
Back in the 1980s, Ferguson performed alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment who headlined Imperial Room at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel — jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, and Engelbert Humperdink, to name but a few.
Recording-wise, he collaborated in the early 2000s with saxophonist Mike Tremblay for his first studio project. Two more albums followed before the January 2026 release of Transformation in January of this year, his first as a member of the artist roster at Quebec-based PSP Records.
Despite a busy schedule performing, arranging, and composing, Ferguson also made time to teach, most notably at Ottawa’s Carleton University where he directed the jazz ensemble as well as taught jazz theory and orchestration. In fact, his quartet members — Ben Di Millo on guitar, J.P. Lapensée on bass, and Jamie Holmes on drums and percussion — are all his former students.
This is a rare opportunity to catch a musician who’s been on top of his game for close to 50 years. And the Gordon Best is an ideally intimate setting to do so.
The Mark Ferguson Quartet will perform two 45-minute sets beginning at 7:30 p.m. The cover charge is $15 at the door (no advance tickets are available). Seating is general admission, so get there when doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the best seat selection.
Advertisement - content continues below
Lindsay Little Theatre has musical fun with Peanuts gang
Jayden Powell will perform as Woodstock and Avery Morton as Sally Brown in Lindsay Little Theatre’s production of “Snoopy! The Musical” from October 16 to 25. Directed by Teresa Smart, the show also features Carolyn MacLean as Lucy Van Pelt, Ethan Logan as Linus Van Pelt, Elora Powell as Peppermint Patty, Carlson Sager as Charlie Brown, and Joey Stewart as Snoopy. (Photos: Lindsay Little Theatre)
What’s not to love about the Peanuts gang?
Lindsay Little Theatre is banking on that as it prepares to stage Snoopy! The Musical this month at its 55 George Street East space in Lindsay.
Directed by Teresa Smart and based on the beloved Peanuts comic strip drawn by Charles Schulz, this production sparkles with wit and warmth as it depicts life as seen through the eyes of Schulz’s unforgettable characters: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, and all the rest.
First staged in 1975 with music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady, and a book by Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, and Michael Grace, Snoopy! The Musical was a sequel to the 1967 musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown that focuses more on the life of Charlie Brown’s famous dog.
Musical numbers abound, including “The World According to Snoopy,” “Just One Person,” “Poor Sweet Baby,” and “Don’t Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be.”
The cast features Jayden Powell as Woodstock, Carolyn MacLean as Lucy Van Pelt, Avery Morton as Sally Brown, Ethan Logan as Linus Van Pelt, Elora Powell as Peppermint Patty, Carlson Sager as Charlie Brown, and Joey Stewart as Snoopy.
This is a great opportunity to introduce the kids to the fictional characters that captivated the world when you were a kid yourself, all while enjoying a night of wholesome entertainment.
Curtain is 7 p.m. on October 16, 17, 23 and 24, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on October 18 and 25. Sponsored by Kinsmen Club of Lindsay, the show costs $30 (plus a service fee) with tickets available at www.lindsaylittletheatre.com.
Never heard of Pokey LaFarge? It’s time to right that wrong
VIDEO: “Rent Money” – Pokey LaFarge
OK, you got me — I had never heard of Pokey LaFarge until recently. With his coming our way for a concert in Wesley Hall at New Canadians Centre in Peterborough (the former St. James United Church), I moved to educate myself and, boy, was there a whole lot to take in.
Born Andrew Heissler in Bloomington, Illinois, he was gifted his first guitar and banjo at a young age by his grandfather, and come his early teens, discovered an appreciation for blues musicians.
In 2006, LaFarge independently released his first album, Marmalade, the first of 12 albums up to this year’s Travelin’ with Pokey LaFarge. Along the way, he has performed a mix of Americana, early jazz, ragtime, country blues, Western swing, vaudeville and Appalachian folk — kind of what you’d expect from a guy named Pokey.
His Peterborough show on Saturday, October 17, presented by the Ontario Festival of Small Halls, will see LaFarge brings his signature retro musical style and sharp storytelling skills to bear as he channels nostalgic sounds of the 1920s through the 1950s.
Tickets to LaFarge’s 7:30 pm performance cost $40 plus fees, and can be purchased at ontariosmallhalls.com.
If you can’t make it, there’s a second chance when LaFarge performs at the Norwood Town Hall on October 18. That’s also a 7:30 p.m. start. Tickets for that show are also available at the Ontario Festival of Small Halls website.
Advertisement - content continues below
Encore
It’s so great to see the downtown Hunter Street West space that was home to Jethro’s Bar + Stage remain a place where local musicians can do their thing before a wholly appreciative audience.
On September 4, Eldorado Music Bar and Social Pub officially opened its doors, with Diamond Dave and the Smoke Eaters and Ollie Mae taking to the stage. What has me excited, and many others too, is Al Black’s Sunday Blues Jam has a home again, with the next jam set for November 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. It’s a great time and a chance to catch young singers and musicians who are trending upwards.
If you haven’t been to Eldorado yet, check it out. If you have, keep going so we don’t have to report that yet another downtown live music venue is closing.
Renderings of Gidigaa Migizi College (top) and the new Otonabee College residence (bottom) at Trent University in Peterborough. The new buildings are expected to be open in fall 2029. (kawarthaNOW collage of renderings by Diamond Schmitt Architects)
The Ontario government is providing $100 million in repayable financing to help build two new student residences and academic spaces at Trent University in Peterborough.
Announced Monday (October 5), the investment through Building Ontario Fund is part of a $384 million financing package involving Trent University, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), and project developer Knightstone Capital Management.
Building Ontario Fund is an $8 billion independent Crown agency that partners with institutional investors and Indigenous communities to finance public infrastructure in Ontario in six priority areas: affordable/student housing, energy, transportation, long-term care, municipal and community infrastructure, and critical minerals.
Advertisement - content continues below
According to the province, the new residences at Trent University will accommodate 1,400 students and add approximately 134,000 square feet of academic and student space on the east bank of Trent’s Symons Campus.
“Our government is using innovative financing to unlock new investments and create new opportunities for projects that otherwise would not happen,” said finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy in a media release.
“By working with institutional and private-sector partners, we are helping Trent University expand its campus and create more housing options for students while strengthening the local economy and supporting long-term growth in Peterborough.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The announcement marks the first investment of Building Ontario Fund alongside a Canadian pension fund. The provincial investment will be repaid once the residences are occupied and generating revenue, with the repaid funds invested in Building Ontario Fund’s other priority infrastructure projects.
The funding will support the new Gidigaa Migizi College and a new residence for the existing Otonabee College, projects that Trent says will expand on-campus accommodation while helping ease pressure on Peterborough’s rental housing market.
Construction is expected to be completed in August 2029, according to the province. Trent’s updated project timeline lists a fall 2029 opening, a year later than the fall 2028 target reported when the university broke ground in June 2025.
Advertisement - content continues below
Gidigaa Migizi College will become Trent’s sixth college, joining Catharine Parr Traill, Champlain, Lady Eaton, Otonabee, and Peter Gzowski. The university’s colleges combine residential accommodation with academic, dining, and community spaces.
The new college is named for the late Curve Lake First Nation Elder and former chief Gidigaa Migizi (Douglas Williams), a Trent professor who died in July 2022. His name means “spotted eagle” in Anishinaabemowin.
Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Indigenous architectural firm Two Row Architects, the college incorporates Indigenous design principles developed through consultation with Trent’s Indigenous academic and cultural communities and Michi Saagiig First Nations. Plans include storytelling and smudging spaces, natural materials, and cultural symbols.
Advertisement - content continues below
Trent University’s website states that Gidigaa Migizi College will include accommodation for as many as 700 first-year students, alongside classrooms, faculty offices, and student spaces. Its crest, created by First Nations artist Jared Tait, features a spotted eagle and a pike representing Williams’ clan.
The new Otonabee residence is designed to nearly double that college’s existing residence capacity with at least 600 new beds.
Both developments form part of Trent’s housing strategy, approved by its board of governors in 2019.
Santee Smith performing in Kaha:wi Dance Theatre's "Blood Water Earth", which Public Energy Performing Arts is presenting for one night only on October 14, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Curve Lake First Nation singer-songwriter Missy Knott will perform a musical set to open the 7:30 p.m. show. (Photo: Erik Zennstrom)
For more than two decades, internationally recognized dancer and choreographer Santee Smith has helped create space for Indigenous stories on stages across Canada and around the world.
On Wednesday, October 14, Smith’s Kaha:wi Dance Theatre will present Blood Water Earth at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough to open Public Energy Performing Arts’ 2026-27 season, with Curve Lake First Nation singer-songwriter Missy Knott performing a musical set to open the 7:30 p.m. show.
A multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan, at Six Nations of the Grand River, Smith has built a career bringing Indigenous knowledge, identity, and perspectives into contemporary performance.
Advertisement - content continues below
Blood Water Earth combines dance, projected imagery, and live music in a work exploring renewal, ancestral knowledge, and the sacred feminine.
Drawing on the shared experiences of Indigenous women across continents, the performance evokes women as warriors, matriarchs, life-givers, and a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
The production’s international collaboration is central to that exploration. Smith worked with video and dance artist Louise Potiki Bryant of Ngai Tahu, the main Maori iwi (tribe) of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) of Aotearoa (New Zealand), to bring together imagery from Six Nations of the Grand River and Aotearoa.
VIDEO: “Blood, Water, Earth” trailer
Blood Water Earth premiered at the Onkwehon:we Festival at the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford in June 2018, with its New Zealand premiere at the Auckland Arts Festival at Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery the following March.
For the Peterborough presentation, live vocals by Binne Kwe Elijah will accompany the performance. The production also features music composed by Cris Derksen, lighting design by Andy Moro, and costume design by Adriana Fulop.
Blood Water Earth draws from Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s trilogy Re-Quickening, Blood Tides, and Skén:nen, which explores the awakening of the sacred feminine. Reworked into a solo performance, Blood Water Earth brings movement, music, and cinematic imagery together in a journey through ancestral, natural, and dream worlds.
Advertisement - content continues below
For Smith, creating and presenting her work has involved challenging assumptions about Indigenous dance performance.
“When we come on stage and do a show, it often looks nothing like people’s preconceived notions of what a traditional Indigenous dance looks like and the audience is sort of caught off guard — in a good way,” she said in an 2022 interview with TO Live.
“Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and collaborators are breaking down those Hollywood stereotypes and opening up and expanding what the range of Indigenous expression can be.”
A member of the Order of Canada, Santee Smith is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan, at Six Nations of the Grand River who has built a career bringing Indigenous knowledge, identity, and perspectives into contemporary performance. She founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre in 2005. (Photo via Kaha:wi Dance Theatre website)
Smith’s own path to dance began early in life. Before she was five years old, she broke both of her legs — one after she was hit by a vehicle, and the other in a cycling accident. She began dancing as a form of physical therapy and, at age 11, was accepted into Canada’s National Ballet School, where she trained for six years.
She later earned degrees in physical education and psychology from McMaster University and a master’s degree in dance from York University. Returning to dance as a choreographer in 1996, she spent six years developing her first production, Kaha:wi, a family creation story.
In 2005, Smith founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre to explore Indigenous and contemporary performance, develop international Indigenous collaborations, and provide training. Her work has since toured nationally and internationally, with commissions including choreography for the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, and North American Indigenous Games.
Advertisement - content continues below
A member of the Order of Canada, Smith also served for six years as McMaster University’s chancellor, concluding her time in the role in January 2026.
Her creative practice extends beyond the stage. Continuing her family’s pottery tradition, Smith recently recreated a vessel by her father, Steve Smith, for the replica Oval Office at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The original piece had been displayed in the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Peterborough audiences may remember Smith and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre from Public Energy’s 2019 presentation of The Mush Hole at Market Hall. That performance explored the devastating experiences of children forced to attend the Mohawk Institute residential school in Brantford.
VIDEO: “Happy in the Sun” – Missy Knott (2015)
Prior to Kaha:wi Dance Theatre taking to the Market Hall stage on October 14, Missy Knott of Curve Lake First Nation will entertain the audience with her guitar-driven pop-folk sound.
The award-winning singer-songwriter, media personality, and music executive has worked with Juno award-winning artist Crystal Shawanda and has opened for performers including Sass Jordan, Tomson Highway, and William Prince.
Her recordings include her debut album For No Reason At All…, the EP Runaway, and singles including “Our Song” and “My Sister’s Heart.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Blood Water Earth will be performed for one night only at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14 at the Market Hall, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
