Shop local this holiday season. Whether you choose to head downtown, mosey around in East City, or do some shopping at Lansdowne Place – you will find prime shopping experiences all around town.

Once again this year, the Downtown Peterborough Holiday Shopping Passport is back. And you can earn a stamp for every $10 you spend at participating businesses, and be entered to win great prizes. Two exciting new elements for Holiday 2025: You can collect stamps at  Bonus Stamp Nights on select Fridays (November 28, December 5, December 12, and December 19).

Need inspiration to get started? We’ve pulled together a list of gift ideas based on interest for everyone on your list (and maybe you can pick up a little something for yourself too!). Christmas markets your thing? Our friends at Kawarthas Northumberland have pulled together a list of festive markets from across the region.

Gifts For Foodies

Make it fresh and make it exciting! Book a Mexican cooking experience with an introduction to traditional flavours with La Hacienda.

• • La Hacienda, 188 Hunter Street West, Peterborough

Create a sippable gift to savour with hand-crafted spirits from Black’s Distillery or Persian Empire. For the craft beer lover on your list, pick up some local brews from 100 Acre Brewing Company, Kawartha Lakes Brewery, or Bobcaygeon Brewing Co.

• Black’s Distillery, 99 Hunter Street East, Peterborough
• Persian Empire, 636 Queensway Court, Peterborough
• 100 Acre Brewing Company, 390 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
• Bobcaygeon Brewing Co., 4-649 The Parkway, Peterborough
• Kawartha Lakes Brewing, 300 Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Sweet tooth? Couture Candy, The Chocolate Rabbit, and The UK Shoppe are excellent places to stock up on chocolates and confectionaries.

• Couture Candy, 386 George Street North, Peterborough
• The Chocolate Rabbit, 749 Erskine Avenue, Peterborough
• The UK Shoppe, 91 George Street North, Peterborough

Find all of your favourite foodie basket fillers (and more) at ONE Fine Foods or Chasing the Cheese

• ONE Fine Foods, 800 Erskine Avenue, Peterborough
• Chasing the Cheese, 330 Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Of course, if you’re looking to give someone the gift of an excellent dining experience to enjoy into the new year, The Boro Gift Card is a great option for venturing out to favourites both old and new throughout Downtown and East City.

Gifts For the Arts & Culture Lovers

Tickets to live music and other performances at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Showplace Performance Centre, Peterborough Memorial Centre make a great gift to enjoy together. Some shows on the horizon early in 2026:

• Julian Taylor and Logan Staats: Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Market Hall
• Terra Lightfoot: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Market Hall
• The Offspring: SUPERCHARGED Worldwide in ’26 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• Royal Wood + Fortunate Ones: Sunday, April 26, 2026 at Market Hall
• The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight at the Peterborough Memorial Centre: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
• New Stages Theatre productions has shows throughout early 2026.
• The Sheepdogs, Saturday, March 21, 2026 at The Venue

Support Peterborough Musicfest – Canada’s longest-running free summer concert series, by picking up the 2025 Musicfest Diner’s Book. For just $30, you can “buy one entrée and get the second half price” (and other offers) at 80 local restaurants. Available on the Peterborough Musicfest website or at Lansdowne Place customer service.

Tickets to Reframe Film Festival. This annual documentary film festival takes place from January 30 to February 1 in downtown Peterborough, and widely-celebrated event in the Nogojiwanong / Peterborough arts and culture community. With a focus on social justice, human rights, and environmental responsibility.

Local gift shops offer an incredible and fun selection of local wares, some spots worth considering include, Watson + Lou, and gift shops at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, The Canadian Canoe Museum, and Peterborough Museum and Archives.

• Watson + Lou, 383 Water Street Peterborough
• Ritual Apothecary, 196 Charlotte Street, Peterborough
• Art Gallery of Peterborough, 250 Crescent Street, Peterborough
• The Canadian Canoe Museum Store, 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
• Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter Street East, Peterborough

Get hands-on! Gift artisans workshops at The Canadian Canoe Museum or classes at the Art School of Peterborough.

• The Canadian Canoe Museum Store, 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
• Art School of Peterborough, 174A Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Gift ideas for local music collectors – including the latest albums and vintage vinyls - are available at Blue Streak Records.

• Blue Streak Records, 394 George Street North, Peterborough

Gifts For the Trend Setter

Looking for thrifted, upcycled or vintage clothes? Head downtown to The Statement House and The Neighbourhood Vintage to pick up something that uniquely fits your sense of style.

• Statement House, 378 Water Street, Peterborough
• The Neighbourhood Vintage, 391 Water Street, Peterborough

Want carefully curated trendy apparel, accessories and shoes? John Roberts Clothiers has an excellent selection of men and women’s Clothing. Providence is a one-stop-shop for fashionable men on your list. Flavour Fashion has great locally-inspired ‘fits and an excellent sneaker selection. SOS is a destination for holiday-ready looks and other great clothing and accessory gifts, while Hi Ho Silver is a great spot for unique, handcrafted jewelry and other accessories.

• John Roberts Clothiers, 321 George Street North, Peterborough
• Providence, 131 Hunter Street West, Peterborough
• Flavour Fashion, 383 George Street North, Peterborough
• SOS Save Our Soles, 384 George Street North, Peterborough
• Hi Ho Silver, 392 George Street North, Peterborough

Lansdowne Place offers great options for shoppers with different gift ideas all under one roof, with more than 100 retailers to choose from.

• Lansdowne Place, 645 Lansdowne Street, Peterborough

Gifts for Sports Fans

Hockey fan on your list? Give them access to the cheering section at a Peterborough Petes Game or OHL Top Prospect Games with tickets.

• Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne Street, Peterborough

CANCAST Fishing Show is back and bigger than ever on March 29, 2026. Shopping for your favourite angler? Plan a day enjoying their speakers and gearing up for the next season of fishing in our neighbouring Kawarthas Cottage Country.

• Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne Street, Peterborough

Wild Rock Outfitters is your source for incredible gifts for the outdoor enthusiast on your list – everything from paddling, cycling, winter sports, fashion and more!

• Wild Rock Outfitters, 169 Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Shopping for a super fan? Rawscoe's Sport Collectibles is your source for autographed memorabilia, jerseys, collectibles, sports cards and more.

• Rawscoe's Sport Collectivles, 182-1/2 Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Gifts for the Kiddos

There’s something a bit magical about spending some nostalgic time together. At Boardwalk Board Game Lounge, you’ll find ways to unplug and find connection with an incredible selection of games

• Boardwalk Board Game Lounge, 261 George Street North, Peterborough

Fun for kids of all ages abounds at The Toy Shop. This downtown mainstay has over 40,000 toys, games and puzzles in their inventory.

• The Toy Shop, 180 Charlotte Street, Peterborough

Mastermind Toys located on Lansdowne Street has a large selection of fun and educational toys and books.

• Mastermind Toys, 995 Lansdowne Street West, Peterborough

Gifts for the Literature Lover

East City is home to a sweet little treasure trove for book lovers. Take Cover Books is a great community hub with team that are generous with their time and expertise – plus, they have an online Reading Club and in-shop film club. You can also pop across to Intrigue Books – they specialize in romance books, but carry other fun for bibliophiles too.

• Take Cover Books, 59 Hunter Street East, Peterborough
• Intrigue Books and Things, 68 Hunter Street East, Peterborough

Looking for something that is tricky to track down. Pop into downtown Peterborough’s used book shops to find collectible and other fun reads.

• By The Books, 384 Water Street, Peterborough
• Mark Jokinen Books, 271 George Street North, Peterborough
• Knotanew Books, 239 George Street North, Peterborough