Be Part of the Energy: Festival Season All Year Long in Peterborough

There’s something special about festival season in Peterborough—it lasts all year.

From winter’s cozy creativity to summer’s lakefront concerts, every season brings a reason to celebrate. Whether you’re here for the weekend or planning your next getaway, these signature events are your invitation to join the rhythm of the city.

Winter Warm-Ups

Hogmanay (January 1, New Year's Day)

Start the year with a Scottish flair at Hutchison House Museum. This festive and traditional Scottish New Year's celebration is complete with bagpipes, traditional Scottish fare (like haggis, oatcakes, and Athol Brose - a whiskey and oatmeal sipper).

Location: Hutchison House Museum, 270 Brock Street

Did you know... Hutchison House is the historic home of Peterborough's very first doctor and was built by the community. Sir Sandford Fleming, an iconic Peterborough personality who played a role in surveying the community, and also is known as the innovator behind the concept of standard time. 

ReFrame Film Festival (Last weekend of January)

Start the year with stories that inspire. This social justice-focused documentary film festival brings global issues to local screens, with in-person screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and community events throughout downtown Peterborough.

Location: various theatres and other stops in downtown Peterborough

Peterborough Snofest (Family Day weekend)

An annual community celebration of the winter season. Happenings for this event pop up across the community and include public skating, pancakes, arts events and interactive family events.

Location: Various locations throughout the City.

St. Patrick's Day Parade (Sunday before St. Patrick's Day)

Peterborough is a community with deep Irish roots. Each year, on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day (March 17) local Irish families, along with community businesses, bands, organizations and others, join together for a festive parade and celebration that departs from City Hall on George Street heading south. There are lots of post-parade pub shenanigans to join in following the parade.

Location: George Street in Downtown Peterborough

Spring Celebrations

Peterborough Mac and Cheese Festival (April)

Who can throw down the best Mac and Cheese in Peterborough’s most central Boro? Help us settle this age old question once and for all. For the month of April, restaurants in downtown Peterborough will be fixing up their own Mac + Cheese and we need your help to determine whose Mac will reign supreme.

Location: Downtown Peterborough; Grand Finale in Quaker Foods City Square 

Greenwing Fishing Derby (April)

An annual fishing derby, open to all ages, with prizes for kids, takes place at the foot of the Peterborough Lift Lock.

Location: Peterborough Lift Lock, Ashburnham Drive

Summer Vibes

Kawartha Craft Beer Festival (first weekend of June)

Live music, great eats, and some of the region's favourites craft beverage producers come to the shores of Little Lake as a sweet little precursor to the summer days ahead.

Location: Del Crary Park

Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (third weekend of June)

Connecting Indigenous artists from many nations with all people from the Nogojiwanong community and beyond. NIFF hosts uncensored, land-based, Indigenous performance, including comedy, storytelling, drama, dance, burlesque and music, with more to come.

Location: Peterborough Theatre Guild, Rogers Street

Learn more about Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival

Peterborough Musicfest (Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and August)

For over 35 years, Musicfest has brought big-name talent and emerging artists to the shores of Little Lake. With free concerts twice a week at Del Crary Park, it’s a summer tradition and a dreamy way to spend a summer evening. Over the years, acts that have graced the stage include City & Colour (solo), Crash Test Dummies, Carly Rae Jepseon, Big Wreck, Tegan And Sara, Our Lady Peace, Tom Cochrane, The Reklaws, Kiefer Sutherland, Walk off the Earth, Tyler Shaw, Randy Bachman, and Chad Brownlee.

Location: Del Crary Park

Lock & Paddle (mid July)

Enjoy an iconic Peterborough attraction (the Peterborough Lift Lock) in a quintessentially Peterborough way (by canoe). This annual event sees hundreds of paddlers, canoes, and kayaks congregate in the community to ascend the world's highest hydraulic lift lock.

Location: Peterborough Lift Lock, Ashburnham Drive

Fall Highlights

Peterborough Pride Week (third week of September)

There is something spectacular and colourful that happens in our community each September. The vibrancy of artists and artisan tours, students returning to the community for another academic year, and of course, Pride festivities throughout the City.

Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour 

Head of the Trent Regatta

Halloween in The Boo-ro

Holiday Happenings

Peterborough Santa Claus Parade

In From the Cold