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Welcome to Peterborough & the Kawarthas

The City of Peterborough and Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada.

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Welcome! It is expected to be mist with a high of 4°C today.

Get in the Holiday Spirit: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Style

We’ve curated the jolliest list of holiday events and Christmas markets (including a comprehensive list of Santa Claus parades!) to get you into that festive spirit.

  • Festive Fun in Peterborough & the Kawarthas
    Profile photo of a child in a santa hat with sun glasses looks up at Santa's arrival at the Lakefield Santa Claus parade.

    Festive Fun in Peterborough & the Kawarthas

    We’ve curated the jolliest list of holiday events and Christmas markets (including a comprehensive list of Santa Claus parades!) to get you into that festive spirit. Santa Claus Parades Meet…

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Holiday Gift Guide 2023.

Light blue graphic with text and snowflakes.

Give the Gift of

Unforgettable Memories

This Holiday Season

Explore unique and locally crafted products.

Immerse yourself in the local wonders

Experience a captivating live performance

Cozy up by the fireplace.

We’ve curated some of the greatest gift ideas in our Holiday Gift Guide.

Local Experiences

Maple Tastings
Three people dressed for winter, each holding up a shot glass of maple syrup
Experience, Culinary, Outdoors

Maple Tastings

Make this a date to remember, immerse yourself in the sweetest love story nature has to offer. Join us and let the romance of maple syrup steal your heart!

Harvest Dinner
Looking towards Rolling Grape building with sign saying "Rolling Grape"
Experience, Culinary, Outdoors

Harvest Dinner

Guests will be greeted with a glass of wine before being seated for dinner on our picturesque patio, overlooking our vineyard and the rolling hills. The incredibly talented Deanna Earle will be joining us to perform a serenade throughout the evening.

Farmer for a Morning
Baby animal being bottle fed
Experience, Agritourism, Educational

Farmer for a Morning

Have you ever wondered just what it’s like to be a farmer? Harley Farms is now offering “Farmer for a Morning” experiences!

Guided Nature Tour
Red pig laying in green grass with yellow flowers in the background
Experience, Educational, Outdoors

Guided Nature Tour

This guided nature walk allows you to see what “farming in harmony with nature” looks like from nature’s perspective!

Natural farming tour
Close up of small goat face
Experience, Agritourism, Outdoors

Natural farming tour

There is never a dull moment at Harley Farms. Come and see for yourself! Now offering tours for those who would like a further peak into the behind the scenes and to see how happy and healthy the animals are in their natural environments.

Farm to Forest Getaway
Bunkie in the woods with small front porch with a white rocking chair and smoker beside a fire pit
Authentic Adventure
Experience, Agritourism, Culinary, Outdoors

Farm to Forest Getaway

Refresh. Reconnect. Reset.
Surround yourself with trees, farm fields and the river while staying in our loft cabin nestled in the forest. Enjoy slow cooking your meals over the fire as you take in the sights and sounds of Mother Nature.

Party Bike tour downtown Ptbo
People laugh while riding a large pedal-powered vehicle
Experience, Outdoors

Party Bike tour downtown Ptbo

“Tally-ho!” It’s the call you will make on the streets of downtown Peterborough this summer, as you board the light green 15-passenger bike with other riders smiling, laughing, and pedalling to their next destination.

Dare to Play? The Great Escape Getaway
Two men in black suits running across a cross walk
Authentic Adventure
Experience, Adventure, Outdoors

Dare to Play? The Great Escape Getaway

In The Secret Case Files, players are immersed in a realistic, unique escape game that takes place over the course of a weekend. The Secret Case Files escape weekend getaway presents The Missing Coin in Summer 2023 – details coming soon.

Mitigwaaki Workshops
woman in brown jacket standing outside in winter, in front of wooden building with a ramp at the entrance
Authentic Adventure
Experience, Educational, Indigenous, Outdoors

Mitigwaaki Workshops

A Behind the scenes view of the sacred medicines, and a hands on memory you’ll never forget. Take home more than a souvenir – take home a new skill, a new understanding, and a piece of your experience

The Secret Case Files Escape Getaways
Table with a black rotary telephone, papers and a magnifying glass
Experience, Adventure, Outdoors

The Secret Case Files Escape Getaways

The Escape Maze presents The Secret Case Files, escape weekend getaways. It’s a game but everything feels like you are living in a real-life detective story.

Equine Inspired Wellness Experiences
A person stands beside a horse
Experience, Agritourism

Equine Inspired Wellness Experiences

All workshops invite you to discover the joy of meeting a gentle heard of horses and donkeys and set the stage for your transformational journey of healing, personal growth and renewal.

Rare Escape: Outdoor Culinary Experiences
a group of people eating food around a fire in the woods
Authentic Adventure
Experience, Culinary, Outdoors

Rare Escape: Outdoor Culinary Experiences

Are you a local foodie who is on the search for a unique dining experience? Pack your hiking gear and head out on a road trip to a special GPS destination where Chef Tyler Scott will guide you on an outdoor culinary experience you’ll never forget!

PTBO Picnic
Friends sitting on a picnic blanket "cheersing" with beverages
Authentic Adventure
Experience, Culinary, Outdoors

PTBO Picnic

This hotel package has all of the ingredients you’ll need for a food lovers getaway in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. Each package includes an overnight stay, a picnic backpack (filled with picnic essentials), two $25 gift certificates to spend at local shops, and a list of recommended picnic locations. Gather your favourite people, forage a feast, and select the perfect location for an experience that is uniquely your own.

Meet the Herd at The Mane Intent
A person pets the head of a small horse
Authentic Adventure
Experience

Meet the Herd at The Mane Intent

Get back to basics and explore an inspiring connection to nature, people and yourself. Have you long admired horses from a far, and the way that these majestic creatures have a history that is intrinsically-tied to their bond to humans? Here is your chance to tap into the connection first-hand.

It’s all about the bees
People stand in a line with honey
Experience, Agritourism

It’s all about the bees

Join a fun and interactive tour of an apiary and experience a slice of being a beekeeper. Learn about honeybee biology, lifecycles, colony jobs, honey production, pollination, challenges with an apiary and more. 

Unique workshops at the Canadian Canoe Museum
old canoes on display
Experience, Arts

Unique workshops at the Canadian Canoe Museum

There’s truly something for everyone! The Canadian Canoe Museum offers a wide variety of workshops to suit all tastes.

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel
Child creating pottery
Experience, Arts

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel

Whether you’re a beginner just getting started with pottery or a serious hobbyist looking to refine their skills, the English Potter has a class suited to your individual needs.

Hang out with the zoo critters
Children stand in a line
Experience, Outdoors

Hang out with the zoo critters

The Park and Zoo is an educational facility that encourages exploration and connection to nature in an outdoor environment. Get a chance to ask a zookeeper your wildest curious questions.

Lavender workshops
Lavender
Experience, Agritourism, Arts

Lavender workshops

Enhance your senses with the fragrance of lavender. Try your hand crafting a lavender wreath or wand. Or enjoy a relaxing session of yoga, reflexology or aromatherapy in our lavender fields.

Sightseeing flights
Aerotrikes in the sky
Experience, Outdoors

Sightseeing flights

In a one hour flight, you will enjoy the beauty of the Kawarthas as never seen before. We can cruise over the Otonabee river at 2,000 feet, and fly the north shore of Rice Lake.

Artisan workshops
A person works on a loom
Experience, Arts

Artisan workshops

Preserving heritage artisans’ skills and enhancing the community of Peterborough & the Kawarthas’ by providing education and skills training to locals and visitors alike!

Come kiss a snout
A pig standing in hay
Experience, Educational, Outdoors

Come kiss a snout

At The Pearly Acre there are 13 residents. All of them have their own unique story as to how they came to be at the Pearly Acre. Come meet: Bullet, Piper, Ivy, Dexter, Cash, Rosie, Quincy, Georgie, Hugh, Opal, Phoenix, Charlotte & Fern!

Walk with alpacas
Family walking an alpaca
Experience, Agritourism, Outdoors

Walk with alpacas

With patience, kindness and presence you will gain the trust of your alpaca and be ready to set off on the guided walk in the company of your new friend, with many opportunities for photos along the way.

O'de Piitaanemaan Pledge logo

We respectfully acknowledge that we are located on the Treaty20 Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, known collectively as the Williams Treaty First Nations which include Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.  

We respectfully acknowledge that the Williams Treaty First Nations are stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come. 

We also recognize that building strong communities depends on strong Indigenous communities.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism was awarded the Sustainable DMO award for the pledge at the 2022 Ontario Tourism Resiliency Awards, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Ontario Tourism Resiliency Awards Winner Logo

Upcoming events in Peterborough & the Kawarthas

  • Focus Fair Market
    Event

    Focus Fair Market

    December 10 at 10:00 am

    171 King St
    Peterborough, ON K9J 2R8
  • Meraki Christmas Market
    wreath with the words 'meraki christmas market'
    Event

    Meraki Christmas Market

    December 10 at 10:00 am

    404 County Rd 4
    Douro, ON K9J 6Y1
  • A Rolling Grape Christmas
    Looking towards Rolling Grape building with sign saying "Rolling Grape"
    Event

    A Rolling Grape Christmas

    December 10 at 12:00 pm

    260 County Rd 2
    Bailieboro, Ontario K0L 1B0 Canada

Getting to Peterborough & the Kawarthas

  • Toronto, ON
    137km/85mi (1hr 40mins drive)
  • Ottawa, ON
    271km/168mi (3hrs 16mins drive)
  • Kingston, ON
    180km/112mi (2hrs 10mins drive)
  • Niagara Falls, ON
    263km/163mi (2hr 58mins drive)
  • Hamilton, ON
    203km/126mi (2hr 21mins drive)
  • Barrie, ON
    157km/98mi (2hr 6mins drive)
  • London, ON
    316km/196mi (3hr 30mins drive)
  • Rochester, NY
    438km/272mi (6hr 11mins drive)
  • Buffalo, NY
    294km/183mi (3hr 56mins drive)
Proximity map of Peterborough & the Kawarthas