Must-See Winter Culture & Heritage Stops in Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Whether you’re an art admirer, heritage hunter, or culture connoisseur, you’re sure to find incredible stops in Peterborough & the Kawarthas.

Art Galleries & Studios

The Kawartha Potters’ Guild is a not-for-profit, founded in 1993 to promote the art and craft of ceramics in the community and to provide a forum for local potters to share their experiences and knowledge of clay. This knowledge is passed on through guest speaker presentations, member’s show and tell, informative newsletter, workshops, exhibitions, a library that features both books and videos and an annual juried sale. The KPG offers visitors a pottery shop, public and private classes for all ages, and special holiday events and sales.

Culturally Significant Stops

Whetung Ojibwa Centre offers a spectacular 10,000 sq ft of Anishinaabe arts & culture including a museum and store featuring fine art, jewelry, moccasins, leather work, crafts, sculptures and much more from Curve Lake First Nation and other Indigenous communities across Canada.

Heritage & Historic Sites

Opened in 1904, with a lift of 19.8 metres, this is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world and the first of two built in North America, both on the Trent-Severn Waterway. When completed in 1904, it was the highest hydraulic lift lock ever built, with a vertical lift of nearly 20 metres (65 feet) and was reputed to be the largest unreinforced concrete structure in the world. The lift lock continues to function as part of the Trent–Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada under the management of Parks Canada.

Interested in cruising the Trent Severn Waterway and riding up the Lift Lock? Book a Liftlock Cruise here!

Did you know that you can Skate Under the Liftlock? Click here for the status of skating on the canal.

Museums & Historical Societies

The Canadian Canoe Museum is a unique national heritage centre that explores the canoe’s enduring significance to the peoples of Canada, through an exceptional collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. We’re an engaging, family-friendly museum with more than 100 canoes and kayaks on display, and an additional 500 paddled watercraft in holding. Visitors will enjoy interactive, hands-on galleries, a scavenger hunt, model canoe building and puppet theatre for children. Through inclusive, memorable and engaging exhibits and programs we share the art, culture, heritage and spirit of paddled watercraft with our communities.

Theatre & the Performing Arts

Located in a 19th century clocktower in the heart of the downtown Peterborough, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre Inc. is a not for profit charitable organization which operates the Market Hall as a busy, vital cultural centre, multi-functional space that hosts a wide variety of performing arts groups, a series of youth presentations, community fundraising events and educational programmes.

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre has played an indispensable role as host to the region’s community-based and avant-garde performing arts activities, hosting a wide variety of national and international performers. It is unique in Peterborough and the region in its steadfast support of artists, and in its commitment to engaging young people in the arts, through opportunities to create work and by exposing young people to high quality, curriculum linked theatre, dance and music. Market Hall is wheelchair accessible and provides a hearing assist system.

Winter Historic Walking Tours

Millbrook & Cavan Historical Society, 5 King St., Millbrook
705-932-3130
Visit the Website

The Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society is committed to preserving the stories and the artifacts, manuscripts and photographs that illustrate the history of Millbrook, Cavan and the surrounding area in south central Ontario (Canada) for present and future generations. It also seeks to inspire interest in the value of local history by keeping the stories alive.

Please visit our Visitor Centre located at 270 George Street North in downtown Peterborough to pick up a brochure and map for this walking tour.