ReFrame Film’s 2026 Festival Launches Friday

This year’s ReFrame Film Festival opens on Jan. 30 with two concurrent screenings at Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

the nest, screening jan.30 at market hall. photo courtesy of reframe film festival.

The launch marks the beginning of ReFrame’s weekend-long in-person program of screenings and ancillary programming, followed by a Canada-wide virtual program running Feb. 3 to 8.

Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St N.)

Friday, Jan. 30 at 4:45 p.m.

Echoes in Steel (short, 13 min., also available in the virtual program)
Ocean Seen from the Heart (feature, 97 min., also available in the virtual program)

Echoes in Steel by Rob Viscardis centres on artist Garrett Gilbart as he adapts his sculpture practice following the closure of a long-favoured scrapyard. The screening is followed by a Q&A with Viscardis and Gilbart. The presentation continues with the beautiful and urgent feature Ocean Seen from the Heart by Iolande Cadrin-Rossignol and Marie-Dominique Michaud, featuring astrophysicist Hubert Reeves.

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St.)

Friday, Jan. 30 at 4:45 p.m.

The Nest (feature, 89 min., also available in the virtual program)

The Nest follows writer Julietta Singh as she returns to her childhood home and uncovers generations of forgotten matriarchs and political rebels. The film unfolds as an innovative and spellbinding reckoning with legacy, memories and silenced voices. The screening is followed by a Q&A with co-director Chase Joynt and NFB Executive Producer Chanda Chevannes.

The festival launch on Jan. 30 marks the beginning of ReFrame’s in-person program, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, with screenings and ancillary programming taking place across downtown Peterborough.

Following the in-person program, ReFrame’s virtual program begins from Feb. 3 to 8, offering audiences across Canada on-demand access to more than half of the films in the 2026 lineup. Select virtual screenings are accompanied by Q&A’s and further ancillary programming.

Tickets are available online.

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PolarFest Returns To Selwyn Township January 30 To February 1

Selwyn Township is gearing up for another winter celebration as PolarFest returns for a weekend of outdoor fun, community spirit and seasonal traditions Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

photo courtesy of selwyn township.

PolarFest kicks off on Jan. 30 with the opening ceremony and fireworks taking place at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth at 6:20 p.m. Following the fireworks, the Guns and Hoses Charity Hockey Game at the Ennismore Community Centre will start at 7:30 p.m., supporting the Bridgenorth and Lakefield Food Banks.

The Horse drawn Sleighrides at the Ennismore Community Centre, offered for the first time in 2020, will make its return this year. This PolarFest experience invites families to enjoy a winter ride on Jan. 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On Saturday, visitors can also explore ice carvings in Lakefield’s Cenotaph Park and Bridgenorth’s Heritage Park. To help residents move easily between experiences, a free PolarFest shuttle bus will operate throughout the day on Jan. 31.

The weekend will wrap up on Feb. 1 with the Frosty 5K Run and the BEL Rotary Polar Plunge, featuring this year’s retro TV-themed costumes.

A full schedule of events and additional details can be found on the PolarFest website.

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Peterborough Musicfest Announces Concert Dates For Its 39th Season

Peterborough Musicfest has announced the dates for its 39th season as a summer of free live music returns to Del Crary Park from June 27 to Aug. 19.

file photo.

As Canada’s longest-running free admission music festival, Peterborough Musicfest has become a  summer tradition that welcomes audiences of all ages and showcases a mix of Canadian and international artists every Wednesday and Saturday nights.

“Musicfest has always been about bringing people together,” said Executive Director of Peterborough Musicfest Tracey Randall. “There’s something incredibly special about sharing live music by the lake, it creates connection, joy and lasting memories. We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back to Del Crary Park for another summer of free concerts and community celebration.”

Planning for the 2026 season is underway, with artist bookings, partnerships and community collaborations taking shape behind the scenes. Lineup announcements and season highlights are said to roll out in the months ahead.

Returning this season is the 50/50 Raffle Draw, Invest In Musicfest donation drive, food vending and pre-show activities. 

For updates and more information, visit the website.

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Peterborough Folk Festival Kicks Off 37th Year With Celebration Concert and Emerging Artist Award Submissions

The Peterborough Folk Festival (PFF) has opened its Emerging Artist Award submissions, kicking off its 37th year with a celebration concert featuring previous award recipients at Market Hall.

Previous award RECIPIENTS (from left to right): Jeanne Truax (2025), VANCAMP (2024) and Irish Millie (2023). photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.

The PFF Emerging Artist Award strives to invest in upcoming local talent in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. The award has helped launch the careers of Canadian names such as Serena Ryder, Kelly McMichael, Benj Rowland, Irish Millie, Calvin Bakelaar (VANCAMP) and Jeanne Truax.

The Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA) supplements the award with the $1,000 PMBA Lynn Morris Memorial Award, and the Electric Alchemy Recording Studio provides the artist with recording and production of a single.

Submissions for PFF’s Emerging Artist Award are being accepted online until Feb. 20.

Celebrating the impact of the PFF Emerging Artist Program, PFF is hosting a concert Jan. 23 at Market Hall. The event will feature performances from recent award recipients Irish Millie (2023 recipient), VANCAMP (2024 recipient) and Jeanne Truax (2025 recipient).

Tickets are available on the Market Hall website.

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ReFrame Film Festival Announces 2026 Film Lineup

ReFrame Film Festival has released its 2026 film lineup, featuring more than 40 new documentary films which aim to confront inequities and celebrate resilience.

Photo Courtesy of Reframe Film Festival.

Each year, ReFrame’s lineup is organized into curated thematic collections. This year’s collections are Art Beat, A Thousand Words, Flora & Fauna, Sharp Angles, Women Everywhere and Windows In, each reflecting the range of perspectives that shape the festival.

The following titles are notable examples from the 2026 lineup and serve as highlights from across the program:

All photos courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival.

All photos courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival.

All photos courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival.

No More Silent Battles (Collection: Windows In)

Through the experiences of four families navigating dementia care, this documentary centres resilience, compassion and the importance of community support. Led by Peterborough-based geriatrician Dr. Jenny Ingram, the film offers a grounded look at caring for people living with dementia at home and the conditions that make it possible.

Holloway (Collection: Women Everywhere)

Six women return to the now-abandoned Holloway Prison to take part in a women’s circle. Sharing some of the most intimate experiences of their lives, they each unravel what led them to prison, building an eye-opening portrait of failing systems and trauma while discovering their extraordinary capacity to heal through sisterhood.

Future Council (Collection: Flora & Fauna)

Millions of children around the world are frustrated by the dire lack of action to protect the planet and their future. Until now, their only avenue to express these concerns has been protesting on the streets. Director Damon Gameau (2040, That Sugar Film) invites eight children on an epic adventure across Europe in a school bus powered by biofuel.

At All Kosts (Collection: Art Beat)

In Haiti, in the time of cholera and street gangs, artists have used the performing arts as a mode of resistance. Born after the Duvalier dictatorship, these young people have lived through 19 presidents, 36 prime ministers, eight coups d’état, three foreign military interventions and two major earthquakes.

ReFrame Film Festival takes place in person Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, followed by a virtual program streaming nationwide Feb. 3 to 8. Just over half of the full lineup will be available online.

In-person, virtual and hybrid passes are available on the website.

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ReFrame Film Festival Announces Dates and Pass Sales for 2026 Documentaries

Peterborough’s ReFrame Film Festival has announced its 2026 show dates, running from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, with passes now available for purchase.

Dave Mackison’s “The Engine Inside” was one of the festival’s feature films from the 2024. Photo courtersy of the Reframe Festival.

ReFrame’s 2026 In-Person Program will have a lineup of over 40 new documentary films at the Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The Virtual Program will run with more than half of the films from the in-person lineup from Feb. 3 to Feb. 8, available on-demand Canada-wide.

The programming is enriched by filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, workshops, panels, performances and exhibits across the community throughout the ten days of the festival.

Festival passes can be purchased online or in person at Watson & Lou, located at 383 Water St., downtown Peterborough.

Hybrid Pass - $145

Provides full access to all in-person screenings and events (Jan. 30 to Feb. 1) plus complete access to the Virtual Program (Feb. 3 to 8).

In-Person Pass - $120

Provides access to all screenings, performances, workshops, panels, and Q&As in the In-Person Program from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

Watch-With-A-Friend Virtual Pass - $75

Provides access to the Virtual Program for those enjoying online films together from Feb. 3 to 8.

Single Virtual Pass - $60

Provides access for one viewer to the Virtual Program, available on-demand across Canada from Feb. 3 to 8.

For more information, visit the ReFrame Film Festival website.

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Peterborough Poutine Feast Is Back At Morrow Park For 2025 In Four-Day Event

The combination of fries, gravy and cheese curds (and other toppings) is back at Morrow Park as Peterborough Poutine Feast returns in a four-day event from Thursday to Sunday.

Andrew McMullen of Fat Les’s Chip Stand (left); Bailey McGlennon, staff (middle) and David Conway, emcee (right) showcase old and new poutines this year’s Peterborough Poutine Feast, such as the Lobster Poutine, Mexican Street Corn Poutine and the classic. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The free-admission event, hosted by Poutine Feast Ontario, runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Four poutine vendors with roughly 30 different poutines are at this year’s event. Food trucks selling poutines include Fat Les’s Chip Stand, Groovy Gravy, The Tragically Chip Wagon and new ship truck Dude Bro Potato Co.

In addition to classic-style poutines, popular favourites are back including maple pulled pork, General Tao Chicken and lobster poutine. A few new flavours are in this year’s event such as the Big Mack (inspired by the McDonald’s signature burger), Mexican Street Corn and Pizza Pocket poutine.

Mrs. Mini Donuts, Trin’s Treats and Miss Ellie’s Lemonade were other food and drink vendors at the event. New this year is the Boba Bar, which serves six varieties of the popular Taiwanese drink, bubble tea.

Lobster poutine (left), classic poutine (top) and Mexican Street Corn poutine (right) are some old and new poutines featured at this year's event. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Mexican Street Corn Poutine by Dude Bro Potato Co.

Lobster Poutine by Fat Les's Chip Stand.

Big Mack Poutine by Dude Bro Potato Co.

Two drinks showcase by the Boba Bar food truck, a new addition to this year's Poutine Feast.

Merchandise dealers are also at Poutine Feast such as clothing, jewellery, raffles, temporary glitter tattoos and more.

Peterborough was one of the original locations of Poutine Feast’s tour before the tour expanded. The travelling food group is hitting 23 cities with Peterborough as the third leg of its tour. Petawawa and Renfew were the first two stops, respectively.

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Third-Annual I ❤︎ Beer and Taco Festival Hits Peterborough Memorial Centre

The fun food combination is coming back to town as the the third-annual I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival has returned to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on April 12.

photo courtesy of the peterborough memorial centre.

The festival will contain beer, cider and spirit sampling, games, dancing and tacos. New this year for the night sessions is a 90's Dance Party.

Tokens are $2.50 and can be purchased on-site or online. They are used for food and drinks. The event is cash-only, with three ATMs on site.

All general admission tickets include an official 10-ounce I ❤︎ BEER sampling cup. Session one will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and session two will take place from 5 to 10 p.m.

Tickets start at just $9.99 for Session one and $14.99 for Session two (plus HST and Ticket Fees) and slowly make their way up to our regular ticket price of $14.99/$19.99 (plus HST and Ticket Fees)

The Peterborough Memorial Centre notes that this is a 19+ event and to drink responsibly.

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ReFrame Film Festival Launches Passes For 2025 Season

The ReFrame Film Festival has launched pass sales for the 2025 midwinter festival.

Photo courtesy of the Reframe Film Festival.

This year’s edition boasts a lineup of the year’s best documentary films from diverse and renowned filmmakers worldwide.

Three different levels of passes are available for the acclaimed local film festival.

• In-Person Pass: $110. Provides access to all in-person screenings, taking place between Jan 24 - 26.

• Virtual Pass: $50. Provides access to all virtual screenings available from Jan 27 - Feb 2.

• Hybrid Pass: $135. Provides complete access to both the In-Person and Virtual Programs.

Passes can be purchased on the ReFrame website.

After the success of last year’s hybrid festival, ReFrame 2025 is offering two programs:

• In-Person Program: Jan. 24 – 26. Screening approximately 50 newly-released and ground-breaking documentary films. Venues: 2 centrally-located venues in Nogojiwanong / Peterborough: Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

• Virtual Program: Jan. 27 – Feb. 2. Just over half of the films in ReFrame’s 2025 lineup will be available to view online (due to licensing restrictions), on-demand and Canada-wide.

ReFrame will host a special in-person Opening Night event on Jan. 23, to be ticketed separately. Individual films will be available on a pay-what-you-can basis in January.

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Peterborough Poutine Feast Returns to Morrow Park For With Four Days of French Fry Fun

With over 30 poutines to choose from, the Peterborough Poutine Feast is back and underway at Morrow Park in a four-day event from Thursday to Sunday.

David Conway, Poutine Feast emcee (left) and Bailey McGlennon (right) featuring a poutine from each vendor at Peterborough Poutine Feast. Some options included a lobster poutine with hollandaise, a smokin’ BBQ Brisket Poutine and General Tso’s Poutine as part of 30 different kinds spanning four vendors. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event has free admission. It runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Four poutine vendors are at this year’s event such as Smokin’ Carnivore, Fat Les’s Chip Stand, Groovy Gravy and The Tragically Chip Wagon.

Mrs. Mini Donuts, Trin’s Treats and Heavenly Dreams were other food vendors at the event. Mini donuts, cotton candy, ice cream and other sweets were available for purchase.

Smokin' BBQ Brisket Poutine from Smokin' Carnivore. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Lobster Poutine (left) and a Classic Poutine from Fat Les's Chip Stand.

Maple BBQ Pulled Pork Poutine (left) and Butter Chicken Poutine (right) from Groovy Gravy

General Tso's Chicken Poutine from Tragically Chip Wagon.

Merchandise dealers are also at Poutine Feast such as clothing, jewellery, face painting, temporary tattoos and Bad Ass Den from Fenelon Falls were present.

Peterborough was one of the original locations of Poutine Feast’s tour before the tour expanded. The travelling food group is hitting over 20 cities with Peterborough as the third leg of its tour.

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