Riverview Park and Zoo Mourns the Loss of Beloved Serval Ali

By Scott Arnold

A familiar face at the Riverview Park and Zoo has passed away, with staff and visitors saying goodbye to Ali, a serval cat who was just shy of her 23rd birthday.

Ali was a longtime resident of the Riverview Park and Zoo, arriving in Peterborough in 2010 and becoming a familiar face to zoo visitors and staff. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

Ali arrived at the zoo in 2010 after being donated by the Toronto Zoo, and quickly became a familiar and popular animal with her distinctive markings and personality.

Her time at the zoo also included an unexpected challenge. In 2020, Ali broke her right front leg in a fall and ultimately lost the leg. She adapted to life on three legs and continued to thrive, remaining a favourite among zoo staff and visitors.

Ali spent more than 15 years at the Riverview Park and Zoo, where her distinctive markings and personality made her a favourite among staff and visitors. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

For much of her time at Riverview Park and Zoo, Ali shared her space with two other servals, Friday and Kabala. Kabala arrived at the zoo in 2001 and passed away in 2018, while Friday arrived in 2004 and remained at Riverview until her passing in 2023. After both of them passed away, Ali spent her final years alongside Torty, the zoo's African spurred tortoise.

Ali was a longtime resident of the Riverview Park and Zoo, arriving in Peterborough in 2010 and becoming a familiar face to zoo visitors and staff. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

Servals typically live about 10 to 12 years in the wild, while those in captivity can live beyond 20 years. Ali was just shy of turning 23 when she passed away.

With Ali's passing, the Riverview Park and Zoo is now without a serval, bringing the chapter of these distinctive wild cats at the zoo to a close, at least for now.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Folk Festival Gets Underway Today With Four Days of Free Music and Community Fun

By Scott Arnold

The 37th Annual Peterborough Folk Festival officially gets underway today, bringing four days of music, culture and community to Peterborough with a packed lineup and plenty to see and do.

The Peterborough Folk Festival returns to Peterborough this weekend with four days of live music, family activities and community programming (photo courtesy of peterborough folk festival, via Michael hurcomb)

The wait is over. After months of anticipation, the Peterborough Folk Festival begins Thursday, August 13th, kicking off four days of performances and programming at downtown venues and Nicholls Oval Park. While the festival officially starts today, the main outdoor festival at Nicholls Oval Park doesn’t get underway until Saturday, August 15th. Today’s opening-night concert takes place indoors at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Canada’s longest-running free-admission folk festival is now in its 37th year, continuing a tradition that began as a community music gathering in 1989. This year’s festival brings more than 30 artists and bands to Peterborough, including 12 local performers.

Tonight’s Kick-Off

The festival’s opening night takes place at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, with acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Yates joined by Tristan Konkle, the Peterborough Folk Festival’s 2026 Emerging Artist of the Year.

Doors open at 6pm, with the concert beginning at 7pm. The show is all ages and licensed, and unlike the main outdoor festival, tickets are required. The festival’s current information lists tickets at $35 including fees, with a limited number of $25 tickets available.

For anyone looking to get their Folk Festival weekend started tonight, it’s a chance to see two Canadian singer-songwriters in an indoor setting before the festival moves into its larger outdoor format.

Downtown Takes Over Friday

The music continues Friday, August 14th, with the festival bringing performances into downtown Peterborough.

A free outdoor concert is scheduled for 6pm to 9pm at Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street, featuring Western Canadian Music Awards Songwriter of the Year Slow Leaves and Peterborough’s Ollie Mae, a 17-year-old singer-songwriter.

The evening continues at The Pig’s Ear Tavern starting at 9pm, with The Lucky Ones and special guest J.J. Swinn. There is no cover charge, although donations are encouraged.

Then It’s Off to Nicholls Oval

Saturday and Sunday bring the festival’s biggest outdoor component to Nicholls Oval Park, with free admission and performances spread across multiple stages.

Saturday’s lineup includes SHAD, Aysanabee, Begonia, Georgia Harmer, Dean Johnson, The Free Label, Field Guide, Slow Leaves, Moondoggy, The Friendly Frog Freak Show, The Kents, The Watched Pots, BURS and Songs of Scratch Garden, among others.

Sunday closes out the festival with Bahamas, Terra Lightfoot, Kazdoura, The Weber Brothers, The Young Novelists, Tennyson King, Hunt The Hare, Joanna Bronson, //NEWBERRY// and Glen Caradus and the Camp Kawartha Chorus Sing Songs of Nature.

Artists including Melissa Payne, Kelly McMichael, The Pairs, The Lucky Ones, Ollie Mae, Lauren Dillen, Cale Crowe and Tristan Konkle will also perform throughout the weekend.

There’s Much More Than Music

The outdoor festival is designed to be more than a series of concerts.

Families can spend time in the Children’s Village, which runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm, with crafts, games, performances, workshops and other hands-on activities.

The festival also features an Artisan Village, local food vendors and community programming, giving people plenty of reasons to wander around Nicholls Oval between performances.

There are also four festival stages to explore, including the expanded Miskin Law Main Stage, the Rotary Stage, Generation Solar Stage and the new TD Stage, which will feature collaborative performances and workshops.

Admission to the outdoor festival on Saturday and Sunday is free, although donations are encouraged. The festival suggests a $25 donation per person, which helps offset the cost of putting on the event and is eligible for a tax receipt.

Getting to Nicholls Oval

If you’re planning to attend this weekend, organizers are encouraging people to leave the car at home when possible.

Nicholls Oval Park is located along the Rotary Greenway Trail, making it accessible by walking or cycling. Free valet bicycle parking will also be available beside the Rotary Trail on Saturday and Sunday.

A free festival shuttle will also operate Saturday and Sunday between King Street Parkade, the Miskin Law Community Complex and Nicholls Oval Park. Free parking is available at the King Street Parkade on weekends, while parking is also available at the Miskin Law Community Complex.

On-site parking at Nicholls Oval is limited and is expected to fill early. Organizers are encouraging people who need to drive to consider carpooling and allow plenty of time for parking.

A Weekend Built Around Discovery

One of the things that has helped keep the Peterborough Folk Festival going for nearly four decades is the opportunity to hear something you may not have expected.

Alongside recognizable Canadian names, the festival puts a significant focus on local performers and emerging artists, giving audiences a chance to discover new music while enjoying familiar favourites.

And with free admission to the main outdoor festival, people don’t need to commit to an entire day or a particular artist. You can drop by, listen for a while, wander through the Artisan Village, grab something to eat, check out the Children’s Village or simply find a spot at Nicholls Oval and take in the music.

With its mix of nationally recognized performers, local talent, family programming and four stages, the Peterborough Folk Festival continues to offer a little bit of everything while staying true to the community spirit that has been part of the event since it began in 1989.

As the 37th annual festival gets underway, that combination remains at the heart of what makes the weekend such a longstanding part of Peterborough’s summer.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Riverview Park & Zoo Inviting Residents to Safely View Partial Solar Eclipse

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough residents will have a chance to safely watch a partial solar eclipse at Riverview Park & Zoo this afternoon, with specialized viewing equipment provided by the Peterborough Astronomical Association.

A look toward the sky at Riverview Park & Zoo, where residents can safely view Wednesday afternoon’s partial solar eclipse through specialized equipment provided by the Peterborough Astronomical Association.

The eclipse begins at 12:53pm on Wednesday, August 12th, with maximum coverage expected at 1:40pm. The Moon will then gradually move away from the Sun, with the eclipse ending at 2:27pm.

Residents are invited to join the Peterborough Astronomical Association (PAA) at Riverview Park & Zoo anytime after noon to take in the event.

The viewing will take place at the Gazebo, south of the fountain, at 1300 Water Street. Members of the PAA will have specialized equipment available so visitors can safely view the eclipse.

The event offers a chance to experience the partial eclipse without having to travel far, right here in Peterborough.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Riverview Park and Zoo's Miniature Train Goes Off the Rails From Vandalism; Trademark Bell Stolen

Riverview Park and Zoo’s miniature train was vandalized and had its historic bell stolen announced on Saturday.

Last year, $19,940 was raised from a 308-piece, 11 x 17-inch puzzle of the current 1860 locomotive replica fundraising campaign towards a new train. Photo courtesy of Rivervew Park & Zoo.

Zoo staff discovered the damage on Friday morning during their spring maintenance but is not confirmed if the incident was on two separate occasions or one. No suspects were located during the incident according to the Peterborough Police.

“Some days are more challenging than others. Unfortunately, vandals have broken into the train tunnel, damaged our venerable train locomotive & stolen its signature brass bell,” said Jim Moloney, zoo manager and curator. “If you have info that may lead to the return of the bell, please contact us or Peterborough Police.”

The train was scheduled to run for Victoria Day weekend (May 21-22) according to the Zoo’s Facebook page before discovering the vandalism.

“In addition to the cost of repair/replacement, thoughtless acts like this really have a negative impact on our team of dedicated and passionate staff,” said Maloney on Facebook.

The train‘s parts are no longer manufactured and require an engineer to create according to Paul Hartung, zoo board member in a prior interview.

The miniature train ride is an 1860 locomotive replica. Located under sabre jet, the train track is over two kilometres and the ride is roughly ten minutes long according to the zoo’s website.

The train was built in 1974, costs two dollars to ride and is free for children under two.

The country’s only accredited free-admission zoo has over 55 acres of the zoo on the Otonabee River with over 25 exhibits and 40 animal species.

The zoo’s goal is to still have the train operable for Victoria Day weekend.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Jigsaw Puzzles of Peterborough Zoo's Miniature Train Sold To Fundraise New Locomotive

The Riverview Park & Zoo is selling jigsaw puzzles of its iconic James Hamilton miniature train in a fundraising effort for a new locomotive that launched on Friday.

The train travels on a bridge through a forest of artificial and natural attractions but does not run through the zoo. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Roughly 750 copies of the 308-piece puzzle have been made to help fund the required $650,000 — along with other fundraisers — for a new train projected for 2023 according to Paul Hartung, zoo board member.

The puzzle is sold for $20 at the zoo’s gift shop and stores such as Brant Basics, Griffins Greenhouses, Fork in the Road Country Market and Ennismore Pharmacy. Other stores could soon follow suit.

Calyptic Creations, a commercial printer based out of Calgary created the puzzle where Hartung knew through the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The train needs to be replaced since its parts are no longer manufactured and getting new parts would be costly says Hartung.

“We would have to hire an engineer to make a new part for us and it could cost us roughly $200-$300 an hour,” he explained.

The train opens during the summer season from daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Photo Courtesy of Paul Hartung.

Hartung researched the campaign idea in December last year. The zoo’s advisory committee agreed to the idea and began planning the fundraising process.

The train was built in 1974 that costs two dollars to ride and is free for children under two.

The miniature train ride is an 1860 locomotive replica. Located under sabre jet, the train track is over two kilometres and the ride is roughly ten minutes long according to the zoo’s website.

“This is a way that can probably help us prepare for a replacement of the train and hopefully the new train will last us another 50 years and another three or four generations,” reflected Hartung. “The fun of it is to go for the ride.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

This Facebook Clip Of Baby Meerkats Playing At Riverview Park & Zoo Is Going Viral

A short clip of the baby meerkats at the Riverview Zoo playing in the animal health clinic is going viral, with nearly 15,000 views since being uploaded earlier this week to the zoo's Facebook page—even Time.com picked it up.

Watch the adorable clip below...

Meerkat fun.

Here's a short clip of the baby meerkats playing in the animal health clinic.

Posted by Riverview Park & Zoo on Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com

Chalk Talk: Kyla Callan

PtboCanada's Chalk Talk is a snapshot of people's favourite thing about Peterborough. Watch for us downtown as we would like to feature your favourite thing too! Kyla Callan's favourite thing is "I like to go to the zoo."

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Here's Funny Video Of A Emu Shadowing A Kid At The Peterborough Zoo

[YouTube]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Watch The Otters Play At The Peterborough Zoo (Because Otters Like To Play Too)

[YouTube]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.