The Two-Day Great Canadian Cheese Festival Comes to Peterborough This June

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival (GCCF) of artisan cheese and Canadian food culture is coming to Peterborough June 13 and 14.

Photo courtesy of the great canadian cheese festival.

Relaunched last year, the festival established itself as a favoured gathering for cheesemakers, food artisans and culinary enthusiasts. Many vendors sold out on the first day, underscoring the strong demand for high‑quality, small‑batch Canadian cheese and artisan foods and beverages.

“The response in our first year was overwhelming,” says Festival organizer Patricia McDermott. “Guests were hungry for discovery, and our makers delivered. We listened, we learned and we’re thrilled to expand the experience even further in 2026.”

This year’s festival promises a lineup of returning favourites and newly added vendors, offering guests the opportunity to sample, shop and connect directly with the makers. General Admission includes access to all vendors, unlimited sampling and the chance to explore a curated marketplace of cheesemakers, bakers, chocolatiers, cideries, wineries and specialty food artisans.

"We are excited to welcome the Great Canadian Cheese Festival, its organizers and festival goers, to Peterborough this year,” shared City Councilors and Community Services co-chairs Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “It’s a great fit for our City - adding one more reason to celebrate local food, restaurants and farmers' markets. It also gives the City an opportunity to highlight Ontario products, small businesses, and celebrate the way that food brings people together.”

For guests seeking a deeper sensory experience, GCCF will feature its signature Tutored Tastings, hosted by some of the most acclaimed experts in the dairy industry. These guided sessions explore the art of pairing exceptional Canadian cheeses with classic wines, ciders and other complimentary beverages.

The two day event spans from June 13 to 14 at the Morrow Building (151 Lansdowne St. W.)

Admission and Tutored Tasting tickets will be available for purchase online starting March 5.

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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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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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First-Ever Peterborough Caesar Fest Launches July 13

A contest of cocktail and culinary prowess begins in Peterborough this week with the launch of the first annual Peterborough Caesar Fest starting July 13.

Terry Guiel (left) and Julia Caes-her (right) showing off their Caesar creations. photo courtesy of the peterborough dbia.

Eleven restaurants, pubs and cafes are featuring their own unique and savoury homage to the classic Canadian cocktail, and will all be vying for glory in this spicy competition.

From July 13 to the 31, a variety of Caesar cocktails and Caesar-inspired dishes will be featured on local menus throughout the downtown just in time for summer patio season. During Caesar Fest, participating restaurants will seek to please the masses and gain votes to claim the title of Caesar Fest victor. Festival goers will vote online for their favourite ‘Caesar’ and at the end of July, only one will reign supreme. 

With a variety of versions available, foodies and cocktail lovers alike will be able to explore a world of innovative caesar-inspired menu exclusives. The Caesar Map will help participants scout out their favourite spots for sips and snacks over the course of the Caesar Fest program.

The winning restaurant will receive a hand-crafted Caesar Fest trophy and the adoration of their patrons and competitors.

“Caesar Fest is a really fun and new way to bring the continuous, multi-site food fest model into the summer patio season”, says Shivaan Burke, programs and engagement coordinator for the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “Involving numerous businesses from across the downtown delivers benefits to multiple neighbourhoods at the same time, all while giving patrons the chance to explore some unexpected creations based on a Canadian classic. Downtown revellers can spice things up by making this a cocktail crawl and feel good about getting home safely thanks to our partnership with Y-Drive. We hope that Caesar Fest will give folks the opportunity to discover some new downtown favourites and enjoy the summer on some great patios.”

The Peterborough DBIA has also contracted local performance artist Julia Caes-Her to animate the program. They will be downtown Peterborough promoting Caesar Fest, toasting the competition and partaking of the spoils. 

For more information on how to participate in the first annual Peterborough Caesar Fest visit the website.

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Ennismore Shamrock Festival’s Truck and Tractor Pull Returns July 23

After a 4-year hiatus the Annual Truck & Tractor Pull is returning to the Ennismore Shamrock Festival on Sunday, July 23.

file photo.

The Truck & Tractor Pull will take place at the Robert E. Young Recreation Complex (553 Ennis Rd.) and kicks off at noon.

Admission is $10 per person and children 12 years of age and under are free. This is a licensed event and food vendors will be available trackside.

For those interested in pulling, weigh-in and registration runs from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and you must supply your own hitch.

Classes are listed below:

Local Classes:

Local Vintage Tractor 4,500lb

Local Vintage Tractor 5,500lb

Local Vintage Tractor 6,500lb

Local Vintage Tractor 9,000lb

Local Gas Truck 6,500lb

Local Diesel Truck 8,500lb

Local Highway Tractor

Demo Pull

Sanctioned OTTPA Classes:

Single Engine Modified Tractors 6,100lb

Hot Stock 4x4 Trucks 5,600lb

Vintage Tractors 5,750lb

Modified Tractors 8,000lb

“We are very excited to welcome back the Truck & Tractor Pull to the Ennismore Shamrock Festival once again. With both local classes and OTTPA sanctioned classes, there is something for everyone,” says Londa Junkin, chair of the Ennismore Shamrock Festival Committee. “We wouldn’t be able to pull off this event without the help of our volunteers and sponsors. We are so grateful for their continued support.”

Check out the website for a schedule of events, sponsorship, vendor and volunteer information and more.

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The Borderless Music & Arts Festival Is Back at The Gordon Best Theatre

The Borderless Music & Arts Festival 2023 is set to feature a line-up that celebrates local artists & cultural diversity through soulful music, poetry, dance and community at the Gordon Best Theatre starting June 23.

photo courtesy of The Borderless Music & Arts Festival.

Since 2016, the Borderless Music & Arts Festival has been a multidisciplinary arts showcase that centres women, BIPOC, intersectional identities, multiculturalism, and inclusive community-building with a mosaic of music, dance, visual art, drag, poetry, comedy, circus and film. For over 6 years, Borderless artists have brought an amazing wealth of diversity, culture, collaboration, innovation and excitement to the City.

Borderless Festival 2023 Begins

Friday, June 23:

Poetry by Robyn Pierson

Dance performance & workshop by Mintu Maria James

Music by:

The Colton Sisters

Will Ward

Harbhajunkie

Shahrazi

Featuring a pop-up booth by Indigenously Infused.

Saturday, June 24:

OMBIIGIZI

Singing Wild Rice Girl (Missy Knott)

Will Ward

Danny Taro

photo courtesy of The Borderless Music & Arts Festival.

Tickets available at the door and through borderlesshearts.ca. For more information, check out the website.

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The Ennismore Shamrock Festival & Truck and Tractor Pull is Back Starting July 21 This Summer

The Ennismore Shamrock Festival is returning to the Robert E. Young Recreation Complex from July 21 to 23 in Ennismore.

photo courtesy of the ennismore shamrock festival.

Friday, July 21:

The Ennismore Shamrock Festival starts off with an age of majority dance featuring a DJ and music from Melissa Payne at the Quarry Golf Club in Ennismore. The show begins at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in advance or for $15 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at:

• Selwyn Township Municipal Office (1310 Centre Line, Selwyn)

• The Quarry Golf Club (447 Tara Road, Ennismore)

• Sullivan's General Store (476 Ennis Road, Ennismore)

• Jesse's Tap & Grill (583 Robinson Road, Ennismore)

Saturday, July 22:

Saturday is a Free Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with many free children's activities including bouncy castles, petting zoo, Beavertails, snow cones and more. Enjoy an all-day BBQ, local vendors and community information booths.

Sunday, July 23:

The Annual Truck & Tractor Pulls will be held Sunday, July 22nd beginning at 12

Noon. Admission is $10 per person, children 12 years of age and under are FREE.

Food vendor and a licensed refreshment tent will be available trackside. Anyone interested in pulling can check out the website to view the classes and registration times.

Attendees can check out the Shamrock Craft Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday only. This indoor craft show features 100+ vendors. Admission is $2 per person and children 12 years of age and under are free, with all proceeds going to the Shamrock Festival.

All Weekend Long:

The annual Garage Sale and Street Curling hosted by the Ennismore Curling Club (555 Ennis Road, Ennismore) will take place all weekend on Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information on this upcoming festival, visit the website.

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Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival Announces 2023 Music Line-Up

The Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival returns riverside on Saturday, July 8 in Isabel Morris Park in Lakefield.

photo courtesy of The Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival, facebook.

The festival is set to begin at 11 a.m. with dancing and grooving finishing up at 10 p.m. in Isabel Morris Park at 20 Concession Street, Lakefield. Admission is $10 per person with tickets available at the gates (cash only.)

The 2023 music lineup includes:

Ron Marenger Big Band - 11 a.m.

Paul Novotny - 12:50 p.m.

Caity Gyorgy - 2:40 p.m.

Red Hot Ramble - 4:30 p.m.

Lakefield Jazz Septet - 6:20 p.m.

Pat Temple & The HiLo’s - 8:10 p.m.

Lakefield’s Jazz, Art & Craft Festival invites you, your friends and family to enjoy a day of jazz music, local food, beverage vendors (including Publican House Brewery) and colourful art works for sale by artisans and crafters.

Visit the website for sponsorship, vendor, volunteer information and more.

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Photos: Opa! Greek Festival Booms After Three-Year Hiatus With Dance and Traditional Cuisine

Pork or chicken souvlaki, gyros, Greek salad, fries, pita and rice were the savoury food options available at the 2023 Greek Festival. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Over 2,000 people came and went at the return of the Greek Festival from a three-year hiatus, held at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Sunday. Traditional Greek favourite meals such as souvlaki, gyros, baklava and Greek salad were served at the event. Dancing, a kids’ fun zone and live entertainment were the amenities offered during the festival.

Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival to Rock Out with The Johnnys June 25

The third annual Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) presents well-known Ontario rock band, The Johnnys on June 25 in the Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space at Trent University.

a performance from last year’s NIFF event. Photo courtesy of the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, Facebook.

Founded by spouses Veronica Johnny (lead vocals/ manager/ producer/ writer) and Dave Johnny (drums/producer/writer) the band is known for delivering rowdy, high-energy, humour-filled performances. They’ve played across Canada, been featured on TV and film and shared stages with such luminaries as Geordie Johnson, Bif Naked, Stevie Salas, Bruce Cockburn, Keith Secola & Crystal Shawanda. Veronica’s Cree heritage is reflected in the band’s lyric content, with indigenous influences on topics such as the environment, social justice and political change.

Wrapping up the 2023 Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival is this one night only, all ages welcome, rock show featuring the band. For a sample of their music, visit the link.

“Rock bands are not a traditional Fringe act, but NIFF is not a traditional Fringe, so when Veronica Johnny approached us about applying for a one-night-only slot, we said sure. What a great way to close the festival,” said NIFF general manager Lee Bolton.

As for all other NIFF shows, tickets for The Johnnys are only $12 with all sales going directly to the artist. They are available online now or by cash only at the door depending on availability.

The performance will take place in the Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space at Trent University (East Bank) at 9 p.m. on the 25th. Free parking is available in Lot X.

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