Peterborough Blogs
Shop Downtown Peterborough For Black Friday
/Bring your Holiday Shopping Passport downtown this Black Friday (November 29th) for great deals and a chance to win $3,000 in prizes.
Look for the Black Friday posters and balloons when you shop downtown at 100 participating downtown businesses, including fashion, furniture, restaurants, salons, music, toys, collectibles, sports and more.
Left to right: Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the DBIA; Julie Morris, DBIA Marketing Committee member; Gail Martin, owner of John Roberts Clothiers; John Martin, owner of John Roberts Clothiers
Starting Black Friday, parking downtown is free for two hours thanks to the City of Peterborough Parking Division.
“Park for free when you shop in downtown Peterborough on Black Friday for some great deals and use your Holiday Shopping Passport for a chance to win some money,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “Downtown is your destination for local shopping.”
Visit downtownptbo.ca for more details and a full list of participating Black Friday and Holiday Shopping Passport locations.
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Get Your Holiday Shopping Passport For Chance To Win Up To $3,000 In Downtown Money
/There are nearly 150 places downtown this holiday season where you can shop with your Holiday Shopping Passport and collect stamps for your chance to win big.
Bring your passport downtown when you shop, dine, and pamper yourself. Get your passport stamped when you buy tickets at the box office at Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. Collect a free stamp when you use the Peterborough Public Library or get a complimentary one when you drop by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitor Centre at 270 George Street North (limit one stamp per person).
Left to right: Wendy Gillis, DBIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Terry Guiel and Malissa Almond hold up a giant Holiday Shopping Passport as they celebrate the kick-off of the annual downtown shopping program at Save Our Soles (Photo courtesy DBIA)
The passports feature three early bird prizes of $500 in downtown money to be drawn December 4th, 11th and 18th, with the grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money to be drawn January 8th.
The Holiday Shopping Passports program rewards people for supporting local businesses by shopping, dining and enjoying downtown. Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports.
HOW IT WORKS
-> Every time you spend $10 at a participating business, a box on your passport will be stamped.
-> When your passport is filled (20 stamps), complete the form and drop it off at a ballot box at one of the participating businesses.
-> Each completed passport is a ballot for a draw to win downtown money.
Bring your Holiday Shopping Passport downtown on November 29th for Black Friday as more than 100 downtown businesses put on some of the biggest sales of the year. Keep in mind that parking is free for two hours in downtown Peterborough on Fridays in November, and seven days a week in December, courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Check out downtownptbo.ca for the full list of participating passport locations.
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Peterborough Pulse Will Transform George Street
/Peterborough Pulse 2019 will transform George Street for one fun-filled day of walking, cycling, and activities on Saturday, July 27th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pulse is an open streets initiative that temporarily replaces car traffic with people traffic to create a safe and vibrant car-free corridor for walking, biking, dancing, playing, and socializing.
Peterborough Pulse file photo
The Peterborough Pulse route will be closed to vehicular traffic between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Street parking will be prohibited from midnight on Friday, July 26th, until Pulse is over at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27th.
Here is a map of Pulse...
STREET CLOSURES FOR PETERBOROUGH PULSE
George St. from McDonnel St. to Sherbrooke St.
Will be CLOSED Saturday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vehicles entering or exiting will need an escort.
Street parking will be prohibited from midnight on Friday, July 26th until Pulse is over at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27th. Vehicles left on street will be towed.
ONLY local traffic will be allowed to access these streets…
Murray St. from Aylmer St. to George St. and George St. to Water St.
Brock St. from Chambers Lane to George Street and George St. to Water St.
King St. from Aylmer St. to George St. and George St. to Water St.
The following intersections will remain open for east-west traffic…
McDonnel St. at George St.
Hunter St. at George St.
Simcoe St. at George St.
Charlotte St. at George St.
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Take Free Rides On Retro San Francisco-Style Trolley From Downtown To Peterborough Musicfest
/Free rides on a retro San Francisco-style trolley from downtown to Peterborough Musicfest concerts are returning for another season.
The trolley rides will begin June 14th and 15th for the Kawartha Craft Beer Festival, and return on a regular Wednesday and Saturday evening Musicfest schedule starting June 29th and run through August 17th. All stops will occur on the right side of George Street. Trolley pickups will begin at Confederation Square (across from City Hall) and continue at the intersections with Brock, Hunter, Simcoe, Charlotte and King from 6 p.m. to 10 pm.
Photo courtesy DBIA
This is a Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area initiative, and allows people who walk or park in the downtown to shop or dine before or after the concerts to jump on the trolley to get to the park and hop on the trolley to get back to downtown.
“We want to support Musicfest in a way that also helps our downtown,” says Terry “Mr. Downtown” Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. “The charm of the trolley coupled with us offering it as a free service is a fun and welcoming way for us to get people to enjoy the concerts while exploring our downtown restaurants and retail stores.”
Photo courtesy DBIA
TROLLEY MAKING NEW STOP AT MEMORIAL CENTRE THIS SEASON
The DBIA have added a new stop to the free service as the trolley will now go all the way to the Memorial Centre parking lot to pick up concertgoers who park there. This added service was a way to reduce vehicle congestion and to encourage more people to attend the concerts and bring more people to the downtown.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Peterborough DBIA to bring the trolley back for Season 33 of Peterborough Musicfest,” adds Tracey Randall, Peterborough Musicfest General Manager. “It was a huge hit last summer and adds some extra fun and convenience to our already exciting concert nights."
The trolley is accessible and can hold 30 people seated and 15 standing. The trolley is not intended as a substitute for Peterborough Transit, and demand for this free trolley will exceed its capacity—especially when the concerts end each night. Priority will be given to those with mobility issues, seniors, and expectant mothers or parents with young children and seating based on availability.
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5th Annual Peterborough Pulse Takes Place July 27th
/This summer is the 5th Annual Peterborough Pulse, where people are invited to walk, bike, play and socialize at the event in downtown Peterborough. Pulse takes place July 27th this year, and allows the public to reimagine the purpose of city streets and expand the public realm.
Peterborough Pulse will once again be transforming George Street into a lively car-free corridor full of entertaining recreational activities. The streets will be packed with cyclists, families pushing strollers, roller skaters, dancing, music and more! Pulse is the perfect way to enjoy vibrant Downtown Peterborough while supporting the development of a healthier, more active community.
Peterborough Pulse media event launch at City Hall (photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada)
"Pulse has quickly become a favourite event of this community,” says Terry “Mr. Downtown” Guiel, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
“What better way to connect with a new community group or discover a unique downtown business, all while interacting with multiple family-friendly activities and entertainment,” adds Mr. Downtown. “We are connecting healthy ideas and active living to people whose focus is on a healthy heart, healthy mind and a healthy spirit—all at an award-winning event.”
Photo courtesy DBIA
Peterborough Pulse will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 27th. This year’s route will run along George Street from McDonnell St. to Sherbrooke St.
Over the years, Pulse has worked to change Peterborough’s mindset on healthy living. Open street events allow people to access spaces they typically can’t, expanding their ability to be mobile and engage with their neighbours and community.
Photo courtesy DBIA
27 Downtown Peterborough Retail Shops Open Until 8 PM Thursday and Friday This Summer
/From June 13th through to the end of August, 27 retails shops in downtown Peterborough will be open until 8 p.m. every Thursday and Friday evening as part of a “Open Late ‘Til Eight” initiative.
“Shopping today is all about convenience and it’s important for our local shops to be open when it’s convenient for their customers,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
“We know it’s important to be open when our customers are wanting to shop,” adds Holly Butler, manager at Iceman Video Games in the downtown. “Staying open late keeps people shopping local.”
(Left to right) Aldana Casado, Kate Storen, and Chelsea Boyd pose for the launch of Open Late ‘Til Eight, a new shopping initiative in Downtown Peterborough.
Not only are the hours convenient, but parking downtown is free after 6 p.m. So take advantage of the extra hours, and support your local downtown businesses. Shop, and then stay downtown and grab a bite at one of your fave restaurants.
PARTICIPATING SHOPS INCLUDE…
• Bluestreak Record
• Charlotte’s Web
• Cottage Toys
• Dodrio
• Flavour
• Grey Guardian Games
• Hi Ho Silver
• Iceman Games
• John Robers Clothiers
• K&C Costumes
• Lift Lock Escape
• META4 Gallery
• Minh’s Chinese Grocery
• Next Level Mobile
• Pipe Dreamz
• Providence
• Ritual Apothecary
• Runner’s Life
• Running Room
• SOS
• The Peace Pipe
• The Toy Shop
• Tiny Green
• Tribal Voices
• Under One Sun
• You’re Welcome
• Zap Records
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Eat This Up: Taste Of Downtown Is June 1st
/Peterborough’s most appetizing event, Taste of Downtown, returns to Charlotte Street on Saturday, June 1st from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.—rain or shine!
Come out and enjoy delicious cuisine from 24 local restaurants, enjoy a beverage in the beer and wine garden hosted by The Venue and Publican House Brewery, and take in some amazing live entertainment.
Photo courtesy DBIA
THIS YEAR’S LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Hillary Dumoulin
• 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Jerry Jerome steel drum band
• 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Bobby Watson
Photo courtesy DBIA
Bring the family and have fun with the bouncy castle, face painting by Faces by Two, a fun photo mural, live art by the Art School of Peterborough, a visit from the mascot George: King of Downtown, and a giant sidewalk sale on Charlotte Street.
THIS YEAR’S RESTAURANT LINEUP
• DR J's BBQ & Brews
• Curry Village
• Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine
• Village of Thai
• La Hacienda
• Cosmic Charlie's
• Jasmine Thai Cuisine
• The Turnbull Café
• Wild Wing
• Empress Gardens
• Publican House Brewery
• Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market
• Caribbean Sizzle
• La Mesita
• Nateure’s Plate
• McThirsty’s Pint
• The Boardwalk Board Game Lounge
• Simply Delicious Bistro & Bakery
• Curry Mantra
• Hobart’s Steakhouse
• The Pin
• The Venue Peterborough
• Hunter Street Tavern
• Dodrio
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Once Upon A Time Peterborough Downtown Was Movie Theatre Row
/Those new to the city or born later might not realize that once upon a time, Peterborough’s downtown was “Movie Theatre Row” where it was a big social activity to go downtown, pick a movie, and choose a theatre.
Indeed, in a photo shared to their Facebook page (see below) from 1961 taken on George Street, Trent Valley Archives writes that “you can see the imposing signs of the Capitol, Odeon, and Paramount theaters, which made up movie theater row.”
Photo courtesy Trent Valley Archives
Trent Valley Archives adds that going back further in the 1950s, “Peterborough residents would have been able to choose between these three theaters (and the Centre theater, which closed in 1956) when they wanted to see a movie.”
Here is another view of movie theatre row back in the day looking down George Street...
Another view of movie theatre row
