💼 Pop-Ups, Burgers & Beyond

Good morning, PTBO! Anyone else leave the house in a parka and come home feeling like you need SPF 50? These mornings are straight up North Pole, but by lunch we’re basically in the Sahara.

In today’s Brief:

Let's get to it.

— M&B

Construction is underway on PeopleCare Peterborough, a new 224 bed long term care home at Trent’s Symons Campus. The project will create 200 jobs and give students a chance to connect with residents in a unique “seniors village” surrounded by trails and green space.

A commemorative crosswalk is coming to George & McDonnel this fall, featuring red and white stripes, a soldier silhouette, and the words Lest We Forget. A lasting tribute marking 80 years since WWII’s end.

Support staff at Fleming College have hit the picket lines after contract talks collapsed, with students even joining in solidarity. Classes are still happening online where possible, labs in person but bus routes have shifted to the Wellness Centre instead of campus. The union says closures or mergers would be devastating, while the province calls their demands “fiscally impossible.”

🛍️ Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale: Downtown PTBO is turning into one big open air market this Saturday. George Street will be closed from Brock to Simcoe so you can stroll the core car free while digging into exclusive deals, artisan markets, pop-up racks, and live music. Every block has something new to discover, making it the perfect way to soak up summer and support local.

🏥 Thrive Health Open House: Celebrate Thrive Health’s new expansion with a tour of the clinic, meet the team, enjoy snacks and refreshments, and let the kids dive into face painting and tattoos. Bonus challenges could win you a $500 Wild Rock gift card.

🎉 Take Cover Books Turns 3: This Saturday at 7 PM the indie bookshop celebrates three years with a birthday bash unlike any other. The party doubles as a concert, splitting acts across two floors with Mas Aya performing in the basement and Mumblethief Moon upstairs at Take Cover Books. Expect community vibes, big energy and a little chaos as the shows overlap for a one-of-a-kind experience. Tickets are $25 or pay what you can, and all ages are welcome.

✨ Summer Soul Turns 2: Summer Soul is celebrating its second birthday by hosting a weekend full of events including a yoga and Pilates boat cruise, half price drop in classes, Pilates at the Market with Sarah, and mindfulness with Dana during Second Saturday on George Street.

🍔 Law & Orders Opens in East City: Hunter Street’s got its burger bar back with Law & Orders, now serving up $5 cheeseburgers every Tuesday. The spot also dishes out stacked poutines, loaded hot dogs, and even a “Rhippo Burger Challenge” for the brave. Grand opening goes down Sept. 17 come hungry.

📸 @ptbovegfest 📍Water Street
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Events marked with (Tickets/$) require advance purchase. Double-check dates before heading out!

💃 Salsa Night at the Riverside: Holiday Inn’s waterfront lounge heats up with salsa lessons from Ana Maria and Dianely followed by a night of music, dance and pure energy. 8 PM Holiday Inn ($)

🔮 Crystal Journey Sound Bath: Experience a meditative night of sound with quartz crystal bowls, planet gongs, Persian santoors and harmonica in two improvised sets. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and let the vibrations carry you. 7:30 PM The Mount ($)

🍻 Pig’s Ear Pingo: Friday nights at the Piggy mean prizes, bonus rounds, and a packed house ready for laughs and luck. Grab a card, grab a pint, and see if the historic tavern deals you a win. 7 PM The Pig’s Ear Tavern

🎤 Classified in Concert: Canadian rap icon Classified hits the stage with special guests for a night packed with hits like Inner Ninja, Oh…Canada and 3 Foot Tall along with new tracks. 8 PM The Venue ($)

🤠 Country Dance Night: Dust off your boots for a night of country hits with DJ SammyBeatz, plus door prizes, costume contests, snacks and a shooter special. Tickets are $10 in advance or $20 at the door. 7 PM Peterborough Legion

🍂 Fall Brew Release: 100 Acre Brewing is bringing back a fan favourite fall beer with live tunes from Alycia Hebert to set the vibe. 5 PM 100 Acre Brewing Co.

🛍️ Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale: Explore the core with treasures, exclusive deals, artisan markets and live music while George Street shuts down from Brock to Simcoe for a full day of shopping and summer vibes. 10 AM Downtown

💫 Neighbourhood Vintage Market: The final market sends off summer with vintage clothing, records, housewares, live music by Kay Silver, flash tattoos from Black Cat Tattoo and tasty drinks and snacks. 10 AM Bankers Commons Courtyard

🍎 Apple Fest: The farmers market is going full apple mode with fresh pressed cider, candy apples, caramel treats and even apple pulp compost to take home. 8 AM Quaker City Square

🍂 Fall Makers Market: Shop handcrafted goods from local artisans, enjoy live entertainment by accordionist Donnie V and soak in the cozy community vibes. 11 AM The Peterborough Retirement Residence

🎶 Singing for SickKids: Chemong Lodge hosts its annual fundraiser with live sets from Hillary Dumoulin and Water’s Edge plus a classic pig and corn roast. A $20 donation supports SickKids and gets you music, food and community vibes. 5 PM Chemong Lodge

🐾 Howlin’ Fundraiser: An evening of food, music and community in support of the Peterborough Animal Care Centre with Chemong Lodge catering, live sets from James Higgins and SJ Riley, auctions, Yappy Hour and more. 4 PM Peterborough Humane Society ($)

🎪 Canopy Cares Inclusivity Carnival: The third annual carnival brings music, circus acts, BBQ, face painting, arts and crafts, sensory tents, raffles and tons of family fun with new features like a dunk tank, tie dye station and henna glam bar, all while highlighting FASD awareness and community inclusivity. 11 AM Dixon Park ($)

🧘‍♀️ Pilates at the Park: Stretch into your Saturday with a free all-levels outdoor yoga class alongside the farmers market, this week led by Summer Soul for extra sunny vibes. 10 AM Quaker Foods City Square

🎺 Big Band Day: Millennium Park fills with the sounds of swing and jazz as five bands take the stage for an afternoon of dancing, nostalgia and lively music. Bring a chair, grab a snack and enjoy sets from the Peterborough Concert Band, Electric City Swing, Ron Marenger Band, Northern Spirit Big Band and Knightshift. 12 PM Millennium Park

🎉 TCB Birthday Party: The indie shop is celebrating its third birthday with a two-floor concert party featuring Mas Aya in the basement and Mumblethief Moon upstairs for a one-of-a-kind split show. All ages, $25 or PWYC. 7 PM Take Cover Books

⛳ LAWS Golf Tournament: Tee off for a cause at the 19th annual Lakefield Animal Welfare Society golf tournament with an afternoon of play that supports local animal care and rescue efforts. 1 PM Liftlock Golf Club

🚪 Doors Open Peterborough: Step inside heritage sites like Hutchison House, Lock 19, Sadlier House, the Theatre Guild and more, plus take in a guided Auburn Heritage Walking Tour with Gord Young. 10 AM Citywide

🥦 Peterborough VegFest: The 7th annual celebration of plant-based living fills Millennium Park with vegan eats, artisan goods, workshops, speakers and live performances, all free and family friendly. 11 AM Millennium Park

🏃 Terry Fox Run: The 45th annual run kicks off with registration at 8 AM and an official start at 9 AM, with routes open to bikes, rollerblades and wheelchairs. Celebrate Terry’s legacy, join the community and support cancer research. 9 AM Nicholls Oval

✨ Mindful Movement Retreat: A day of connection with a welcome circle, Pilates, guided journaling, a nourishing lunch and restorative yoga to close led by local instructors. 10 AM Studio 505 ($)

🎤 Karaoke + Open Mic: Step up for a song or test out a new tune while the crowd cheers you on. Solo acts, duos, and first timers all welcome. 8 PM McThirsty’s

🛥️ Summer Soul Cruise: Celebrate the studio’s second birthday with a wellness evening aboard the Island Princess featuring yoga on the lower deck, Pilates on the upper deck and your first drink included as you cruise Little Lake. 5:30 PM Island Princess ($)

🎨 Busy Brushes Bingo: Paint your own mug while playing rounds of bingo for prizes in a fun BYOB night out that includes games at 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30 plus your ticket covers a medium mug to keep. 6 PM Busy Brushes Pottery ($)

the 65-lb meatball of your dreams equal parts couch potato and zoomie queen. She’ll crack you up with her wild sprints, then flop down like she just ran a marathon (spoiler: it lasted 45 seconds). Suzie’s still perfecting her leash manners, but what she lacks in polish she makes up for in pure personality.
To Adopt

Ky Anto | Black Horse Pub | 5 PM
Alycia Rose | 100 Acre Brewing | 5 PM
Brish Recharge | Stick Sports Pub | 7 PM
Andy & The Boys | Puck ’N Pint | 7 PM
Chris Collins | Bar Vita | 7:30
Shuga | Crook & Coffer | 7:30 PM
Josh Gladstone | Jethro’s Bar | 8 PM
Classified w/ LB (420 Klick) and 2MG | The Venue | 8 PM | ($)
The Fabulous Tonemasters | Black Horse Pub | 9 PM
Joanna & Danny Bronson | McThirsty’s Pint | 9 PM
The Space Heaters | Jethro’s Bar | 10 PM

The Weber Brothers | The Social Pub | 1 PM
Kate Kelly | Crook & Coffer | 2:30 PM
Mike MacCurdy | Black Horse Pub | 5 PM
Greg Thomas | Crook & Coffer | 7:30 PM
The Hounds of Thunder | Black Horse Pub | 9 PM
Dan Farrell | McThirsty’s Pint | 9 PM
Ethan Mitchell | Jethro’s Bar | 8 PM
Noise Hotel | Jethro’s Bar | 10 PM
Bob Butcher | Pappas Billiards | 8 PM
High Waters Band | Puck ’N Pint | 8 PM

Cassidy Van Heuvelen | Rolling Grape Vineyard | 2 PM
Blues Jam 3rd Anniversary | Jethro’s Bar | 3 PM
Bluegrass Menagerie | Black Horse Pub | 4 PM
Pays d’en Haut | Pig’s Ear Tavern | 3 PM

The Detention Club | 11 AM
allura | 12 PM
Urban River | 1 PM
Jeanne Truax | 2 PM
Mike Graham & Victoria Yeh | 3 PM

Peterborough Concert Band | 12 PM
Electric City Swing | 1 PM
Ron Marenger Band | 2 PM
Northern Spirit Big Band | 3 PM
Knightshift | 4 PM

You stay classy Peterborough, and thank you again for reading!

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