💼 Pints, Pride & Police News

Good morning, PTBO! Hope your coffee’s strong, your Wi-Fi’s steady, and your neighbour hasn’t fired up the leaf blower before 8 AM. Let’s ease into the day together.

In today’s PTBO Brief:

Let's get to it.

— M&B

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Peterborough’s own fiddling phenom, Irish Millie, is up for Performing Artist of the Year at the Ontario Folk Music Awards. Not bad for someone who begged for her first fiddle at age three and now finds herself sharing stages from Denmark to Musicfest.

She’ll head to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Oct. 15–18 for the big show fingers crossed the trophy comes back to PTBO.

Peterborough Police are suiting up with body worn cameras in a six month pilot starting as early as Oct. 1. Only eight cameras will hit the streets at first, but the move follows a 2022 study that showed nearly 90% of residents want them for transparency and accountability. Full rollout depends on costs not the gear, but the pricey red tape of reviewing and redacting hours of footage for court. (Examiner$)

Peterborough Nogojiwanong Pride Week kicks off this upcoming week from Sept. 19 to 28 with more than 30 events across the city. This year’s theme All of Us or None is a reminder that nobody is free until everybody is free. The big Pride Parade happens Saturday Sept. 27 at 1 PM starting from City Hall.

☕ The Only Turns 35: Downtown’s OG hangout The Only Café just marked 35 years of tea pots, cold beer, and sunflower covered good vibes. Step inside and it feels like a time capsule with eclectic art, mismatched tea sets, and stories that have been told for decades. Owners Charon and Jerome have been keeping it running since the 90s and not much has changed, which is exactly the charm. From Cowboy Breakfasts to riverside pints, The Only is a PTBO classic where you go for one thing and leave with a story.

🥪 Sam’s Place birthday bash: Friends and lovers of samwiches, rejoice. Sam’s Place Deli is celebrating 15 years of cured meats, cheese, and dad jokes with a birthday bash at Pig’s Ear Tavern. Expect DJs Billy the K and Johnny Q, live tunes from The Beef Boys Band, plus a round of PINGO. Cake is guaranteed, dancing is “still not allowed,” and regret is optional. Friday Sept. 19 | 7 PM | Pig’s Ear Tavern

💈 The KO Studio Grand Opening: Peterborough’s newest beauty, barber and thrift spot is opening its doors this Saturday. Expect live music, food, giveaways and free consultations with the pros, plus 15% off services if you book within two weeks. Lashes, nails, brows, hair, barbering and thrift all in one place. 11 AM 142 Hunter St W

🎉 First Five Club Turns 2: Peterborough’s play hub for little ones is marking its second birthday on Sept 20th starting at 9 AM with a full day of fun, a community BBQ at noon and even a baby formal for the tiniest party guests. Families can drop in with an all-day pass while members get in free

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Events marked with (Tickets/$) require advance purchase. Double-check dates before heading out!

🤍 A Night in White: Slip into your sharpest whites for the 8th annual garden party in support of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. Expect food and drink from local vendors, music, dancing, and both live and silent auctions tucked inside the tropical setting of Johnston’s Greenhouse. 6 PM Johnston’s Greenhouse and Landscaping ($)

🍻 Singo Night: 100 Acre Brewing is cranking up the fun with Singo, the game where bingo cards meet music playlists and the crowd does most of the singing. Grab a pint, test your tune knowledge, and maybe even score some bragging rights. 6 PM 100 Acre Brewing Co.

🎭 Opening Night: Norm Foster’s fast paced comedy lands at the theatre, where onstage drama collides with offstage chaos. Expect sharp dialogue, laugh out loud twists, and characters you’ll swear you’ve met before. 7:30 PM Peterborough Theatre Guild Sept. 19–Oct. 4

🥪 Sam’s Place Turns 15: Sam’s Place Deli is marking 15 years with DJs Billy the K and Johnny Q, The Beef Boys Band, PINGO, and of course cake. Dancing is “still not allowed.” 7 PM Pig’s Ear Tavern

😂 Jeff Leeson: The master of crowd work brings his Jokes on You Comedy Tour to Market Hall for a night of off the cuff laughs and sharp punchlines. 8 PM Market Hall ($)

🎤 Taylor Abrahamse – Pride for Peace: Genderfluid singer-songwriter Taylor Abrahamse brings an intimate and hilarious one night show to Take Cover Books, blending sharp pop hooks with comedy and heart. Presented with Peterborough Pride, this night is part concert, part celebration, and all vibes. 7:30 PM Take Cover Books ($)

🍻 Canadian Party Life Tour: The cross-country campus showdown hits Peterborough as Social Pub packs in giveaways, free merch, challenges, and DJ Notty on the decks. Think you’ve got the best school spirit? Time to prove it. 9 PM Social Pub

🌴 Reggae Sunsplash: Chemong Lodge is trading lobster bibs for island vibes with its first Jamaican Food and Music Festival. Legendary Juno winners The Sattalites hit the stage with MuchMusic icon Michael Williams hosting. Expect cold drinks, Caribbean eats, and one last summer send-off by the lake. 1 PM Chemong Lodge ($)

👑 Drag Bingo: Delta Bingo is back with a Pride edition full of queens, cash prizes and over-the-top fun. Hosted by Gloria Hoal and Miss Divalicious, expect fierce performances, wild outfits and nonstop laughs — plus real money on the line every round. 7 PM Delta Bingo and Gaming ($)

🎨 Couples Pottery Night: Grab your partner and learn the basics of throwing clay on a potter’s wheel. It’s hands-on, a little messy and a whole lot of fun. 7 PM The Art School of Peterborough ($)

🍻 Oktoberfest: A full day of beer, pretzels and polka with Terry Guiel, United Highway and Polka Dot Four providing the soundtrack. Bratwurst, pizza and sauerkraut seal the deal - just don’t forget to raise a stein. 11 AM 100 Acre Brewing Co.

🛍️ East City Yard Sale: More than 20 houses are joining forces for a neighbourhood-wide treasure hunt. Coffee first, then bargains. 8 AM All Over East City

🐴 Closing Night at Kawartha Downs: The final evening of harness racing is here with a season send-off packed with action, appreciation and celebration. 6 PM Kawartha Downs

🚲 P(RIDE) Glow Ride: A family friendly rainbow parade on two wheels rolls through town for Pride. Deck your bike in lights, join the 10km ride with photo stops at PTBO’s rainbow spots, then finish with an afterparty at Dreams of Beans. 7 PM Quaker Foods City Square

🃏 Sip ’N Swap: Bring your Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh and sports cards to Milk + Tea for an afternoon of trading, sipping and scoring new finds. Raffles and gift cards are up for grabs too. 2 PM Milk + Tea

🦋 Monarch Festival & Race: Millennium Park comes alive with butterflies, a kids fun run, a 10km race, crafts, face painting, music and more. Think piñatas, monarch tagging and a full family day by the water. 9:30 AM Millennium Park

🍂 Fall Market at the Morrow: Shop seasonal crafts, jewelry and home goods, grab a snack from local food vendors, and check out the free petting zoo and kids craft table. Perfect timing to stock up for Thanksgiving and Halloween. 10 AM Morrow Building

🌿 Holistic Healing Fair: Explore wellness vendors, crystals, energy healing, tarot readings, and more at this free fall fair. The first 50 through the door snag exclusive swag bags. 10 AM The Venue

🎃 Pumpkins & Petals Workshop: Craft a whimsical fall centerpiece by decorating a faux pumpkin with pressed florals and greenery, all while sipping herbal tea. 12 PM Cozy Home designs ($)

🎨 Off The Wall Workshop: Budding artists 8+ can learn spray paint and illustration techniques with pro supplies and take home a canvas masterpiece. 11 AM Wilkins Art & Creative ($)

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Doug Horner | Black Horse Pub | 5 PM
Carpe Noctem | Jethro's | 6 PM
Brad Renaud | Bar Vita | 7:30 PM
Bouche & Smitty | Jethro's | 8 PM
Karaoke | Crook & Coffer | 8:30 PM
Brandon Humphrey, Mike & William MacCurdy | Black Horse Pub | 9 PM
Ryan Scott | McThirsty’s Pint | 9 PM
Sam’s Place Deli 15th Anniversary Party ft DJs Billy The K, Johnny Q & The Beef Boys | Pig’s Ear Tavern | 7 PM
Jetson w/ VanCamp | Jethro's | 10 PM

Terry Guiel | 100 Acre Brewing Co. | 12 PM
Bob Butcher | Crook & Coffer | 2:30 PM
The Wild Cards | Pig’s Ear Tavern | 4 PM
The Polka Dot Four | 100 Acre Brewing Co. | 4 PM
Emily Burgess | Black Horse Pub | 5 PM
PMBA Deluxe Live presents The Silver Hearts w/ The Space Heaters | The Social Pub | 1 PM
Ian Clement | Bar Vita | 7:30 PM
The Sidehill Gougers | Crook & Coffer | 7:30 PM
Stan Simon | Jethro's | 8 PM
Chris Collins | McThirsty’s Pint | 9 PM
Nicholas Campbell & The Metre Cheaters | Pig’s Ear Tavern | 9 PM
allura | Black Horse Pub | 9 PM
Emilie Steele & The Deal | Jethro's | 10 PM

Pays d’en Haut | Pig’s Ear Tavern | 3 PM
Blues Jam 3rd Anniversary | Jethro's | 3 PM
Washboard Hank & The Wringers | Black Horse Pub | 4 PM
Candace & Michael | Rolling Grape Vineyard | 2 PM
Karaoke and Open Mic | McThirsty’s Pint | 8 PM

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

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