Peter Robinson 1825 Irish Emigration – Commemoration Schedule of Events
August 1-10 • 2025
Click the + to expand on the event for more information. For more details and events happening all year please see our full calendar.
Friday
August 1
10:00 AM • TVA Historical Walking Tour
Location: Start and end at City Hall 500 George St. N.Peterborough
Time: 10AM to 12PM
Details: Walking tour of historically significant sites in downtown Peterborough, presented by Trent Valley Archivist Elwood Jones.
2:00 PM • Flag Raising and Opening Ceremonies
Location: City Hall 500 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 2PM to 2:30PM
Details: The Irish flag will be proudly raised to mark to beginning of a commemorative week from August 1st to 10th, dedicated to the legacy of the Peter Robinson settlers.
3:00 PM • Opening of Bicentenary Heritage Fair
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall • 317 Hunter St. W. • Peterborough
Time: 3PM to 5PM
Details: Official opening of the Peter Robinson Bicentenial Heritage Fair and Hospitality Room. Local commnity and history displays, books, & souvenirs.
Saturday
August 2
10:00 AM • Bus Tour: Peterborough & Keene
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 10AM to 4PM
Details: Visit Peterborough Museum and Archives, Hope Mill, Lang Pioneer Village Museum, Keene.
Registration Required.
6:00 PM • Grand Irish Gathering 2025
Location: Canadian Canoe Museum • 2077 Ashburnham Dr • Peterborough
Time: 6PM to 10PM
Details: Peterborough Canadian Irish Club presents the Grand Irish Gathering 2025.
- 6:00 - 11:00PM Tour the Canadian Canoe Museum
- 7:00PM Reception with harpist, appetizers, and cash bar.
- 8:00 - 9:00PM Welcome, Introductions, Speeches Janice McCue – Wshkiigmong Women’s Hand Drum Group
- 9:00 - 11:00PM Hunt the Hare (modern Celtic band)
Tickets available for purchase. See www.nineship1825.com or email
8:00 PM • Peterborough Musicfest
Location: Del Crary Park • 100 George St. N. Peterborough
Time: 8PM
Details: Free outdoor concert held beside Little Lake by the City of Peterborough. For more details please see: https://www.ptbomusicfest.ca/
Sunday
August 3
9:00 AM • Bus Tour Young's Point & Downeyville
Location: Start and end at City Hall • 500 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 9AM to 5PM
Details: Attend "Young's Point: 200 Years on the Water" and "Downeyville Homecoming Day & Jamboree"
Registration Required.
All Day • Young's Point: 200 Years on the Water
Location: Young's Point
Time: 9AM
Details: Visit the community of Young’s Point where Stoney and Clear Lakes flow into Katchewanooka. Welcoming descendants of Francis Young, past and present residents of Young’s Point and area, neighboring First Nations, cottagers and tourists to celebrate our heritage and community.
- Commemorative Mass and self-guided cemetery tour at Our Lady of Good Counsel on the shores of Lake Katchewanooka.
- Ceremonial water voyage from the landing spot of Francis Young to Lock 27, symbolizing the importance of water to the family and the future community.
- Opening ceremonies at Lock 27 – Highlight various aspects of our history.
- Celebrate Irish Heritage with musicians & dancers.
- Recognize the support and friendship of First Nation Community from the earliest arrival of Francis Young.
- Historical documents, photographs, books & stories of the history.
- Self-guided walking tour of historical sites and local businesses to learn, shop, eat, drink and reunite with friends and family.
All Day • Downeyville Homecoming and Jamboree
Location: Downeyville
Time: 9AM
Details: Downeyville Homecoming Day and Jamboree. Visit the settlement area where the largest group of Peter Robinson Settlers made their home. Events All Day.
- 9am – Pioneer Cemetery Mass
- 1pm – Jamboree: Music, Stepdance, Songs, Fun, History: Family Trees, Books, Calendars and more.
- Baseball games.
6:00 PM • Irish Ceilidh
Location: Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building – Lang Pioneer Village Museum14 Lang Road • Keene
Time: 6PM to 10PM
Details: To come.
Monday
August 4
Peter Robinson Day
1:00 PM • Historical Talk
Location: Peter Robinson Room – Princess Gardens Retirement Residence • 100 Charlotte St • Peterborough
Time: 1PM
Details: Historical talk accompanied by music and songs about the Peter Robinson Emigration by local musician Glen Caradus.
2:00 PM • TVA Historical Walking Tour
Location: Start and end at City Hall • 500 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 2PM to 4PM
Details: Walking tour of historically significant sites in downtown Peterborough, presented by Trent Valley Archivist Elwood Jones.
3:00 PM • Guided Bus Tour: Peterborough
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 3PM
Details: Visit Trent University, Trent Valley Archives, Kawartha Ancestry Research Association, Hutchison House, etc.
Registration Required.
Tuesday
August 5
8:30 AM • Guided Bus Tour: Ennismore & Young's Point
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 8:30AM to 4PM
Details: Bus tour to Ennismore (morning) & Young's Point (afternoon) with a local guide for an hour or so at each location.
- Lunch @ Lock 27 Restaurant (Young's Point).
Registration Required.
7:00 PM • Panel Discussion on the Irish Diaspora
Location: Bagnani Hall • Trent University • 311 Dublin St.Peterborough
Time: 7PM to 9PM
Details: Presented by Nine Ships 1825 Inc. and Trail College. Panel discussion by three subject matter experts on the Irish diaspora.
- Dr. Michael Eamon – Catherine Parr Trail College (Moderator)
- Jack Hoggarth – Trent University
- Dr. Laura Peers – Trent University
- Dr. Mark McGowan – University of Toronto
Wednesday
August 6
8:30 AM • Guided Bus Tour: Downeyvile
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 8:30AM to 1PM
Details: Visit the community of Downeyville with local guide. Visit local landmarks and Peter Robinson Settlers display at Downeyville Hall.
Registration Required.
3:30 PM • PCIC Historic Guided Boat Tour: Otonabee River
Location: Departure and drop-off at Liftlock Boat Cruise • 92 George St. N. Peterborough (next to Holiday Inn)
Time: 3:30PM to 5:30PM
Details: Boat tour with commentary by historian Don Willcock. Imagine the journey settlers took as they paddled scows (shallow flat bottomed boats) up the Otonabee River to Scotts Mills (Peterborough).
- Live Irish music.
- Cash bar and snacks.
Registration underway c/o www.nineship1825.com. For tickets and info contact https://ptbocanirishclub.com or email.
Registration Required.
8:00 PM • Peterborough Musicfest
Location: Del Crary Park • 100 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 8PM
Details: Free outdoor concert held beside Little Lake by the City of Peterborough. Irish musical entertainment details TBA.
Thursday
August 7
9:00 AM • Guided Bus Tour: Keene, Westwood, Norwood & Douro
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 9AM to 4PM
Details: Visit Otonabee South-Monaghan (Keene), Westwood, Asphodel-Norwood, and Douro. Explore homeland of settlers.
Visit churches, pioneer cemeteries, and local landmarks with local guides from each community.
Lunch details TBA
Registration Required.
Friday
August 8
9:00 AM • Guided Bus Tour: Kingston
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 9AM to 7PM
Details: Day trip from Peterborough to Kingston. Visit local attractions and Fort Henry and Point Frederick where Peter Robinson settlers stayed in an encampment for one month.
Lunch and dinner stops en route.
Registration Required.
Sponsored by Marlin Travel.
9:00 AM • Guided Bus Tour: Peterborough
Location: Pickup and drop off location in Peterborough TBA.
Time: 9AM
Details: Visit Peterborough Lift Locks, Trent University, Trent Valley Archives, Kawartha Ancestry Research Association, Hutchison House, etc.
Registration Required.
Sponsored by Marlin Travel.
9:00 AM • TVA Historical Walking Tour
Location: Start and end at City Hall 500 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 9AM
Details: Walking tour of historically significant sites in downtown Peterborough, presented by Trent Valley Archivist Elwood Jones.
Saturday
August 9
TBA • Farewell Ceilidh & Thank You Reception
Location: Lang Pioneer Village • 104 Lang Road, Keene, Ontario
Details: To come.
8:00 PM • Peterborough Musicfest
Location: Del Crary Park • 100 George St. N. • Peterborough
Time: 8PM
Details: Free outdoor concert beside Little Lake by the City of Peterborough. Irish musical entertainment details TBA.
Sunday
August 10
10:30 AM • Mass of Celebration & Farewell
Location: Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains • 411 Reid St • Peterborough
Time: 10:30AM
Details: Mass of Celebration and Farewell celebrated by Bishop Daniel Miehm at the location of the first church built by Peter Robinson settlers and where many descendants were baptized, married, and buried.
Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough
Multi-Day & All Week Events
Otonabee South-Monaghan Historical Society
Open to Visitors
Location: 3252 County Road 2 • Keene
Operating Hours: To be confirmed for 2025.
Details: Visit Otonabee-South Monaghan Historical Society. Peter Robinson Settlers records.
Hutchison House Museum
Open to Visitors
Location: 270 Brock St • Peterborough
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10AM to 4PM (TBC)
Details: An exhibit created by the Museum Management and Curatorship Students at Fleming College. More special events to be announced.
Kawartha Ancestral Research Association (KARA)
Open to Visitors
Location: 730 The Kingsway #3 • Peterborough
Operating Hours: 10AM to 4PM
Details: Family connections, cemetery transcripts, headstone photos, newspaper clippings, family histories, parish registers, photo display, slide shows, land records, property maps, census records, historical books for sale.
Trent Valley Archives
Open to Visitors
Location: 567 Carnegie Ave • Peterborough
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10AM to 4PM
Details: Research and geneology. More special events to be announced.
Nine Ships 1825 • Bicentennial Heritage Fair
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall • 317 Hunter St. W. • Peterborough
Operating Hours:
Saturday August 2 through Friday August 8: 10AM to 4PM
Details: Knights of Columbus Hall, Diocese of Peterborough and Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains.
Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA)
Open to Visitors
Location: 300 Hunter St E • Peterborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM
- Saturday and Sunday 12PM to 5PM
Details: Genealogical research facility.
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Open to Visitors
Location: 104 Lang Rd • Keene
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10AM to 4PM (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Details: 19th century living monument to the faith, endurance, and ingenuity of settlers and First Nations people. Includes thirty historic buildings built between 1825 and 1910. Check out their website for more details and their special events: www.langpioneervillage.ca
Kawartha Settlers Village (Bobcaygeon)
Open to Visitors
Location: 85 Dunn St • Bobcaygeon
Operating Hours: Open normal operating hours 10AM to 4PM and by appointment
Details: Tells story of early settler life in the Kawartha Lakes. Collection of 20+ historic homes and buildings. Discovery Trail and Environmental Park. Collection of artifacts.
Westwood Historical Society Museum.
Location: Westwood. 1818 3rd Concession of Asphodel-Norwood
Operating Hours: TBC.
Details: Presented by Asphodel-Norwood Cultural and Heritage. The Heritage Centre will be open to visitors. Visit Westwood Historical Society Museum.
Disclaimer: Event dates and times are subject to change as event planning continues and information is updated from time to time by our local Irish Community Partners. For more information please connect with us or the organization organizing the event.
Last updated January 16, 2025.