Location: downtown to be announced

Time: 1PM to 2PM

Details: Join in the official opening of the Bicentennial to commence these commemorative days from August 1st to 10th, dedicated to the legacy of the Peter Robinson settlers. Following speeches from dignitaries, along with traditional music, the Irish flag will be proudly raised.

Good to Know: This event requires registration in advance and is subject to availability.

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Location: Knights of Columbus Hall • 317 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

Time: 3PM to 5PM

Details: The Bicentennial Heritage Fair will be a one-stop headquarters for visitors from near and far from August 1st - 8th, to access resources on local communities and attractions, history displays and books by authors of a local historic and heritage nature. The opening and blessing of this hub on August 1st will include a welcome from dignitaries, traditional Irish and regional folk music, social time and light refreshments.

Good to Know: This event requires registration in advance and is subject to availability. The Bicentennial Heritage Fair will be closed August 9th and 10th

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Location: Canadian Canoe Museum • 2077 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough

Time: 7PM to 11PM

Details: The Peterborough Canadian Irish Club presents the Grand Irish Gathering, celebrating its 50th anniversary in tandem with commemorating the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Peter Robinson Irish emigrants to the region. Come for an evening of socializing and sumptuous appetizers within Peterborough’s iconic Canadian Canoe Museum, overlooking Little Lake. An opening Honour Song will be performed by the Indigenous Women’s Hand Drumming and Singing Quartet, “Naandewegaan - Healing With Drums”. Other musical highlights include harpist Anne Norman, traditional Irish dancers from the Kelly School of Irish Dance and modern celtic band, ‘Hunt the Hare’. During the event, enjoy after hours access to the museum exhibits.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. Tickets include appetizers and museum entrance for self-guided tours. A cash bar is available. This is a stand-up event with limited seating available. Attire recommendation is ‘smart casual’. 

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Location: Del Crary Park • 100 George St. N., Peterborough

Time: 8:00 PM

Details: Free outdoor concert held at Del Crary Park, along the shoreline of Little Lake in Peterborough’s downtown. Musicfest is ‘Canada's longest running free admission summer concert series’. For more details and concert announcement for this date please visit: https://www.ptbomusicfest.ca/.

Good to know: No registration or tickets are required for this event. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair, if you wish. Chair rental available at park for a nominal fee. 

Location: Market Hall, 140 Charlotte St., Peterborough

Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM

Details: Discover the compelling details of the 1825 British sponsored emigration scheme and what made it unique. Topics include; the social and economic conditions in Ireland, the opportunity for change, and the challenges the Irish faced during their arduous journey arriving to the backwoods communities they established in the Peterborough region. This talk will be co-hosted by Elwood Jones, historian and archivist at Trent Valley Archives and Dennis Carter-Edwards, former historian and cultural resource manager at Parks Canada. Following the talk, enjoy a fascinating musical presentation by musician Glen Caradus, “The Nogojiwanong By Song”, featuring local folk songs, including his ‘Crankie Theatre’.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability.

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Location: Pickup outside Galaxy Cinemas, 320 Water St., Peterborough (100m from doors of Market Hall). Drop off at Holiday Inn, 150 George Street N., Peterborough. 

Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM

Details: Enjoy an afternoon tea and tour in the storied Hutchison House, one of Peterborough’s oldest stone buildings. Initially inhabited by the town’s first resident doctor, John Hutchison provided care for some of the Peter Robinson immigrants after their arrival. Following teatime, enjoy a VIP visit to Trent Valley Archives. This not-for-profit organization advocates for the preservation and accessibility of historic archives of the region, housing more than 1000 cubic feet of ‘documents relating to the people, events and places connected with the Trent Valley.’ This intriguing afternoon will include a view of the magnificent Peterborough Lift Lock, a National Historic site and part of the Trent Severn Waterway. The Lift Lock represents engineering feats of the early 20th century, as well as the immense grit of those who took part in its construction, including grandchildren of the Peter Robinson Emigrants.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. Tickets include transportation from Market Hall and return to Holiday Inn, entrance to museum and archives and a light afternoon tea-time fare.

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Location: St. Peter’s Cemetery, 870 High St., Peterborough (corner of Lansdowne & Monaghan). Please be at the Cemetery Office at the start time

Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Details: In 1859, thirty-four years after the emigration, St. Peter’s Cemetery opened for burials and has served the Catholic community in Peterborough City and County ever since, becoming the final resting place of some of the Peter Robinson emigrants and their descendants. On this tour, you’ll learn their names, their stories, and the overall impact their legacy has had on our region in the 200 years since their arrival.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. The cemetery is approx. a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk from downtown Peterborough. It is NOT located at St. Peter’s Cathedral. 

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Location: Bagnani Hall • Traill College • 311 Dublin St., Peterborough

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Details: Presented by Nine Ships 1825 Inc. and Traill College of Trent University, this discussion will examine the context and impact of the unique Peter Robinson emigration experiment on the First Nations and Irish communities, as both adjusted to the many challenges of their new circumstances. The evening, moderated by Dr. Michael Eamon (Principal of Catharine Parr Traill College, Trent University) will provide perspective and research from Jack Hoggarth (Associate Professor, Trent University), Dr. Laura Peers (Trent University & University of Oxford) and Dr. Mark McGowan (St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto). 

Good to Know: This event requires registration in advance and is subject to availability. Bagnani Hall is approximately a 5 minute drive or 10 minute walk from the Holiday Inn.

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Location: Pickup and drop off at Holiday Inn, 150 George Street N., Peterborough. Please arrive in advance of start time.

Time: 4:30PM - 9:00PM

Details: Experience a captivating evening of theatre with the World Premier of Wild Irish Geese, written by Megan Murphy. A portrayal with social and political perspectives of the impoverished Irish emigrants’ journey to settle in the region in 1825 and Peter Robinson, the face of the emigration scheme. This play, of epic historical proportions is set in the breath-taking backdrop of 4th Line Theatre’s open air stage. 

Good to Know: This event with transportation requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. Tickets include theatre ticket AND return transportation from Holiday Inn. Light dinner options available on site but NOT included. Those interested in seeing this 4th Line production any time during their stay, who do NOT require transportation can purchase theatre tickets directly at: https://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca/2025-summer-season

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Location: Starting Point - Confederation Square (centre sidewalk), 499 George St. N., Peterborough. Ending Point - Princess Gardens, 100 Charlotte St., Peterborough.

Time: 10AM to 12PM

Details: Join Elwood Jones, a prominent local historian, for a leisurely walk from Confederation Park along Water Street to the Peter Robinson commemorative plaque in Millennium Park. The focus is on what Peterborough (known to Peter Robinson as ‘the Depot’) looked like in 1825. The tour will end in the aptly named ‘Peter Robinson Room’ of Princess Gardens for refreshments. This tour is hosted by Trent Valley Archives.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability.

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Location: Pickup & drop off at Holiday Inn, 150 George Street N., Peterborough. Please arrive in advance of start time.

Time: 2:00PM - 5:00PM

Details: Details: Enjoy an afternoon tea and tour in the storied Hutchison House, one of Peterborough’s oldest stone buildings. Initially inhabited by the town’s first resident doctor, John Hutchison provided care for some of the Peter Robinson immigrants after their arrival. Following teatime, enjoy a VIP visit to Trent Valley Archives. This not-for-profit organization advocates for the preservation and accessibility of historic archives of the region, housing more than 1000 cubic feet of ‘documents relating to the people, events and places connected with the Trent Valley.’ This intriguing afternoon will include a view of the magnificent Peterborough Lift Lock, a National Historic site and part of the Trent Severn Waterway. The Lift Lock represents engineering feats of the early 20th century, as well as the immense grit of those who took part in its construction, including grandchildren of the Peter Robinson Emigrants.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. Tickets include return transportation from Holiday Inn, entrance to museum and archives and a light afternoon tea-time fare. 

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Location: St. Peter’s Cemetery, 870 High St., Peterborough (corner of Lansdowne & Monaghan). Please be at the Cemetery Office at the start time

Time: 1:00PM – 3:00PM

Details: In 1859, thirty-four years after the emigration, St. Peter’s Cemetery opened for burials and has served the Catholic community in Peterborough City and County ever since, becoming the final resting place of some of the Peter Robinson emigrants and their descendants. On this tour, you’ll learn their names, their stories, and the overall impact their legacy has had on our region in the 200 years since their arrival.

Good to Know: This event requires ticket purchase in advance and is subject to availability. The cemetery is approx. a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk from downtown Peterborough. It is NOT located at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

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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.

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.

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.

Location: Knights of Columbus Hall • 317 Hunter St. W. • Peterborough

Operating Hours: Saturday August 2 through Friday August 8, 2025 • 10AM to 4PM

Details: Knights of Columbus Hall, Diocese of Peterborough and Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains.

Location: 2249 Northeys Bay Road, Woodview, ON K0L 3E0

Details: Known traditionally as Kinoomaage Waapkong, the Teaching Rocks is home to the largest concentration of pre-contact First Nations petroglyphs in Canada. Managed in partnership with Curve Lake First Nation and Ontario Parks, this significant site is recognized as a sacred and spiritual area for many First Nations. With over 1000 different carved images, ranging in age from 600 to 6000 years old, these petroglyphs speak to the rich cultural and spiritual life of the Anishinaabeg who carved them to provide teachings for our current and future generations. A guided tour of the Teaching Rocks will provide a glimpse into the spiritual lives of the Anishinaabeg through oral teachings surrounding traditional clan systems, responsibilities to one another and the land, the sacred connection between Anishinaabeg and the earth, and the spiritual and cultural history of Anishinaabeg of this area. Visit for an opportunity to experience this unique site and gain teachings that have been passed from one generation to the next for thousands of years.

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