6 Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Kawarthas Northumberland

A man stands with his hand on a gigantic carved jack o' lantern

A chill is in the air, the leaves have turned, and gravestones are sprouting like mushrooms on front lawns everywhere — Halloween must be drawing closer. Whether you’re looking for ways to entertain the kids on an October weekend or an adult who never lost the taste for a good scare, here’s a sampling of spooky seasonal events from around Kawarthas Northumberland.

The Lang Jacquard Loom: Grandmother of Modern Computing

Closeup of Jacquard loom

Invention After 1805 many intricately patterned textiles, like rugs and coverlets, were woven on a Jacquard loom. Prior to 1805, the weaving of intricate pictorial patterns was an extremely complicated process, which required both a weaver and a draw boy (who operated the cords that lifted the pattern warp threads). In his childhood, Joseph-Marie Jacquard … Read more

Lighting up the Darkest Time of the Year: at the 15th Annual ReFrame Film Festival

A ReFrame poster at the entrance to Market Hall, Peterborough

ReFrame Film Festival couldn’t be better timed. At the darkest, coldest time of year, three city blocks of downtown Peterborough come alive with moviegoers hurrying from from theatre to theatre. When the films let out they stumble blinking onto the sidewalk, processing what they’ve seen. Restaurants and bars fill with tables of attendees locked in spirited discussion. Then it happens all over again for the next four days. A mid-sized Ontario town in January suddenly feels like the epicentre of arts and culture.

Paddling Through History: A Visit to the Canadian Canoe Museum

North Canoe at The Canadian Canoe Museum

The canoe is absolutely central to Canadian identity — so much so many of us haven’t stopped to reflect on how deep those roots go. I’m an avid canoeist myself (my canoe, the affectionately named Swamp Bullet, is a regular fixture of the waters around Peterborough), but even so I hadn’t taken the time to … Read more