Highway 7 events this season

Tweed & Company Theatre's two-hander murder-mystery musical — two performers, thirteen roles, one piano — runs Aug 28 to Sept 6 in the converted marble church on Bridgewater Road.

A proper agricultural fair on Labour Day weekend at the Perth Fairgrounds — livestock, midway, and the whole classic-fair canon.

A piper or pipers at the cenotaph in Veterans Memorial Park, half an hour every Friday evening, honouring the local names on the stone. Runs through to the Friday of the Labour Day weekend.

Friday market right on the south side of Highway 7 — local produce, meats, maple syrup, baking and artisan goods, with food vendors from 11am.

Friday nights in the St James Major church hall on Hwy 38 — doors at half past five, first ball at a quarter to seven, and a canteen doing hamburgers. Run by Sharbot Lake Bingo and Community Fundraisers.

Billed as Ontario's largest multi-day music and western event — rodeo, 10+ performances across multiple stages, and Stoco Lake as the backdrop, at Stoco Lake Lodge.

Saturday-morning market at Market Square behind the town hall — fresh produce, baked goods and handmade goods, rain or shine, with themed festival Saturdays through the season.

The Royal Canadian Legion branch on Ottawa Street West runs a barbecue through the Saturday of the Labour Day weekend. The township calendar carries the hours and nothing more, which is usually a fair sign of how the afternoon goes.

Award-winning comedian Casey Corbin headlines a 24K Comedy night at the brewery on Russel Street, hosted by Dom Paré. Limited seating and tickets in advance.

The agricultural society's Labour Day weekend classic at the Victoria Street fairgrounds — demolition derby, horse draws, live music, and midway.

Labour Day weekend edition of the Norwood Market at 42 Victoria St — local makers and farmers, coffee, baked goods and live music.

Heritage demonstrations at the O'Hara Mill Homestead — pioneer skills and machinery in action at the restored 19th-century sawmill site.

The corridor's best Saturday morning — at the Crystal Palace by the Tay Basin, every Saturday through October.

Lakeside market by the beach — produce, preserves, and butter tarts. Saturdays, July through September.

Forty artists set up along the Fall River at the corner of Hwy 7 and County Rd 36 in Maberly — pottery, woodwork, glass and painting, outdoors, over the Labour Day weekend. Free entry, free parking, and a kitchen run by a local chef.

Monday nights at the Flinton Recreation Centre on Edward Street — doors at a quarter to six, card sales at six, the first fifty bonanza numbers at half past, and the regular games at seven. The canteen sells hot dogs, snacks, pop, tea and coffee. Run by the Rec Club, which has been at this since 1976.

Monday nights in the Legion's main hall on Matthew Street — get there before ten past six, when they stop selling cards. The kitchen runs hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages, and a jam session goes on in the club room at the same time.

Tuesday nights at the arena on Neelin Street, run by the Carleton Place and District Civitan Club — doors at half past four, games at half past six, with a well-stocked canteen and club members working the room.

Wednesday nights at the Civitan hall out on Hwy 43, doors at five and the first number at seven. New players cannot buy in after half past seven, so leave yourself time.

Wednesday afternoon euchre at Branch 425, five dollars a person. Walk in and they will find you a partner.

Thursday evenings at the Legion on Arden Road, six o'clock. One of two things Arden puts on that night, the other being euchre an hour and a half later in the same village.

Thursday nights at the Navy League hall on John Street, raising money for the cadet corps — doors at half past four, cards from half past five, first game at a quarter to seven. Cash only, with 50/50 and break-open tickets and a canteen.

Thursday nights at the Land O' Lakes Lions Hall on Hwy 41 — cards on sale at six, first game at seven. The same hall that hosts the Saturday market, doing the other half of its week.

A full evening of pulling at the Madoc fairgrounds on Cooper Road, a week ahead of the fair itself — classes from 5,500 up to 12,500 pounds, run by Tractor Pullers and Enthusiasts of Eastern Ontario.

Branch 425 puts on dinner every Friday from the 11th of September through to June. Twenty dollars for adults, ten for under twelves. Served at half past five, no reservations taken.

An evening walking tour of downtown Smiths Falls run by the Heritage House Museum, working through the stories the buildings have collected. Ticketed.

A morning harvest breakfast at the Arden United Church on Railway Street, free-will donation.

Saturday nights at the brewery on Russel Street, where Hwy 7 meets Hwy 62 — live local music hosted by Torbic Kagmire on accordion. Bring an instrument or just a chair.

Downtown Perth and Stewart Park stay open into the evening — shops, local artisans, live entertainment, and the restaurants and pubs all going at once.

George Street closes to cars between Hunter and Simcoe and downtown Peterborough moves out onto the pavement — sidewalk vendors, patios, live entertainment and family activities. The last of four monthly sales this year.

Day-long downtown music festival headlined by The Trews.

Local chefs serve tasting plates of locally sourced food in Memorial Park — the municipality's annual showcase of Tweed-area growers and kitchens.

A fundraiser for the Olden District

Eight zones of Ukrainian food, live music, dance, a craft market, children's activities and a heritage exhibition, free all day at Riverside Park. It grew out of a 2023 garage sale for Ukrainian families arriving in Lanark County and drew more than four thousand people last year.

Beckwith Park fills with farmers, artisans and food producers from across the county — live music, cultural displays, petting zoo, wagon rides and bouncy castles for the kids. Free admission.

The town band's second-to-last Sunday concert of the season at the Crystal Palace in Stewart Park, an hour of popular repertoire under the glass.

Local musicians take turns on the stage at the Civitan Hall on Hwy 43, every second Sunday of the month. Doors at noon, music from one, dinner at five. Ten dollars to dance, twenty with the meal.

The veteran bluesman opens a new season of house concerts in the Oakfield Rugby Park clubhouse on Drummond Concession 2. Sixty-five seats, thirty-five dollars, and the night's take goes to Furry Tales Cat Rescue.

Monday night darts at Branch 425, starting the 14th of September and running right through. Five dollars a person.

Studio Theatre Perth's fall production — David S. Craig's Lanark County comedy about community and hope next door, over two weekends (Sept 17–20 and 24–27, evenings at 7:30 and matinees at 2).

The 121st fair at the Cooper Road fairgrounds, running Friday afternoon through Sunday — livestock shows, vendors, fair food and entertainment. The Madoc Agricultural Society has been at this since 1905.

The Theatre Guild opens its season with David Ives' Tony-nominated two-hander about power and audition-room dynamics, over three weekends (Sept 18–20, 24–27, Oct 1–3), evenings at 7:30 with matinees at 1:30 on select dates.

Small Town, Big Stories — a weekend literary festival, Sep 18–20.

The agricultural society's fall weekend spreads across the fairgrounds, Ag Hall, jailhouse and Metcalfe Street — Jail for Bail on Friday, an outdoor movie Saturday, then a Sunday of car show, colour run, harvest market and pumpkin carving. Runs Sept 18–20.

The Tweed Lions Club's coffee house evening at Lions Hall, on the same weekend as the Harvest Festival.

The fiddle afternoon carries on into the fall at Harlowe Hall on Gull Lake Road, third Saturday as always — five dollars at the door, two if you bring an instrument.

A morning show at the community centre on George Street East. The township calendar carries the date and the hours and nothing else, so go expecting a hall full of tables.

A volunteer-run celebration of the monarch butterfly's migration at Millennium Park — vendors, a pollinator garden workshop, and drumming, alongside a 10K race and a kids' fun run. Fourth year.

The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario runs its Halloween-season excursion out of the old Canadian Northern station.

Fall harvest celebration at the pioneer homestead — seasonal demonstrations among the heritage buildings and trails.

Heritage House Museum walks you through the oldest part of Hillcrest Cemetery — the town's earliest residents, and the traditions and symbolism carved on their stones. Tour-goers get half off a museum admission the same day.

New this year — a Thursday-evening edition of the Norwood Market at 42 Victoria St, with local vendors and farm-fresh produce after work hours.

One of the two trivia nights the ABC Hall runs each year on Bolingbroke Road, with the proceeds of one going to a local cause. The hall has the date up but hasn't posted a start time yet.

52 artists open 42 studios across Peterborough and the county, from Stoney Lake down to Millbrook — free, self-guided, Sept 26–27. Maps at the Art Gallery of Peterborough.

Hundreds of riders muster behind the Perth Mews on Dufferin Street and ride the Pathway of Heroes through town, under the veteran banners that go up along the streets each fall. It ends at the Legion. No cost and no registration — turn up, or just stand on Gore Street and watch it go by.

Twenty-two artists and artisans at fourteen stops around Tweed in the tour's 28th year, anchored by The Hub at the Memorial Park pavilion — free and self-guided, both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunflower Soaps runs a hands-on soap making workshop on the second floor of Anderson's Your Independent Grocer, 455 McNeely Ave. $125; tickets on their site, with a final fall session Nov 21.

A 45-kilometre ride out of the L&A Forest Trails trailhead on John Street, running the forest tracks before turning onto the gravel and paved back roads of Addington Highlands. Five rest stops with food and water, a route map, a support vehicle, minor repairs at the start and a beverage ticket at the end. $35 in advance, $40 cash on the day, rain or shine.

The Masonic Group of Madoc puts on a country western dance at the Kiwanis Centre on Centre Road, with The Land O Lake Cruisers playing. Silent auction and food on the night.

Kevin Hornsby performs the John Prine songbook in the converted marble church on Bridgewater Road — a night of storytelling through song from Tweed & Company Theatre.

Australian blues guitarist Lloyd Spiegel plays the Maberly Community Hall with the Bright Strings Community Fiddle Orchestra — a wooden hall with a reputation for its acoustics.

The last of the town band's Sunday afternoon concerts at the Crystal Palace, closing out a season that started back in June.

The Perth dog park at Darou Farm marks its first year with nail trims by donation, agility demonstrations and a gathering of local dog businesses, raising money toward a shelter on the site.

The Ontario Festival of Small Halls brings an afternoon of East Coast kitchen-party music to the Carleton Place Arena — first of four Small Halls shows in town this fall.

Autumn open house at the Heritage House Museum, the 1860s mill-owner's home above the Rideau locks.

Juno-winning duo Whitehorse plays the Carleton Place Arena as part of the Ontario Festival of Small Halls fall series.

After-dark tours of the Heritage House Museum, leaning into the spooky end of the season.

Blues guitarist Sue Foley brings her One Guitar Woman show to the Carleton Place Arena for the Ontario Festival of Small Halls.

Afternoon open mic and dance at the Arden Legion. Bring an instrument or just your dancing shoes. Second Saturday of the month.

Running since 1868 — livestock and equestrian shows, midway, antique cars and tractors, lawn mower racing, and the full classic-fair canon. The traditional close of the corridor's season.

Thanksgiving-weekend tradition since 1993 — seven Brooke Valley studios west of Perth open their doors, showing work from 20-plus artists and makers. Oct 10–11.

A five-piece Deep Purple tribute plays two sets of classics in the converted marble church — pitched as a trip back to the band's legendary 1972 Osaka show.

Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats plays the Althorpe Bolingbroke Community Hall on Bolingbroke Road for the Ontario Festival of Small Halls.

The museum gets fully haunted for two October weekends — this is the first of them.

Heritage demonstrations at the O'Hara Mill Homestead — pioneer skills and machinery in action at the restored 19th-century sawmill site.

The same Pokey LaFarge run that plays Norwood on the Sunday stops first at Wesley Hall in the New Canadians Centre on Romaine Street — American roots and ragtime in a hall the festival has folded into its eastern Ontario circuit.

Newfoundland folk-pop duo Fortunate Ones close out Carleton Place's run of Ontario Festival of Small Halls shows with a Sunday matinee at the arena.

American roots and ragtime bandleader Pokey LaFarge plays Norwood's Old Town Hall — an intimate Sunday-afternoon stop on the Ontario Festival of Small Halls.

Canadian roots guitar in the Oakfield Rugby Park clubhouse, sixty-five seats deep. Thirty-five dollars, with the proceeds going to Our Perth Trees.

Second weekend of the haunted museum, running into the Spooktacular downtown.

Solo bassist Kris Tischbein and singer-songwriter Andy Forgie trade three intimate sets in the marble church, closing the night together — proceeds go to the venue's Grow With Us capital campaign.

Russell St E closes for an evening of crystals, tarot readers, oddities and handmade goods. Free entry, costumes encouraged.

The town's Halloween weekend, run by Smiths Falls itself.

Three weeks after the Saturday season closes, the market comes back for one harvest edition.

A touring stand-up night returns to Studio Theatre Perth — headliner Casey Corbin with Todd Reid and host Matt Watson. Last year's show sold out early.

Daphne Moens plays Dolly Parton with a six-piece band — rhinestones, big hair and the whole songbook — at the Marble Arts Centre, 13 Bridgewater Road.

The town's yearly showcase of local artists, hanging for six weeks through November and into December.

Smiths Falls lights up for the season from mid-November through the first week of January — a reason to pull off Hwy 15 after dark.

The market's Christmas edition, the last of its year.

The last Sunflower Soaps hands-on soap making workshop of the fall, on the second floor of Anderson's Your Independent Grocer, 455 McNeely Ave. $125; tickets on their site.

The songwriter plays the Oakfield Rugby Park clubhouse, third in the series. Thirty-five dollars, and the money goes to the Perth and District Community Christmas Dinner.

Tweed & Company Theatre's holiday pantomime — musical numbers, outrageous costumes, and boo-the-villain audience participation in the British tradition — runs Nov 27 to Dec 5 in the converted marble church on Bridgewater Road.

The Maywoods bring their John Prine Experience to Oakfield Rugby Park near Perth as part of the Ontario Festival of Small Halls fall series.

The parade moves to the last Saturday of November and stays there — the organizers have said so outright. Five o'clock, through the village, in the dark.

Downtown Smiths Falls hands out cookies — you work your way from shop to shop collecting them.

The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario runs its Christmas train — this year on Nov 28 and again Dec 5 and Dec 13.

East Coast songwriter Joel Plaskett closes out the corridor's Ontario Festival of Small Halls run at the Carleton Place Arena.

The homestead opens for a day of winter wonders — and, the mill says, Santa might even say hello.