Doors Open Peterborough will give residents and visitors a chance to explore a dozen distinct locations across the city on Saturday, Sept. 12, organisers announced. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and this year places particular emphasis on public infrastructure and organisations that are part of daily life but rarely accessible to the public.
New stops include municipal facilities and Camp Kawartha cabin
This year’s roster expands beyond strictly architectural heritage, adding five new sites to the program: the City of Peterborough Organics Facility, the City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hospice Peterborough, the Old Peterborough Examiner building and an interpretive straw-bale sleeping cabin at Camp Kawartha. The Camp Kawartha cabin has a different viewing schedule and will be open on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
These additions broaden the event’s focus to include operational municipal sites that affect city services as well as community care and recreational facilities, giving residents a behind-the-scenes look at how some local systems work.
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Camp Kawartha cabin viewing: Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
- Guided historic walks: Little Lake Cemetery and Inverlea Bridge to Goose Pond (tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
Full list of sites
The full slate of 12 Doors Open locations for 2026 is:
| Site | Address |
|---|---|
| Auburn Generating Station | 908 Water St. |
| City of Peterborough Organics Facility | 1260 Bensfort Rd. |
| City of Peterborough Water Treatment Plant | 1230 Water St. N. |
| City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant | 425 Kennedy Rd. |
| Hospice Peterborough | 325 London St. |
| Murray Street Baptist Church | 175 Murray St. |
| Old Peterborough Examiner Building | 419 George St. N. |
| The Peterborough & County Military Museum | 220 Murray St. |
| Sadleir House | 751 George St. N. |
| Showplace Performance Centre | 290 George St. N. |
| St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church | 99 Brock St. |
| Camp Kawartha Straw Bale Sleeping Cabin | 1010 Birchview Rd., Douro-Dummer Township |
Historic walks offer context and stories
In addition to the buildings and facilities, Doors Open Peterborough will offer two guided historic walks led by local historians. The first tours Little Lake Cemetery (915 Haggart St.) with departures at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Organisers note parking is available on Haggart Street and Crescent Street. The walks will explore gravestone symbolism and the history behind notable memorials, shedding light on the city’s prominent citizens interred there.
The second walk follows the route from Inverlea Bridge to Goose Pond, meeting at the entrance to the Rotary Greenway Trail off Parkhill Road East across from Auburn Street. Tours run at the same times as the cemetery walks, and parking is available along Auburn Street. The route highlights a portion of the city planned and built in the City Beautiful style.
Practical notes for visitors
Most sites are open on Sept. 12 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; visitors should note the Camp Kawartha straw-bale cabin’s separate viewing window on Sept. 13. The expanded selection of municipal and functional facilities offers a chance for residents to learn more about local infrastructure, environmental programs and community services.
Doors Open events typically draw a mix of residents, families, students and visitors interested in history, architecture and municipal operations. For residents who want to take advantage of the guided tours, arrive a little before the scheduled departure times to secure a spot and parking.
Doors Open Peterborough presents an opportunity to see both familiar and lesser-known corners of the city in a single weekend, encouraging curiosity about the places that shape daily life in Peterborough.
