Hungry for Spring

Hungry For Spring in Port Hope 

A delicious road trip worth coming out of hibernation for.

You've been inside long enough! Visit our historic small town with a sugar bush up the road, a river that throws a party every April, and a downtown full of places that make the trip worth it before you've even unpacked. 

Come hungry. Spring is ready for you.

The Road Trip Starts Here

Maple Season

Spring in Northumberland starts in the sugar bush, and the area around Port Hope puts you right in the middle of it. From late March through April, maple producers along the Oak Ridges Moraine are boiling sap, running tastings, and opening their doors for Ontario Maple Weekend  on April 4 and 5, 2026. Johnston's Family Farm in Bailieboro has been producing maple syrup for over 25 years and welcomes visitors for self-guided tours of the sugar house and bush. Sweet Maple Farm opens for one day only on April 4 with free admission, production tours, a scavenger hunt, and syrup available to take home. You’ll be tasting maple syrup that was in a tree yesterday!

Spring Dining

A road trip lives or dies by the food, and Port Hope delivers. Café Lviv on Mill Street has the Ukrainian comfort food your hibernation body is craving—perogies, schnitzel, soups, and cabbage rolls in a lovely room. The Schnitzel Shack keeps the energy going with fun and hearty takeout meals. Trattoria Gusto at the Waddell Hotel is a sit-down-and-take-your-time option.

If the sun cooperates, stop at the lovely, ivy-covered Herma's on County Road 28 and pick up artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and gourmet provisions for a picnic on the waterfront.

For a big finish, head to The Beamish House pub for Prime Rib and live music 4–7 pm every Sunday. Add a pint from Ganaraska Brewing for a perfect patio afternoon.

The River Has Its Own Party!

April on the Ganaraska River is Port Hope at its most alive. Come for Ganny Weekend and stay for the whole party! Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny sends canoes, kayaks, and gloriously unhinged crazy crafts down 10 kilometres of river, finishing at "Fannyville," an outdoor event village at Cavan Street Park with food, drink, vendors, and live entertainment. You don't even need to race! Visit floatyourfanny.ca for 2026 dates and registration.

While You're Here

The Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre is kicking off its 2026 Summer Season: Where Our Stories Begin with a week-long community celebration from April 20–25. The annual Season Rollout is a beloved Port Hope tradition featuring a series of themed events, each inspired by one of the summer's productions, hosted at local venues around town. From a slo-pitch dog tournament celebrating You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown to a pub crawl through the streets of Port Hope in the spirit of Come From Away, there's something for everyone. The week wraps up with the Red Carpet Gala: On the Rock on April 25—a Newfoundland-themed evening of cocktails, live music, and a live auction. Beyond the fun, these events are vital fundraisers that support the Capitol's operations and help bring world-class theatre to the Northumberland Region.

Four Directions Speaker Series

The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's Four Directions Speaker Series runs Wednesday evenings through spring - a free, five-part series with Dr. Jennifer Meness exploring Anishinaabe worldview, teachings, and storytelling, set against textile art by Master Anishinaabe Quiltmaker Alice Williams of Red Lake First Nation. Sessions run 7–8 pm at the Ganaraska Millennium Building. Spring 2026 dates: April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20. Free tickets via Eventbrite; space is limited.

Spring Things

Scratch Golf on Walton Street has three indoor simulator bays running Foresight Falcon technology—get your golfing fix before the outdoor courses open.

Spring gardening is a good excuse to wander into Penney & Co on Walton Street. A full-service lifestyle and home décor shop carrying furniture, tabletop, floral and garden, vintage finds, apparel, and gifts, all carefully selected and well-curated. Open Thursday through Saturday, 10–4:30.

Where to Stay

Villa Idalia makes the road trip feel like a real occasion. This gorgeous, historic Italianate villa was built in 1869 by Port Hope's first mayor, and features private gardens and Lake Ontario views. It sleeps eight in its luxurious, well-appointed suites—there’s enough room for the whole crew, which is great, because it’s available for events. The hibernation officially ends here. 

Plan Your Visit! Explore the full spring itinerary → 

Hungry for Spring Itinerary

A delicious road trip worth coming out of hibernation for: Two days in Port Hope.

Day 1: The Sugar Bush, Then Everything Else

Johnston's Family Farm

Johnston's Sugar Bush in Bailieboro sits along the Oak Ridges Moraine, where the family has been harvesting and producing maple syrup for over 25 years from a bush of mostly Sugar and Black Maple trees. On Maple Weekend (Saturday, April 4), visitors are welcome to explore the sugar house and take a self-guided tour of the sugar bush and maple production. Call ahead for sap boiling times during March. Maple syrup, maple butter, and maple sugar are available at the farm year-round in a range of sizes.

(705) 939-1737

Sweet Maple Farm

Sweet Maple Farm in Bailieboro opens its sugar bush to visitors on Maple Weekend only, and this year that means Saturday, April 4, from 9 am to 4 pm. It's a free event with tours of the maple syrup production, a sugar bush scavenger hunt, pancakes with fresh syrup, maple toffee, a maple-themed sensory bin, and free samples. Maple syrup is available for purchase on site by cash and e-transfer only. The trails and sugar bush may be muddy, so dress for the weather.

705-932-2418.

Lunch at Café Lviv 

After filling up on maple sugar treats, head south into historic downtown Port Hope and settle in at Café Lviv for Ukrainian comfort food—perogies, schnitzel, soups, cabbage rolls—in a warm, lovely room. 

The Downtown Stretch 

Port Hope's historic downtown is made for a sunny spring afternoon. Penney & Co carries furniture, tabletop, floral and garden finds, vintage pieces, and gifts that are worth a proper browse when you're not in a hurry. Ganaraska Brewing is steps away for a local craft pint. If the golf courses aren't quite ready, Scratch Golf's three indoor simulator bays running Foresight Falcon technology mean you don't have to wait for the season to start playing.

The Beamish House 

End the afternoon at The Beamish House. On Sundays, it’s prime rib on the menu and live music from 4–7 pm. The patio is open when the weather cooperates.

Where to Stay

Villa Idalia

Built in 1869 by Port Hope's first mayor to look like an Italian dollhouse, Villa Idalia is a gorgeous, secluded pink mansion with beautiful gardens overlooking a golf course and Lake Ontario. Inside you'll find high ceilings, refined details, and modern bathrooms throughout, with enough space to sleep eight, making it a popular choice for weddings, bridal showers, and private celebrations—or just a weekend getaway with luxury vibes. 

No Quiet Nights Here

The Capitol Theatre

If you're in town April 20–25, the Capitol Theatre's Season Rollout gives you a reason to stay the whole week. This beloved Port Hope tradition celebrates the launch of the 2026 Summer Season: Where Our Stories Begin with a series of themed events at local venues, each inspired by one of the summer's productions. Join a slo-pitch dog tournament, hop between pubs on a musical crawl, or catch a classic film screening at the Capitol's stunning atmospheric theatre. The week wraps with the Red Carpet Gala: On the Rock on April 25, a Newfoundland-style night of cocktails, live music, and a live auction. Every ticket supports this cherished community theatre.

Day 2: The River, The Food, The Whole Point

Option A — Ganny Weekend: Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny 

If you timed the trip right, this is your Sunday. Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny has built its own legend: a 10-kilometre race down the Ganaraska River that started as a community response to the town's devastating 1980 flood and turned into Port Hope's most joyful annual tradition. Canoe, kayak, and crazy craft categories race to "Fannyville" at Cavan Street Park, where food, vendors, and live entertainment turn the riverbank into a full afternoon. No boat required to have a great time.

• Canoe & kayak start: 10:00 am, Canton Bridge

• Crazy craft start: 11:00 am, Sylvan Glen Conservation Area

• Fannyville: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Visit floatyourfanny.ca for 2026 dates, registration, and safety information.

Option B — Any Spring Weekend: The Waterfront Road Trip 

The Harbour Walk and river path are what a spring road trip looks like when it slows down. Easy and restorative, it's the kind of walk that makes you wonder why you waited so long to leave the house.

Lunch Worth the Drive 

The Schnitzel Shack 

The Schnitzel Shack on Toronto Road has been doing one thing since 2018–made-to-order authentic pork schnitzel, fresh-cut fries, good prices–and the lineup out front on any given weekend tells you everything you need to know. Grab a plate, eat it while it's hot. 

Trattoria Gusto 

Trattoria Gusto is inside the Waddell Hotel, a heritage building that's been sitting on the banks of the Ganaraska River since 1845. Enjoy river views if you grab the right table! Open for lunch and dinner; reservations recommended.

Herma's 

If the weather is too fine for a sit-down indoor meal, stop by Herma's on County Road 28 to fill your picnic basket. You’ll find gourmet fine foods, artisan cheeses, and specialty imports, and maybe a gift or two. 

Save Room for the Afternoon

The Bee Works 

Just off the 401 at County Road 2, The Bee Works carries pure, raw, unpasteurized Canadian honey, beeswax candles, and a full pantry of local goods and made-in-house honey-based products (including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options), with a live bee exhibit (seasonal, weather-dependent) and coffee station on site. Part of Dancing Bee Equipment, Canada's top supplier of beekeeping equipment. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am–5 pm. Pull off on the way through and grab a jar!

Villa Idalia 

If you're staying at Villa Idalia, the afternoon plans itself—private gardens, lake views, and the pleasure of a luxurious, historic property that earns every bit of its reputation. Wander the gardens, lounge with a book, or enjoy tea by a sunny window. It looks exactly like the place you want to tell everyone about when you get home. 

Evening (Wednesdays in April–May) — GRCA Four Directions Speaker Series 

The Four Directions Speaker Series runs 7–8 pm at the Ganaraska Millennium Building—a free evening with Dr. Jennifer Meness on Anishinaabe worldview and storytelling, surrounded by the textile art of Alice Williams of Red Lake First Nation.

Spring 2026 dates:

• April 8 — Waabanong (East): birth, spring, and creation

• April 22 — Zhaawanong (South): youth, summer, and Powwow

• May 6 — Gaabi'anong (West): maturity, relationships, and responsibility

• May 20 — Giiwedinong (North): elderhood, wisdom, and spirit

Free. Reserve via Eventbrite. Space is limited.