If summer in Port Hope were a movie...
Five different itineraries inspired by five different movie genres. Your summer weekend in Port Hope will feel just like a movie with historic streets, live music in the park, stunning lavender fields in July, the cutest goats, epic giant robots, and lots of music festivals. Whatever kind of summer you're after, Port Hope has a role for you!
What adventure will you choose?
A Romantic Period Drama
Think: Downton Abbey, Bridgerton
Port Hope's Victorian-era commercial district is one of the most intact in Canada, with heritage storefronts, a river running through the middle of town, and a gorgeous historic theatre. The carefully preserved buildings house all kinds of treasures and treats.
|
High Tea at Milly's Market |
| The most Victorian thing you can do in a Victorian town is sit down for High Tea! Milly's runs High Tea on Wednesdays, served on china in a beautifully restored heritage space on Walton Street. |
|
A Very Victorian Canada Day |
Claude responded: Promenading through a decorated downtown on a summer holiday is about as Victorian as it gets, and Port Hope's Canada Day delivers exactly that with a downtown…Promenading through a decorated downtown on a summer holiday is about as Victorian as it gets! Find that and more at Port Hope's Canada Day with a downtown parade, classic car show, live music at Memorial Park, and fireworks over the lake at dusk. Claude responded: Promenading through a decorated downtown on a summer holiday is about as Victorian as it gets, and Port Hope's Canada Day delivers exactly that with a parade, …Promenading through a decorated downtown on a summer holiday |
|
Treasure Hunt at Antiques on Queen |
| Make time for this multi-dealer shop next door to the Capitol Theatre with furniture, antique and estate jewellery, couture, textiles, silver, glass, and rare books spread across three floors. |
|
Dine in Style at Hotel Carlyle |
| Enjoy dinner in a beautifully restored former bank building, with cocktails on a covered patio and a bistro full of period detail. |
|
Step Back in Time at Villa Idalia |
| This gorgeous, historic Italianate villa was built in 1869 by Port Hope's first mayor, and features private gardens and Lake Ontario views. It has lived many lives — diplomat's summer retreat, elegant hotel, storied clubhouse — and its walls remember all of them. Step inside to find original fireplaces, ten-foot stained glass windows, and a coat of arms above the foyer door that has greeted guests for over a century. One of only two Italianate mansions in Ontario to survive largely intact, it sleeps eight in its luxurious, well-appointed suites—there’s enough room for the whole crew, which is great, because it’s available to rent for events! |
An Inspirational Artist Biopic
Think: Loving Vincent, Beauty is Embarrassing
Port Hope’s creative scene comes alive in the summer. The annual Arts Festival showcases local talent and galleries. Catch a moving drama or toe-tapping musical at the Capitol, and marvel at larger-than-life metal sculptures at Primitive Designs.
|
Capitol Theatre |
|
This historic atmospheric theatre is one of the few remaining of its kind in Canada. The 2026 summer season runs three mainstage productions: the new Canadian comedy Liars at a Funeral in June, the Broadway hit Come From Away (July-August), and a new Canadian adaptation of the suspense thriller Gaslight (August-September). Find tickets at Capitol Theatre. |
|
Northumberland Arts Gallery and Shop |
| Original artworks and crafts by Northumberland County artists fill this volunteer-run gallery. It's worth a stop on any romantic afternoon downtown. |
|
The Tiny Nest Gallery |
| Kerri Healey's studio gallery on John Street features nature-inspired paintings in a range of sizes and prices, with custom commissions available. |
|
Port Hope Arts Festival |
| Named one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario, the Arts Festival takes over downtown on August 8 with an outdoor artisan market, a 10-minute play series staged across six locations around town, live music, and a community gathering. Give yourself a full day to explore! |
|
Primitive Designs |
| Do not miss this adventure! A 26-foot Optimus Prime welded from recycled vehicle parts stands at the entrance, and over 8,000 square feet of imported carvings, masks, pottery, furniture, and jewelry collected across seven countries wait inside. The grounds are free to explore. |
An Indie Rom Com with a Great Soundtrack
Think: Garden State, High Fidelity
The Road to Cultivate series brings free live music to Memorial Park's bandshell in July and August. Spend the day at Tall Birches browsing hand-picked vintage, then head to The Thirsty Goose or Twenty Six's long bar for oysters and cocktails.
|
Concert Series & Music Festivals |
|
The Road To Cultivate Every Thursday in July and August, the historic bandshell in Memorial Park hosts a free outdoor concert featuring Canadian musicians, local food vendors, a community drum circle, and the Port Hope Makers' Market. Bring a blanket. Northumberland Scottish Festival and Highland Games Held June 19-20 this year, the 62nd annual festival at the Port Hope Agricultural Park features over 25 pipe and drum bands, highland dancing, caber tossing, hammer throw, and the inaugural Lakeshore Open Highland Dance Championships, with free Ceilidh evenings on both Friday and Saturday nights. Port Hope Jazz Festival If you're in town August 20-23, don't miss the Port Hope Jazz Festival. Now in its 25th year, the festival brings top Canadian jazz musicians to restaurants and venues across downtown for four days, all within walking distance of each other. |
|
Rey Ray's Taco Truck |
| Ray and Latara have been making tacos on handmade corn tortillas from their family recipe for nearly a decade, out of the truck on Rose Glen Road on the eastern edge of town. The charred chorizo, chicken tinga, and deep-fried avocado tacos are the regulars. The truck is cash only and sells out regularly, so go early or call ahead. |
|
Curated Vintage at Tall Birches |
Every piece at Tall Birches tells a story. Browse hand-picked vintage clothing spanning the 1960s to 2000s, one-of-a-kind wood goods crafted right on the farm, and carefully sourced Canadian-made goods from coast to coast — all curated with love by Autumn-Leeh and Neville Saunders. Bring your pup too, this shop is pet friendly!
Claude responded: Every piece at Tall Birches tells a story. |
|
The Thirsty Goose |
| After the music ends, find yourself in this charismatic pub in an 1863 heritage building with 24 rotating draft taps, cocktails, wine, and a solid whisky list. Homemade pub food, a patio, and walls lined with local historical photographs. |
|
The Social and Twenty Six |
| Sister restaurants sharing the same address on Ontario Street, The Social is a farm-to-table spot — scratch-made daily, locally sourced, small rotating menu, craft beer on tap, and Twenty Six is the late-night move: a three-storey industrial room with 170-year-old exposed brick, a long bar, oysters, steak frites, and serious cocktails. |
A Heartwarming Rural Adventure
Think: Babe, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Port Hope might be more known for goats than pigs or foxes, but the surrounding landscape has plenty of rural charm. Pick up farm-fresh produce, take a goat for a walk, or spend a slow afternoon learning what it's like to frolic (carefully) through a lavender field.
|
Haute Goat Farm |
| This 200-acre farm outside Port Hope is home to Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Huacaya Alpacas, Icelandic Horses, exotic chickens, and a mule named Lucy. You can book a Goat Shmurgle, Goat Yoga class, or Alpaca Walk, or just arrive and explore the trails, the Screaming Goat Cafe, and the farm gate store. Overnight stays are available. |
|
Laveanne Lavender Farm |
| Twenty minutes north of Port Hope, Laveanne's fields hold over 10,000 lavender plants across four-plus acres, with July as peak bloom. Visitors can walk the nine-circuit meditation labyrinth and shop the boutique for handcrafted skincare and dried bouquets. If the fields are the point, plan for July. |
|
Follow the Fresh Food Tour |
|
Get to know where your food comes from! The Port Hope countryside makes for a beautiful drive or cycle. You'll see barns, farm fields, gardens, cows, goats and alpacas! We've created a Fresh Food Guide Tour so you can map out your visit to local farms. It's a great way to connect with the land and bring home some fresh, wholesome local food. |
|
Saturday Farmers' Markets |
| The Port Hope Farmer's Market runs Saturday mornings through the summer, with fresh produce, local baking, and vendor tables worth a proper browse. Or stop by the Stapleton's Farm Market and Garden Hill Farmers' Market farm stores during regular hours during the growing season. |
|
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! |
A Nostalgic, Haunting Thriller
Think: IT, Welcome to Derry
Port Hope has a claim to fame that horror fans travel for! The entire downtown was transformed into Derry, Maine for the filming of IT (2017), IT Chapter Two (2019), and the HBO prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry. See all the spots on the IT Walking Tour!
|
IT Walking Tour |
| The self-guided tour covers every major filming location across downtown. View the guide online, follow the digital map on your phone, or pick up a physical copy at the Visitor's Centre inside the Capitol Theatre. Look out for an updated version of the tour including set locations for IT: Welcome to Derry. |
|
The Quality Meats Alley |
| The mural and back door sign from the filming are still there in the laneway off Walton Street, between Brogden's Lane and the shoe store Schuuz. It's the most popular selfie location for visitors who know what they're looking at. |
|
Penney and Co. |
| The large building on Walton Street that bore the "Welcome to Derry" sign in the aerial shots of the film. Worth a visit in its own right. |
|
Second Helpings |
| Second Helpings - which has been in business for over 40 years - plays the role of Secondhand Rose, the junk store where Bill buys back his bike from a certain cameo-making author in IT Chapter Two. It's still an independent shop on the same street. |
|
All the Unofficial IT Products |
| In October, local shops stock Pennywise-inspired products like totes, notepads, cocktails, books, baked goods, apparel, and other cute and terrifying accessories. |
Things to Do in Port Hope This Summer
Heritage architecture, a tightrope walker, author Farley Mowat, barns and Port Hope scenes from the It movies... explore it all!
Close to Home, Far from Ordinary
Historic Port Hope is Ontario's favourite small town.