After two years, Kawartha Lakes is thrilled to fully welcome back visitors for its biannual Doors Open event on Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The last 2022 edition of Kawartha Lakes Doors Open was a hybrid event, with some locations available virtually. However, this year, the City of Kawartha Lakes is eager to offer a day full of learning and exploration across 13 diverse sites, all open to the public. One unique feature of this event is the passport system, where visitors collect stamps at each site for a chance to win a special prize. In an interview with Emily Turner, Economic Development Officer – Heritage Planning for the City of Kawartha Lakes, Teachers on Call’s online and in-person tutoring service gathered the essential details to help visitors make the most of their Doors Open experience. Be sure to check out the full interview for insider tips and must-see locations!
Teachers on Call's in-person and online tutors are passionate about promoting local history and learning, and we're excited to share more details on how to explore the Kawartha Lakes Doors Open event. Presented by the City of Kawartha Lakes as part of the provincewide Ontario Heritage Trust program, this event offers a fantastic opportunity to rediscover the city's rich history while embracing its bright future.
How to Plan for Doors Open Kawartha Lakes 2024
For first time visitors who are not sure how to start, the Kawartha Lakes organizers have created three itineraries available on their website to help get you started with ideas for routes and other places to stop along the way. This is especially helpful for planning lunch stops!
Emily Turner also reminds visitors to remember to pick up a Doors Open passport and have it stamped at three locations to be eligible for great local prizes.
Be advised: The Fenelon Falls Generating Station and the Sturgeon Point Walking Tour have limited space. Emily Turner, Economic Development Officer – Heritage Planning, encourages visitors to register in advance. Make sure you register early to participate in these tours!
List and Schedule of Participating Sites for Doors Open Kawartha Lakes 2024
Here is the complete list of all 13 participating sites and the times that you may visit on September 15, 2024:
Bobcaygeon Sites
Boyd Heritage Museum
21 Canal Street East, Bobcaygeon, ON, K0M 1A0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Christ Anglican Church
43 Sherwood Street, Bobcaygeon, ON, K0M 1A0
Open: 1 PM - 4 PM
Edgewood Dry Stone Wall
28 Boyd Street, Bobcaygeon, ON, K0M 1A0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Fenelon Falls Sites
Fenelon Falls Generating Station
Lindsay Street (adjacent to the falls), Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM – 4 PM (Tour Times: 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM)
Fenelon Falls United Church
123 Colborne Street, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 12 PM - 4 PM
Fenelon Station Gallery
103 Lindsay Street, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Grove Theatre
27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Kawartha Lakes Fire Station 22
9 John Street, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Maryboro Lodge — The Fenelon Museum
50 Oak Street, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
89 Colborne Street, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 11 AM - 4 PM
St. Peter's Anglican Church
797 Martins Road, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Sturgeon Point Sites
Sturgeon Point Union Church
119 Irene Avenue, Sturgeon Point, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 10 AM - 4 PM
Sturgeon Point Walking Tour
Meet at 119 Irene Avenue, Sturgeon Point, ON, K0M 1N0
Open: 11 AM – 3:30 PM (Tour Times: 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM)
An Interview with Organizers Behind Doors Open Owen Sound
What can first-time visitors to Doors Open Kawartha Lakes look forward to experiencing this year?
Doors Open Kawartha Lakes 2024 will be featuring 13 sites across four communities on the north side of Sturgeon Lake. Visitors can see a range of exciting sites including several local churches, local museums, a newly restored dry-stone wall, and a local fire station.
When you go, make sure that you pick up a Doors Open passport and collect stamps from three different sites to be entered into a draw to win great local prizes.
Can you describe the geography of Kawartha Lakes and the region it covers? What makes this area unique for visitors exploring the Doors Open event?
Kawartha Lakes is the second largest single tier municipality in Ontario and covers a wide geography with diverse features from our agricultural areas, our lakes and rivers and our forests. The City is a collection of urban and rural areas, each with their own unique character. Our Doors Open events typically explore one region of the City to make the day manageable for visitors in terms of driving. This year, we are focussing on four communities, including two of our towns, Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon, the unique cottage community at Sturgeon Point, and the agricultural hamlet of Bury’s Green. Travelling between these four communities, visitors will get to experience our sites, but also the geography of the area as they drive between them.
Beyond Kawartha Lakes, where do your Doors Open visitors come from?
Most of our Doors Open visitors from outside of Kawartha Lakes come from our neighbouring municipalities in Peterborough County, Haliburton County and Durham Region.
The event closely follows the return to school for students. Do you have any educational sites that are particularly relevant for elementary and secondary students during this time?
Maryboro Lodge in Fenelon Falls and the Boyd Heritage Museum in Bobcaygeon have activities and exhibits for students of all ages that highlight the history of Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon and the surrounding area. Younger students may also be particularly interested in the Fire Station 22 in Fenelon Falls to learn about emergency response in Kawartha Lakes and to explore the vehicles and equipment used by our firefighters.
Can you share the significance of local waterfronts in Kawartha Lakes' development and what visitors can learn from sites located along the shoreline?
Kawartha Lakes’ waterfronts have always been important to its development. Many of our local settlers developed along our lakes and rivers and it was our waterways that first attracted tourists to the region. The Trent Severn Waterway is a major part of many of our communities and visitors can see the locks in both Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls as they travel between the communities. We have several sites where visitors can learn about the waterway, including its current use for power generation at the Fenelon Falls Generating Station, and its history in the area at Maryboro Lodge in Fenelon Falls and the Boyd Heritage Museum in Bobcaygeon.
What role do local art centers play in the Kawartha Lakes arts scene, and are there any special exhibits or programs featured during Doors Open?
We are lucky to have a vibrant arts and culture scene in Kawartha Lakes with artist studios and galleries throughout the City that visitors can explore on our Arts and Heritage Trail. This year, the Fenelon Station Gallery is one of our Doors Open sites, featuring local artists in a heritage train station.
What other community events are coming up next in Kawartha Lakes that we can look forward to?
In fall 2024, we have two major events coming up in Kawartha Lakes celebrating our agricultural community. This year, Kawartha Lakes is hosting the International Plowing Match from October 1-5 which will take place at the LEX in Lindsay. Later in the month, we are hosting our annual Kawartha Farmfest on October 12, highlighting our local farms.
This year marks significant anniversaries for Fenelon Falls and Sturgeon Point. Can you share more about how these milestones will be highlighted during the event?
In 2024, Fenelon Falls is celebrating its 150th anniversary and Sturgeon Point is turning 125. To highlight these milestones, we have focussed our events in those communities, as well as nearby Bobcaygeon and Bury’s Green. Our Sturgeon Point Walking Tour will highlight the history of the cottage community from the late 1800s to today, while our sites in Fenelon Falls highlight everything from one of its oldest homes at Maryboro Lodge to its newest performing arts venue at the Grove Theatre (27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls, ON K0M 1N0).
Kawartha Lakes is known for its outdoor activities. What do you recommend for visitors who want to stay a bit longer and explore more of what the area has to offer?
The fall is a great time to explore our trail system in Kawartha Lakes where there are lots of great routes for hiking, cycling and ATVing. Our lakes and rivers are often less busy in the fall season so there are lots of opportunities for boating and paddling. We also have six farmer’s markets throughout Kawartha Lakes that are open until Thanksgiving.
What local restaurants or coffee shops do you recommend for visitors looking to take a snack or lunch break during the event?
We have lots of great restaurants in Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon for visitors to get a snack or lunch break. We have created three itineraries for visitors that are available on our website which give great ideas for stops for meals and snacks.
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As you get ready to enjoy Doors Open Kawartha Lakes and the region, we hope our interview with Emily Turner is both helpful and informative! Whether you're discovering a new location or exploring history, we think you’ll appreciate what the community has to offer. If you're traveling from nearby cities in Ontario like Barrie, Peterborough, or Oshawa, you may want to stay the weekend to fully experience the history, restaurants and outdoor activities that the Kawartha Lakes region has to offer.
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