Explore The Friendly City: Doors Open Belleville Showcases 15 Sites of History & Culture | Sept 13, 2025

With the back-to-school season underway, Doors Open Belleville offers families a fun way to celebrate learning together outside the classroom. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Belleville welcomes visitors to explore its heritage and hidden gems through Doors Open Belleville. As part of the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Doors Open Ontario program, this one-day event offers free access to 15 sites that showcase the city’s cultural, historical, and architectural treasures. From historic landmarks and museums to adaptive reuse spaces and vibrant community hubs, guests of all ages can enjoy guided tours, interactive activities, and hands-on learning experiences. With local historians dressed in costume and family-friendly stops, the event provides a meaningful way to connect with Belleville’s past and present while sparking curiosity for students and lifelong learners alike. Read on for our interview with the hosts behind Doors Open Belleville, along with a sneak peek at other exciting events in the area, including Loyalist Township’s “Golden Helmets & Local Heroes.”

Known as the “Friendly City,” Belleville has a rich history rooted in the lumber industry, railroads, and manufacturing, while today it is equally celebrated for its arts, culture, and growing food scene. Located along the beautiful Bay of Quinte, Belleville is just under two hours’ drive from Toronto and about an hour from Kingston, making it an easy day trip for families across the region. The community’s deep heritage is balanced by innovation and education, with a thriving Loyalist College campus (376 Wallbridge Loyalist Rd, Belleville, ON K8N 5B9) and events that celebrate creativity, history, and even science. Part of the larger province-wide Ontario Heritage Trust program, this annual favourite continues to shine a light on Ontario’s rich history, and Teachers on Call’s in-person and online tutoring service is proud to spotlight events that offer hands-on learning opportunities for families, students, and educators.

Participating Sites: Doors Open Belleville

• Belleville City Hall - 169 Front St., Belleville, ON K8N 1G8
• Glanmore National Historic Site — 257 Bridge St. East, Belleville, ON K8N 1P4
• Islamic Society of Belleville — 33 Moira St. West, Belleville, ON K8P 1S1
• Belleville Masonic Temple — 132 Foster Ave., Belleville, ON K8N 3P9
• We Thrive Wellness Centre — 161 Front St., Belleville, ON K8N 1G8
• Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Museum (Armouries) — 187 Pinnacle St., Belleville, ON K8N 3A5
• Parrott Riverfront Trail — Start at the corner of Front and Station streets (9 Station Street, Belleville, ON K8N 2S5)
• Corby Park Rose Garden — 210 Ann St., Belleville, ON K8N 3K1
• Zone Athletics, Home of Pegasus Cheer — 1989 Old Hwy. 2, Belleville, ON K8N 4Z2
• Meyers Creek Brewing Company — 60 Dundas St. East, Belleville, ON K8N 1B8
• Belleville Fire Station 1 — 60 Bettes St., Belleville, ON K8N 3W6
• Army, Navy and Air Force Duke of Edinburgh Service Club — 187 Front St., Belleville, ON K8N 2Y9
• Ekort Realty Ltd. & Mortgage Architects — 258 Front St., Belleville, ON K8N 2Z2
• Mission Thrift Store — 315 Pinnacle St., Belleville, ON K8N 3B3
• Ameliasburgh Heritage Village — 517 County Rd. 19, Ameliasburgh, ON K0K 1A0

Read our Full Interview with Karen Fisk, Chair, Heritage Belleville

Doors Open Belleville has been part of the community since 2002. What makes this year’s lineup special, and how does it reflect Belleville’s unique heritage and character?

While the line up this year is similar to other years we have 2 new venues; Masonic Lodge and Mission Thrift Store.  This year Belleville City Hall will be opened by Mayor Neil Ellis himself.  We have well known historians conducting tours, in costume. Some of the sites, including We Thrive Wellness Centre, Corby Rose Garden, and Ekort Realty reflect the history of the famous historical figures, Henry Corby and his son. Some places recreate local history through Glanmore National Historic Site and Ameliasburgh Heritage Village. Our proud military background is demonstrated in the Armouries at the Hastings and Edward Regiment Museum and at the Army, Navy, Air Force Duke of Edinburgh Service Club. And current social and cultural life is shown at the Islamic Society, Pegasus Cheer, and Belleville Fire Station. Lastly, a few venues demonstrate creative adaptive reuse of heritage buildings with Meyers Creek Brewing Company as an excellent example.

With 15 sites across the city and beyond, what kind of turnout are you expecting? Do you anticipate mostly local families, or visitors traveling in from neighbouring communities?

Our most well known locations (Glanmore, Fire Station, City Hall) have huge crowds every year and offer activities specifically for children. The downtown sites tend to draw guests who may be downtown for a number of reasons and not necessarily Doors Open. While the majority of visitors are from the Quinte area, we are always surprised to see guests from other parts of the province and sometimes from other countries.  Past visitors have attended from Poland and the Philippines.

For first-time guests, what’s the best way to plan a route? Are there clusters of sites that are especially walkable downtown, and any parking or transit tips you’d suggest?

Eight sites are located in the downtown area with five more within a few kilometres range and in the east end of Belleville.  Two sites are out of city limits and are not accessible without a vehicle. Parking is readily available and downtown parking is free on Saturdays.  Local transit is available except for the two venues which are out of town.

Families are always looking for engaging stops—are there particular sites this year that offer hands-on activities, interactive displays, or especially kid-friendly experiences?

Glanmore Historic Museum always has fun, interactive activities for children.  There are also hands-on experiences at the Fire Station, Zone Athletics and Ameliasburgh Museum.

Not everyone will have time to visit all 15 sites. If you had to pick a shortlist of your personal “can’t-miss” locations this year, what would they be and why?

I am definitely curious to see our new venues and what they are offering.  Glanmore and City Hall are always awesome and educational. The Ameliasburgh Museum is a bit of a drive so I don’t get a chance to visit there on the Doors Open day so I am going to try to make it there this year.

Exploring Belleville’s history can work up an appetite! Where would you recommend visitors stop for a coffee, lunch, or sweet treat while touring the sites? Any local gems near the downtown stops you’d suggest?

I can’t play favourites.  There are many, many great coffee shops and restaurants downtown.  And while you are visiting Meyer’s Creek Brewing Company, you will want to try some local craft beer.

~

As families settle into new routines this September, Doors Open Belleville offers the perfect chance to extend back-to-school learning beyond the classroom. With its mix of family-friendly activities, historic tours, and community showcases, the event highlights how curiosity and discovery can be part of everyday life. Whether you’re exploring local landmarks, trying hands-on activities, or connecting with Belleville’s diverse heritage, this one-day celebration is both fun and educational for all ages. For more local inspiration, check out our past feature on Doors Open Belleville’s Community Spotlight with the Quinte Ballet School of Canada (196 Palmer Rd, Belleville, ON K8P 4E1). Read our interview with the artistic team at the QBSC here.

More Events to Explore Beyond Belleville

Additional Doors Open Events Happening September 13, 2025

If you’re free this Saturday, September 13, 2025, but not near Belleville, you might explore other Doors Open events happening in Peterborough (about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto, known for its scenic Kawartha Lakes region) and Simcoe County (just north of the Greater Toronto Area, stretching from Barrie to Georgian Bay). Read our interview for Doors Open Peterborough here.

Loyalist Township’s “Golden Helmets & Local Heroes”  – Saturday, September 20, 2025

Looking for more fun in the area? One week later, look no further than neighbouring Loyalist Township, which is hosting its 3rd Annual Culture Days celebration on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Centennial Park North in Bath (182 Fairfield Street, Bath, ON K0H 1G0). From Belleville to Bath, it’s an easy 45-minute drive (about 60 km), making it a perfect day trip for families to enjoy. This free, family-friendly event invites the community to create, share, and celebrate arts, culture, and heritage. Highlights include the spectacular OPP Golden Helmets Precision Motorcycle Team performance at 1:00 p.m., touch-a-truck experiences, art activities, face painting, live music, and more. Sponsored by Loyalist Cove Marina, the celebration brings together creativity, community, and local heroes, making it a perfect cultural outing for families one week after Doors Open Belleville. Learn more at loyalist.ca/culturedays.

As the first month of the school year unfolds, community events like Doors Open and Culture Days remind us that learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom. These experiences offer rich opportunities for students to make real-life connections across subjects such as English, art, music, geography, civics, math, and science. At Teachers on Call, our in-home and online tutors are big fans of experiential learning and helping make these subjects come alive, encouraging students to see knowledge reflected in the world around them. Happy Learning!