Beavermead Beach Party is Taking Place This Saturday
Residents and visitors who are looking for ways to be part of the energy of Parks Canada’s annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday, July 18, 2026 are encouraged to add the Beavermead Beach Party to their weekend plans.
Peterborough Tourism is hosting the Beavermead Beach Party, a lakeside companion event at Beavermead Park, 2011 Ashburnham Dr., that brings the energy of Lock & Paddle to the shores of Little Lake. Designed as a drop-in experience, the beach party invites participants and spectators alike to gather before, during, or after their time on the water. Admission is free.
Family-friendly activities will run from noon to 4 p.m. Free souvenir Lock & Paddle stickers will be available while quantities last. The event will take place rain or shine; however, it may be cancelled in the event of thunderstorms or other severe weather.
Vendors at the Beavermead Beach Party include: Camp Kawartha, Boating Ontario, Bewdley Lions’ Club, Boardwalk Board Game Lounge, Water Lily Naturals, Full Tilt Cycle, Flavour Fashion, TJs Candies and Baskets, Play It Forward Youth, Madd Tea Party Boutique.
City of Peterborough Recreation staff will be running beach volleyball and parachute activities.
The Beavermead Beach is an easy put-in location for paddlers taking part in Lock & Paddle. Participants are asked to put-in outside of the designated swimming area. Event staff will be on-site to direct paddlers to the correct area to dock or launch their vessel. The Beavermead Boat Launch remains closed.
Lock & Paddle is an annual event hosted by Parks Canada. It brings together hundreds of canoeists and kayakers for a colourful, one-of-a-kind experience traversing the iconic Peterborough Lift Lock along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site. Since launching in 2016, the event has grown beyond Peterborough, expanding to Parks Canada locations along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site in Ottawa and the Lachine Canal National Historic Site in Montreal.
Once again this year, participants will benefit from free lockage as part of the Government of Canada’s ‘Canada Strong Pass’ initiative in effect from June 19 to September 7.
For more information and to plan the ideal Lock & Paddle day, visit ptbotourism.ca/paddle.