Beavermead Beach Party
Parks Canada’s annual Lock & Paddle event is back at the Peterborough Lift Lock this summer on Saturday, July 18, 2026, and with it comes an exciting new way to join the celebration on and off the water.
Peterborough Tourism is hosting the Beavermead Beach Party, free admission, lakeside companion event at Beavermead Park 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.
Running from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Beavermead Beach Party will feature live entertainment, family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a relaxed lakeside atmosphere. Free souvenir Lock & Paddle stickers will be available while quantities last. The event will take place rain or shine.
“Lock & Paddle has become a ‘bucket list’ event that celebrates Peterborough’s deep connection to paddling and the waterway,” says City Councillor and Community Services Co-Chair Lesley Parnel. “With the addition of the Beavermead Beach Party, we’re creating even more ways for people to take part in the experience -on the water or on the shore.”
Lock & Paddle, an annual event hosted by Parks Canada, 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.
Spectators and participants are encouraged to stop by the new Peterborough Visitor Centre at the Lift Lock, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to learn more about Beavermead Beach Party and other events happening in the City this summer. Here, visitors and locals will be able to access information and trip planning support, purchase souvenirs, and enjoy the green spaces along the waterway.
For more information, and to plan the ideal Lock & Paddle day, visit ptbotourism.ca/paddle