Winter

Celebrate the winter season in Northumberland County at one of many festivals, events and live performances. 

December

Old Mill Alpacas holds their annual Winterfest where you can have your picture taken with Santa and the alpacas, and buy some alpaca-inspired Christmas gifts. Spry Christmas Tree Farm at 8329 Danforth Rd, Cobourg has hot chocolate, treats and a hot lunch planned from 10am-4pm, and the Red Tractor Farm hosts a Christmas Craft Market. 

Warkworth's Magic Under the Stars has the town staying open until 9pm each Friday night in December. Horse-drawn wagon rides are the real treat. In mid-December, Northumberland Orchestra Society's annual Christmas concert includes a sing-along. The Capitol Theatre has their Festival of Trees until mid-December, at which time winners of each fully-decorated Christmas tree will be drawn. Throughout December, Cobourg's 180,000 Christmas lights adorn Victoria Park and the Rotary Park skating rink, and stay brightly lit for First Night when celebrations on December 31, 2019 are filled with skating and horse-drawn wagon rides. The night ends with a fireworks display ringing in the new year.

January

Head over to Campbellford to see who is brave enough to jump into the icy Trent River during the Polar Bear Plunge event. While you're there, visit the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge to see the ice formations on the gorge walls and walk the trails at Ferris Park (or trails anywhere in Northumberland for that matter). 

Continuing through the winter months are activities at Haute Goat like the Alpaca Knuffle Shuffle (walk an alpaca through picturesque farm fields), Goat Yoga and Goat Shmurgles (hugs). Finish off your adventure with a snack or lunch at Screaming Goat cafe and shop for goat-inspired product next to the cafe.

February

Head over to Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Brighton for the fantastic shoreline vistas which include ice volcanoes.Then cozy up inside and head back in time to the roaring 20s with the Northumberland Players' production of Chicago at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, or choose one of their other productions. Ontario's Family Day is February 17, 2020 with activities being offered indoors and outdoors by major attractions. Family Day weekend also brings us Ontario Family Fishing, where children and adults can experience the Canadian tradition of ice fishing, license free for 3 days.

Golden Beach Resort, on the south side of Rice Lake, is open year round and offers winter getaways that include outfitting you for activities like snowshoeing and ice fishing. Stay in one of their condos overlooking the lake. Golden Beach is located just north of the Northumberland County Forest. You can use the forest's trails free of charge for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or fat biking (winter cycling).

March

As winter draws closer to spring Northumberland's maple trees start producing tasty maple syrup. While the kids are out of school for March break, venture out to the well-known Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival. Learn how maple syrup is extracted from the trees and prepared for consumption. Taste testing is always close at hand.