The annual Port Hope Arts Festival returns on Saturday, August 9, 2025, featuring many of the traditional favourites, including the 10-Minute Play Series, live music, an outdoor vendor market, wagon rides, hands-on activities, and a community gathering in Memorial Park.
The fun kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 4:00 p.m. The beloved 10-Minute Play Series, made possible by funding from the Ontario Arts Council, will feature 12 different performances across 6 locations throughout the day. The plays range from comedies to thought-provoking dramas. New this year is a play, Cher-lock and the Roommate Ruse, developed by Port Hope High School students under the mentorship of their Drama Teacher, Samantha Clark.
“Port Hope’s Arts Festival is a true celebration of our community’s imagination, passion, and spirit,” notes Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “This annual tradition invites residents and visitors alike to experience the power of the arts to connect and inspire. It also reminds us how the arts can spark connections and unite a community in meaningful ways.”
Art Around Town also returns this year, showcasing the work of local artists in various shop windows Downtown. Led by local artist Herb Jung, this initiative brings together artists and merchants to transform downtown Port Hope into a vast outdoor gallery. The artwork will be on display from July 25 to August 10.
Supporting local makers and businesses is another favourite component of the Port Hope Arts Festival, both in the outdoor vendor market and throughout the downtown in our unique shops. Over 40 visiting artists will pop up beside the Port Hope Farmers’ Market on the back lawn of Town Hall and a portion of Augusta Street to present items ranging from the rare and curious, to the practical and pretty. Downtown Port Hope is open for business and transit within town is free to help you get around.
Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG) and the Capitol Theatre are also enhancing the sights and sounds of Arts Festival this year. Join SONG for their NextGen SoundStage – an open mic opportunity for the public to showcase their skills as groups or solo act. Bring your instrument, your poetry or your voice, and get ready to shine! Sign up in advance to claim your spot.
Additionally, the Capitol Theatre is offering an intimate behind the scenes look at: The Making of Rez Gas - with writers, Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam, who will share backstage stories, the highs and lows of the writing process, and how to realize a musical out of the kernel of an idea. They are also hosting a cozy concert Under the Marquee at 7:00 p.m.
Our local arts organization, Critical Mass Art, is hosting a guided Art Crawl Downtown to kick-off the weekend on Friday, August 8 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Explore art installations and enjoy pop-up artist talks along the route. Register in advance and meet at the Little Station in Lent Lane. After the Art Walk, visit the Little Station in Lent Lane for the Post-It Port Hope Exhibition + Sale opening reception at 7:00 p.m. This fun, free exhibition showcases original 3x3" artworks by Canadian artists—each created on a sticky note and available for purchase. For more info visit the Critical Mass website.
All details, including the schedule for the 10-Minute Play Series, SoundStage sign up link, Art Around Town display locations and three new Artist Tip Videos are posted online at porthope.ca/arts-festival
Appreciation is extended to all our event partners and sponsors for helping shape the Arts Festival experience. This annual celebration is curated and created by many!
Background
Arts Month is an organic celebration of the arts, and Port Hope’s creative community. It’s an open invitation to get creative, curious and to celebrate. Residents, organizations, and businesses are empowered to help educate, inspire, and connect to a variety of artistic mediums. Participation could be private or more public, and could look like attending a workshop, promoting artfully made merchandise, or sharing your own masterpiece or work-in-progress with others. Visit our Event Calendar for more Arts Month activities at porthope.ca/calendar.