Address:

Downtown Port Hope
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Festivals Fairs Markets and Workshops

Event Details:

The annual Port Hope Arts Festival returns on Saturday, August 8, 2026, featuring many of the traditional favourites, including the 10-Minute Play Series, an outdoor artisan market, wagon rides, hands-on activities, and a community gathering in Memorial Park.

The beloved 10-Minute Play Series will feature 15 different short plays across 8 locations throughout the day, ranging from comedies to thought-provoking dramas. Performances will take place on the hour and the half hour between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; each play will be performed 5 times at open-air locations throughout downtown.

Art Around Town also returns this year, showcasing the work of local artists in various shop windows Downtown. This initiative continues to bring together artists and merchants to transform downtown Port Hope into a vast outdoor gallery. The artwork will be on display from August 1 to August 16.

The Port Hope Public Library and Furby House Books have teamed up to present two special poetry events as part of the Festival this year. Author Kate Rogers will deliver a poetry workshop on August 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for current and former caregivers to explore writing as a healing practice. At 1:00 p.m., visit the bookstore for a poetry reading with Laurie D. Graham and Kate Rogers, featuring selections from their new books, Calling it Back to Me and Baba Yaga and the Girl Who Ate the Rope.

The outdoor artisan market kicks off at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 4:00 p.m. 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.

In Memorial Park, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., a vast assortment of local organizations will be set up offering hands-on activities to attendees of all ages. It is a great chance to connect with Port Hope’s creative community, find out what’s happening and try your hand at something new.

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 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 hosting an outdoor concert on Queen Street Under the Marquee at 8:00 p.m. with Nicholas Campbell & The Metre Cheaters! Enjoy a high-energy night of hot-rod rockabilly and smooth crooning from this local legend, all under the beautiful Port Hope night sky.

For more Arts Festival details or arts related programing in Port Hope in the month of August, visit: porthope.ca/arts-festival