Recreation

A wide range of leisure and recreational facilities in the Municipality offer a variety of different programs for individuals of all ages.  There are more than 200 acres of parklands, which include playgrounds, soccer pitches, trails, ball diamonds, gardens and naturalized areas.

Information on the programs and activities is  detailed in the Port Hope Leisure Guide.  This guide is available at any of the recreation centres, municipal offices or you can also view it online here.

The Facilities in Port Hope include:

Jack Burger Sports Complex
60 Highland Drive
Port Hope, ON
Phone: 905-885-2474

This facility includes a 1200 spectator arena, dressing rooms, canteen, viewing area, meeting room, 25 m swimming pool, therapy pool, whirlpool, and a sauna.

Town Park Recreation Centre
62 McCaul Street
Port Hope, ON
Phone: 905-885-7908

This facility includes a 5,800 sq. ft. multi-purpose room, kitchen, change rooms, two general purpose/meeting rooms, a youth centre, lounge area, games room, computer lab, external asphalted activity area, 3 lit tennis courts, outdoor skateboarding and basketball facilities and a soccer field.

Shopping

Port Hope is renowned for its shopping experiences. Antique, boutique, galleries and one of a kind shops, as well as unique home décor and fashion will have you “shop til you drop”.

Shopping opportunities abound in various locations throughout the Municipality. Stores and plazas are easily accessible with free parking lots for your shopping convenience. Take a short drive just outside of the downtown to experience some great niche shops as well. Travel north on County Road 28 where you will be pleasantly surprised with the eclectic items not found in other destinations, including fantastic one of a kind pieces for your home.

The warmer weather brings the opening of the Farmers’ Market and roadside stands so there’s never a shortage of fresh seasonal fruits and produce to pick up along the way.

Art Galleries

There are many beautiful art galleries to visit in Port Hope including the Art Gallery of Northumberland, Ganaraska Art, and Journey Through the Arts Gallery.

Theatre 

The Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre is one of Canada's last operating 'atmospheric' theatres. The interior of the theatre gives the patrons the illusion of sitting in an outdoor medieval courtyard, under a blue sky with twinkling stars and moving clouds.

Fully restored to its original splendour of the 1930s, the 380-seat Capitol operates year-round, providing an exceptional venue for theatre, concerts, films and private functions. The second floor features the 100-seat Sculthorpe Studio Theatre, which is an ideal venue for cabaret theatre as well as corporate meetings, weddings and parties.

The entire Cameco Capitol Arts Centre is air-conditioned, and barrier-free and the theatre is equipped with a system for the hearing-impaired.

For more information: 905-885-1071, 1 800-434-5092 or capitoltheatre.com

Library

Port Hope Public Library
31 Queen Street
Port Hope, ON L1A2Y8
Phone: 905-885-4712

Garden Hill Library
3609 Ganaraska Road
Port Hope, ON
Phone: 905-797-2473

 Museums

The Canadian Fire Fighters Museum

This museum was established in Port Hope in 1984 to depict the historical development of fire fighting in Canada. The museum collects, preserves and exhibits a collection of fire- fighting apparatus. The museum is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, from May 17^th to October 10^th, and is located at 95 Mill Street South, Port Hope near the harbour. For more information: 905-885-8985

Dorothy’s House Museum

A picturesque frame cottage-style house built in the 1800's has been restored to resemble a workingman’s cottage of that period. There are local artifacts to see and take you back to earlier times. An authentic old barn housing farm tools and implement collection sits out behind the cottage, and a Victorian garden highlights the grounds.

Open weekends Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 throughout July and August unless otherwise arranged. The museum is operated by the Port Hope and District Historical Society and is located in scenic Garden Hill, #3632 Ganaraska Road (formerly county road 9).

For more information: 905-797-2291 or 905-885-2981 for times.   Website

Parks and Trails

Local trails include:

The Ganaraska Forest – a 4,000 hectare, multi-use area with year-round recreational opportunities. It has over 300 kms of trails passing through sandy, rolling terrain typical of the Oak Ridges Moraine.  Please visit TRAILS.

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail – a 500 km route that starts in Port Hope and joins with the Bruce trail near Glen Huron. The southern end of the trail begins at the large boulder on the lawn of the Port Hope Town Hall on the west bank of the Ganaraska. See https://www.northumberlandtourism.com/en/see-do/trails.aspx

The Ganaraska Millennium Trail – a relatively level 2.4 km looped trail along the Ganaraska River. The trail begins at the Ganaraska Conservation Authority office on the northwest corner of Hwy 28401 and County Rd. 28.   Website

The Spartan Ravine Walkway – begins on Jocelyn Street west of Crossley Drive (look for the trailhead on the south side) and connects with the Ganaraska Trail. See https://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/index.php?url=trails/view/spartan-ravine-walkway

The Waterfront Trail – has beautiful unobstructed views of Lake Ontario. This trail follows along the lakeshore from the Port Hope Marina, east to Gages Creek, where special wetlands offer an abundance of wetland wildlife. See:https://waterfronttrail.org/places/

Special Events

For a list of upcoming events in Port Hope, please visit: www.porthope.ca/calendar