Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2026 William and Nona Heaslip Foundation Summer Festival, a free, weekly music and theatre series running from June through August at Traill’s outdoor Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre (315 Dublin Street) in downtown Peterborough. 

June 4 - Munsch Goes Wild, presented by New Stages Theatre 

Stories by Robert Munsch. Adapted and performed by M. John Kennedy. Directed by Dahlia Katz.  
A fun one for the whole family! Join the incomparable M. John Kennedy for a high-octane theatrical storytelling event for the young (and young at heart)! Featuring four of Robert Munsch’s most beloved tales, told in the most creative and energetic ways. If you saw Fireside Munsch at the amphitheatre in 2025, these are all-new stories being told. 
Ages 4-104 (silly language!). Runtime: 60 min.  

June 11 - Kash & Kerry & Friends: An Improv Variety Show, presented by New Stages Theatre

Featuring Linda Kash, Kerry Griffin, and friends like Megan Murphy, Kate Suhr, and more  
World-class improvisers and comedians Linda Kash and Kerry Griffin return to the amphitheatre for an evening of inspired improvisation in the open air. They will be joined by some special guests for a variety show of epic comic proportions. No scripts, no rehearsals, just the joy of Kash & Kerry!
All ages but geared to adult audiences. Runtime: Approx 75 min

June 18 - Four Lanes Wide

Classic Rock covers
An experienced classic rock dance band, playing favourites from across the decades.

June 25 - Irish Millie Live

Contemporary Singer-Songwriter
Irish Millie is a contemporary Canadian folk artist, singer-songwriter, fiddler, and multi-instrumentalist from Peterborough, Ontario. Known for her high-energy performances, heartfelt storytelling, and fresh approach to roots music, Irish Millie blends voice-led songwriting with the drive of fiddle traditions, creating a sound that feels both deeply rooted and entirely current.

July 2 - Just Folk-Songs and Stories from Canada’s Past

With Mark Finnan and Friends
In 1956, famed Canadian Folklorist Edith Fowke visited the village of Douro near Peterborough. She spent many decades collecting and recording folk songs that were at risk of being lost. Mark Finnan will share reflections on her career and time in the region. Glen Caradus and Michael Ketemer will perform songs from her collection.

July 9 - Carpe Noctem

Funky Jazz
Carpe Noctem has been playing original songs and less frequently played jazz standards in Peterborough for twelve years. With a two tenor saxophone front line, they have exciting chemistry and play some funky tunes - you might want to bring your dancing shoes! [AB1.1]

July 16 - Dueling Disciplines: Music and Poetry

With David Newberry and Justin Million
A songwriter and a poet share the stage for a one-of-a-kind performance that will be collaborative, competitive, and creative.

July 23 - Victoria Yeh & David Hines

Jazz
Long-time collaborators Victoria Yeh and David Hines Long-time collaborators Victoria Yeh and David Hines share the very best of their song collection from original music to reimagined covers of artists ranging from Joni Mitchell to Soundgarden and Zeppelin, your soul will be inspired and delighted!
Victoria Yeh’s unique style….haunting, daring and electrifying. Classically trained, Yeh combines the purity of her musical heritage with the edginess of prog fusion. She lights up the stage with her infectious energy, her passion and her distinctive style. A highly sought-after live performer, Victoria has toured across Canada from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Her work as a recording artist and film composer has garnered international acclaim and has been featured on various indie albums, TVO, Netflix and Hallmark. 
David Hines has appeared on stages large and small across Canada, including a two-year ramble as Amanda Marshall’s original bandleader. The combination of David’s solid groove and imaginative guitar voicings with Victoria’s unmistakeable and fearless take on the violin is electrifying!

July 30 - Peterborough Concert Band

Pop, Big Band, Broadway
Always a crowd pleaser, for over 150 years the Peterborough Concert Band has delighted audiences with their mix of big band music, marches, movie soundtracks, and pop.

August 6 - I, the Mountain

Folk-Rock
Don’t miss what will be a feel-good show of folk-rock musicians playing a mix of their own music and some familiar toe-tapping tunes.

August 13 - Footnote to Freedom, presented by New Stages Theatre

Written and performed by Beau Dixon and Lance Dixon
After a sold-out performance at Market Hall in November, New Stages is delighted to present a workshop presentation of FOOTNOTE TO FREEDOM, a vital new Canadian musical, at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre. 
The musical is about their grandfather, Private George Dixon, a cornet player in the No. 2 Battalion in the first World War.  The No. 2 was the first and only Black Battalion in Canadian military history, but its existence was ignored and forgotten for decades.  
With original songs and dramatic personal stories about the impact of the No. 2 Battalion on their family and on themselves, FOOTNOTE TO FREEDOM is an exciting new musical that the Dixons hope to share across the country.  
Suitable for ages 10+. Runtime approx. 70-80 mins.

August 20 - Summer Soiree, presented by New Stages Theatre

An evening of theatrical & musical delights
Enjoy an evening of theatrical and musical delights under the open sky.  New Stages winds down the summer theatre season with a curated collection of short works for the stage. A gathering of artists and audience, a soiree is a theatrical tradition that promises an evening of fresh, lively, and varied acts—music, movement, text, and more. It’s a vital performance tradition we’re reviving in Peterborough, and we welcome you to join us at our first summer soiree on the last night of the 2026 William and Nona Heaslip Festival at Traill College.
Runtime approx. 80-90 mins