Family Day Weekend, February 13 - 16, 2026
Downtown Port Hope, ON
A warm hug on a cold weekend, filled with live music, local food, arts, crafts and community. Fun for the whole family!
hibernate Festival Is Coming
live music
Free artistic programming throughout downtown Port Hope celebrating community in typical Cultivate fashion – with tonnes of fun! Everything from print making to live music to letter writing.
Arts, Crafts and Community
Snuggle into some great venues in Downtown Port Hope and have your socks knocked off by some incredible performances in some mighty unique venues. Enjoy free live afternoons and ticketed shows in the evening. You'll find incredible, diverse Canadian music blended with some of our finest local artists too!
Sponsored by:
Family Day Fun
Celebrate Family Day in style at Hibernate’s Family Day Extravaganza! Join us between 12 - 4 p.m at the Lions Centre in Port Hope for a day packed with fun and entertainment. Get down to the lively sounds of Trash Panda Brass, laugh along with the whimsical fun of the Paddling Puppeteer and cap off the day with joyful Balfolk Dancing for all ages. Enjoy delicious slices from Toller Pizza and indulge in soe delicious Ice Cream Sundaes. It’s a family-friendly celebration you won’t want to miss!
Sponsored by:
hibernate hunt
Embark on a fun and educational scavenger hunt through downtown Port Hope shops as we explore the world of hibernating animals! We’ve hidden 40 Ontario hibernators throughout downtown and it’s up to you to find them! Perfect for all ages, this interactive adventure combines learning with local love, making it a delightful winter outing for families and friends.
Grab your card at Furby House Books, start your hunt, and uncover the secrets of winter wildlife while supporting downtown Port Hope and Cultivating Community! There are prizes, too!
Sponsored by:
A By-Donation Festival
Family day weekend
3 days of incredible live programming across downtown Port Hope. Bring the whole family and pop in and out of venues in our beautiful and very walkable town. Take in live music on multiple stages, get crafty, check our artist workshops and even roast some marshmallows! It's three days of barrier-free arts and culture when we need it most.
what it's all about
Community
Hibernate is all about bringing people together! Stroll the streets, spark up a conversation and snuggle into a venue with someone you love or even just met. We'll get you in places you may have never been before, exposing you to the remarkable people and places of Port Hope.
Inclusivity
Cultivate sembraces inclusivity at its core, creating a vibrant space where diverse voices and perspectives flourish. With a celebration of art, music, and culture, it fosters a welcoming environment that promotes unity, acceptance, and the power of shared experiences. We are also committed to access for all - if you’d like a free ticket send us an email to info@cultivatefestival.ca and we’ll send you some with no questions asked.
Free Programming
Hibernate is a hybrid festival with free and paid events, but mostly they are free. With those free events comes a commitment to accessibility. Attendees can immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural experience, enjoying diverse performances, workshops, and interactive artistic programming, all without any cost barriers. If you’d like a free ticket to a paid event, you can simply send us an email to info@cultivatefestival.ca and we would be happy to help as a part of our No Questions Asked policy.
downtown port hope
Beautiful, historic downtown Port Hope. Everything you could ever need in a 500 meter radius. Come see for yourself!
How else can you participate?
Wann host an arts workshop? Volunteer with our team? Become a part of the team that creates the whole thing? We'd love to hear from you.
Funding Partners
Sponsors
TD
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