PORT HOPE Curiosities

Find out what makes us different.

1 William Leonard Hunt, The Great Farini, walked a tightrope across the Ganaraska River in 1859, his first of many public daredevil acts! He was also an avid horticulturalist. Visit the Port Hope Archives for more of our colourful history, and head to Holton Flowers for fresh blooms.

2 Boost your mood and circulation with Himalayan pink salt. Relax in the salt cave or enjoy a workshop at Shantee Healing.

3 Discover Fluke Craft driftwood fish and other local art pieces created from found natural objects around Port Hope. Each September through October, some 5,000 to 10,000 wild chinook and silvery coho salmon swim up the Ganaraska River to spawn.

4 See acclaimed Port Hope author Farley Mowat's personal book collection and Second World War uniform at Farley's Lookout at the Port Hope Public Library.

5 Your key to Port Hope's unique architecture, both past and present, on view in the annual Port Hope House Tour on October 3.

6 Come experience the wild Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny river race April 11 that commemorates the big flood of 1980. Mementoes include historical pins and a Fanny in the Ganny 45-rpm record by The Back Forty.

7 Port Hope is a local food destination. Suntree Natural Foods Marketplace has upcycled produce bags and pesticide-free pea and sunflower shoots from Cedar Hedge Farm. And check out the Garden Hill Farmers Market for onions and cabbage.

8 Join the November 27 Candlelight Festival walk that kicks off Christmas in Port Hope with a magical lighting ceremony in Memorial Park.

9 Horror master Stephen King has visited Port Hope! We've been the set for both recent IT movies. Get your copy of The World of IT at Furby House Books.

10 Visit Haute Goat for alpaca-wrapped goat milk soap bars and an Alpaca Knufflfle Shufflfle or Goat Shmurgle!

SET DECOR: Post + Beam Reclamation reclaimed wood from a door casement in a renovated hospital; Dash & Albert Mali Grey Rug from Dane & Jute.