Arts, culture & nightlife
Small city prices, big city culture
Oshawa has a free world-class gallery, a 1920s theatre, Canada's automotive museum, a lakefront fireworks show, and a downtown food and beer scene that keeps getting better. Here is where the city actually plays, and what it costs (often nothing).
The anchor institutions
Six reasons the downtown is the cultural core
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Durham Region’s largest public gallery, in an Arthur Erickson-designed building downtown, with a 4,700-plus work collection including the world’s largest holding of the Painters Eleven. Admission is free.
Visit the siteRegent Theatre
A 1920s performance house on King Street run with Ontario Tech University, hosting concerts, comedy, and touring theatre.
Visit the siteCanadian Automotive Museum
A world-significant collection of Canadian-built and Canadian-owned cars, housed downtown in a former 1920s auto showroom.
Visit the siteOshawa Museum
A community museum in Lakeview Park telling the story of Oshawa and its lakefront, open year-round.
Visit the siteOshawa Art Association
A long-running local artists’ group with workshops, an annual juried show, and spring and fall art festivals.
Oshawa Centre
The region’s largest shopping centre on King Street: a cinema, dozens of restaurants, and major anchors on one site.
The calendar
Festivals and events worth the calendar reminder
- June
Fiesta Week
A mid-June celebration of Central and South American culture in downtown Oshawa, with music, food, and dance.
- June
Peony Festival
Hundreds of peony varieties at Oshawa’s parks with gardening talks, music, and family programming.
- July 1
Canada Day at Lakeview Park
Live entertainment, a family zone, food, and fireworks over the lake, the city’s biggest annual celebration.
- July-September
Events in the Park
Free concerts and programming in city parks through the summer.
- May
Doors Open Oshawa
The first Saturday in May opens heritage and cultural buildings to the public for free.
- September
Convergence Music & Art Festival
A mid-September downtown festival of live music and visual art hosted with Oshawa Tourism.
- September-October
Culture Days
Free hands-on arts events across the city in late September and October.
Food & nightlife
Where to eat and drink this week
Real, currently-open places we send newcomers to, linked to their own sites. This is a snapshot, not the full list, so ask us for the deep cuts.
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Cork & Bean
Coffee and natural wine on Simcoe Street North, a downtown staple.
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Gray & Co. Coffee Shop & Bookstore
Coffee, books, and community space on Centre Street South.
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Isabella's Chocolate Café
A beloved Charles Street spot for chocolate, lunch, and desserts.
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Riley’s Pub
King Street pub classics and sports on the ground floor of the downtown.
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All or Nothing Brewhouse
Small-batch Oshawa-brewed beer with a loyal following.
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Portly Piper Pub
An Irish-style pub on King Street East with a popular patio.
Green space
The parks set the rhythm of summer
Oshawa's lakefront is its public living room. From the beach at Lakeview Park to the festival lawns of Memorial Park and the trail network of the north end, the city builds its programming around its green spaces.
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Lakeview Park
The lakefront flagship: beach, splash pad, gardens, the Oshawa Museum, and Canada Day fireworks.
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Memorial Park
Central downtown green space with monuments, gardens, and festival programming.
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North-end parks & trails
Harmony Valley and the new north-side park system serve the fastest-growing neighborhoods.
Want the newcomer's guide to the good stuff?
On a call, Keith and Lisa will tell you which patios, festivals, and rinks their own Saturdays run on, and which neighborhoods put you closest to the parts you will actually use.