Kawartha Settlers' Village — Attraction in Kawartha Lakes

I’ve visited Kawartha Settlers’ Village a few times now, and every experience has been wonderful. My first visit was over a year ago with my aunt, and I was blown away by the amazing history this place has to offer. The volunteers are so knowledgeable and passionate, it’s clear how much they love sharing the stories and heritage of the village.

Kawartha Settlers’ Village is generally open seasonally from May 1 to September 30, offering visitors the chance to explore the beautifully preserved buildings and learn about the area’s rich pioneer history.

One of the most magical times to visit is during the Festival of Lights, for one weekend in November, the entire village is beautifully decorated and brought to life with lights, and displays that will amaze people of all ages. It’s truly something you don’t want to miss. Pass for event: (November 14-16, 2025 Festival Pass: $15 per person (come and go as you please) Free admission for children 12 and under! (Prices might be different)

What makes Kawartha Settlers’ Village more special is that it’s mostly run by donations and dedicated volunteers. Every person who contributes, whether through time, money, or simply by visiting is helping to preserve a truly amazing place and support a wonderful community.

If you’re looking to bring your family together or rediscover the true meaning of Christmas, this is the perfect place.

Walking through the village feels like stepping back in time, surrounded by a warm and welcoming community of people who pour their hearts into keeping history alive. Kawartha Settlers’ Village is a beautiful and inspiring place to visit, one that I’ll definitely keep coming back to.

Pictures from old to...

This was such a fun place to walk around and learn about the history of the area. The admission price is reasonable and it has so many interesting pieces of the past. Our 2 year old loved the animals (goats, ducks, chickens and bees)! It's so lovely to see all the ways they are still using the buildings, they have themed evenings and a quilting club. We'd love to come back and check out a movie in the barn or the Halloween activities. We arrived later in the day and the staff was so accommodating as they started to close up for the day. They even opened one of the buildings (the oldest in KSV) for us to take a quick look before we left. The kindness of the staff made an already lovely place to check out that much...

We took our grandchildren to the drive through Christmas village, and it was amazing. There was a lead car that took you through the village twice, allowing you to see the displays on both sides of the road. The lights and decorations were well done, and the grandkids were able to tell Santa what they wanted through the car windows! There were numerous silent auction items that you could bid on on-line displayed throughout the village. All in all, it was a beautiful experience, and I hope that they do it again next year. A big round of applause for the volunteers who stood out in the cold greeting us, as well as those who put it all together....