Events
January
Resolution Run
Held early January
Location: Royal Military
College
613-541-6000
Kingston Road Runners annual 8
km New Year's race. The race starts and finishes at the RMC Arch, and the course
covers parts of the RMC campus, Fort Henry Hill and the Fort Henry heights
residential area.
Winter Adapted Games
Held end of January
Location: Queen’s University
613 533-2000
The Winter Adapted Games (WAG)
is a fun-filled day held at Queen’s University. Its primary goal is to provide
children with identified special needs who are currently attending elementary
school in Kingston and surrounding areas the opportunity to participate in a day
of non-competitive games and activities. The purpose is to promote the
importance of physical activity and having fun in a supported social
environment. Each participant will have the opportunity to share this experience
with a university buddy from Queen’s.
February
Valentine's Lantern Snowshoe
Hike & Evening Skate
Held on Valentine’s Day
(February 14)
Location: Little Cataraqui
Creek Conservation Area
613-546-4228
The Lantern Snowshoe Hike starts at the Outdoor Centre at 7:00 p.m. with an
evening journey through marsh, field and forests and end with a warm drink by
the fireside in the West Hall. Bring your sweetheart or bring the family for a
lovely Valentine's evening of either skating or snowshoeing or both.
Live at your Library Recital
Series
Held mid February
Location: Central Branch
Library
613-530-2050
Admission Charged
The Kingston Jazz Society presents Kingstonians with a chance
to JAZZ up their winter! Expect a wide variety of jazz, including classic swing
to warm ballads. Presented in an intimate setting in the Wilson room, audience
members are given the opportunity to discuss jazz with the performers.
March
Kingston Canadian Film Festival
Held late February – early
March
Location: various venues
613-547-0677
One of the world's largest stand-alone showcase of feature films from across the
country.
ReelOut Kingston’s Queer Film
and Video Festival
Held mid March
613-533-3189
Call for specific information
Come and celebrate quality LGBT
film in Kingston!
Maple Madness
Held mid March
Location Little Cataraqui Creek
Conservation Area
613-546-4228
Throughout March Break, take a tractor-drawn wagon back to the sugar bush to see
how maple syrup was made in the past and how it is made now.
French Canadian Heritage Day
Held mid March
Location: Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area
613- 546-4228
Join the education staff and
special guests of different ages for presentations at the Outdoor Centre to
learn French Canadian songs, dances, and vocabulary.
St. Patrick’s Day Guided Tours
Held March 17
Location: Little Cataraqui
Creek Conservation Area
613-546-4228
Wear green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Guided tours of the sugar bush are
featured throughout the day.
Presqu’ile Waterfowl Festival
Held mid March
Location: Presqu’ile
Provincial Park
613-475-4324
Come celebrate the return of spring at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Volunteer
naturalists will help you identify over 25 different species of ducks, geese and
swans. View Poster Contest displays and waterfowl carving displays and
participate in daily children's programs.
April
Good Friday Concert
Held on Good Friday
Location: Chalmers United
Church
613-533-2558
Performance of Bach's Mass in B
Minor at Chalmers United Church; with the Melos Choral Ensemble and the Choir of
Chalmers United Church.
Sunday Flea Markets
Held every Sunday from 8am –
4pm during the last two weeks in April
Location: Frontenac Mall's Parking Lot
Are you always listening to bargain hunting stories? Want to tell some of your
own? Well, now you can when you visit Frontenac Mall's Sunday Flea Market!
You'll find all kinds of bargains on books, videos, cd's, furniture, fresh food
and more!
Birds Returning
Held mid April
Location: Little Cataraqui
Creek Conservation Area
613-546-4228
Kick off National Wildlife Week with the Kingston Field Naturalists leading a
birding hike.
Greater Kingston Chocolate Cake
Bake Off
Held late April
Location: St. George Cathedral
Great Hall
613-548-4617
Admission Charged
In search of the best chocolate cake in Kingston. Contest categories:
professional baker, non-professional baker, children aged 7-11, children aged
12-16. Includes cake social, coffee, tea milk, cake auction and wonderful
entertainment. All proceeds benefiting the Children's Fund of the Frontenac
Children's Aid Society.
Spring Arts & Crafts Show
Held late April – early May
Location: Frontenac Mall
613-544-9134
Spring Arts & Crafts Show
featuring fine local and area crafters.
May
Ontario Senior Games
Held mid May
Various locations in Kingston
613-546-1359
For everyone 55+! Area Senior
Games include euchre, cribbage, contract bridge, darts, floor shuffleboard,
golf, horseshoes, carpet, lawn, 10-pin and 5-pin bowling, walking, swimming &
tennis.
Haunted Walk of the Fort
Held late May
Location: Fort Henry
613-549-6366
Admission Charged
Reservations required
This tour takes place at Fort
Henry National Historic Site, Kingston's spooky 19th century fortress. Those who
are brave enough to enter find that the Fort has become home to many active
ghosts and some shocking darker history as well.
Queen Victoria Celebrations
Held May 24
Location: Fort Henry
613-549-6366
Join Fort Henry celebrate the
birthday of Her Majesty Queen Victoria with a special 21 Gun Salute, Feu de Joie
and the daily Garrison Parade. Guided tours of Fort Henry will be offered
throughout the day along with activities for children of all ages.
Lennox & Addington Fringe
Festival
Held late May
Location: Napanee Market Square
next to Town Hall
613- 354-3042
An outdoor artisan festival
being organized by the Napanee Artisan Guild. Includes artisans and craftspeople
from L&A and the surrounding area selling their wares to the public. There will
also be acoustic musicians throughout the weekend.
Don't Rock the Boat
Held late May
Location: Collins Bay Marina
613-549-1232
Admission Free
Win a prize, test paddle a
Canoe or kayak, join in the Great Kay-duck Race, try the windsurfing and sailing
simulators, enjoy the Fashion Show, see many different rescue demonstrations and
see CFB Trenton 424 Squadron perform an on water helicopter rescue. Fun for the
whole family, with special activities just for children, face painting,
colouring, knot tying and games.
June
Canadian Forces Day Celebration
Held early June
Location: MacNaughton Parade
Square
613-541-5010
The Andy Fund of Kingston Golf
Tournament and Pig Roast
Held mid June
Location: The Landings Golf
Club next to Norman Rogers Airport
613-544-4441
July
Kingston Buskers
Rendezvous
Held mid July
Location: various venues in
Kingston
613-548-4415 or 888-855-4555
Street performers with talents ranging from
fire eating, to sword swallowing, to comedy, perform for crowds of thousands.
Twin Otter
Skydiving Boogie
Held early July
Location: 258 Airport Road
613-382-5114
Book your tandem jump to join
groups of 22 skydivers jumping from 13,500 feet! That extra altitude gives you
up to 50 seconds of freefall!
FanFayr
Held early July
Location: Confederation Park
613-549-7706
Admission Free
FanFayr is a juried arts and
crafts show featuring exhibitors from across southern Ontario and southern
Quebec.
August
Live Steam Festival
Held: Late August 29 to
September 1.
Location: Pump House Steam
Museum
613-542-2261
Call for additional information
2004 Sheep Dog Trials
Held early August
Location: Grass Creek Park
613- 546-7998
One-hundred border collies and
their handlers descended on Grass Creek Park - a 52 acre 'paradise' located
along the St. Lawrence River - for the annual Kingston Sheep Dog Trials. The
trials offer a unique opportunity for spectators to learn about and to watch
these hard working dogs. It's fascinating to watch them as they try and outrun,
fetch, drive and pen a herd of Waupoos sheep.
Kingston Women's Art Festival
Held mid August
Location: Kingston City Park
613-544-2725
Limestone City Blues Festival
Held late August
Location: Downtown Kingston
888-855-4555
Every
August Downtown Kingston gets the beat as chords of great blues music fills the
air!
Silver Lake Traditional Powwow
Held end of August
Location: Silver Lake
Provincial Park, Mayberly ON
613-268-2000
Admission Charged, children
under 12 are free
Call for additional information
Canadian Olympic-training
Regatta -CORK
Held for two weeks in August
Location: Portsmouth Olympic
Harbour and additional venues
613-545-1322
In August of each year, sailors
come from around the world to participate in one of international yacht racing's
premier events, which features over 20 classes and drawing more that 1,000
sailboats, more than 2,000 competitors and coaches from many countries as well
as over 10,000 tourists and site-seers. The CORK venue spans the City of
Kingston from its headquarters at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (the site of the
1976 Olympic Sailing events). CORK's Racing takes place on six courses which
extend from the St. Lawrence River well out into Lake Ontario and cover a
geographic area of over twenty square miles.
September
Kingston Fall Fair
Held mid September
Location: Downtown Kingston
613-542-6701
Dragon Boat Festival
Held end of September
Location: Kingston Rowing Club
on Kingston's inner harbour
613-542-2674
In addition to the racing
itself, the Kingston Festival is a celebration of events on land; including
Chinese cultural shows, a food fair and exciting events for the whole family.
November
Kingston United Music Festival
Held end of November
613-542-2674
Call for location and details
Dickens of a Festival -
Festival of Trees 2002
Held end of Nov – the month
of December
Location: Portsmouth
Olympic Harbour
613-542-2674
Transport yourself back to the
days of Charles Dickens. Stroll through the streets of a charming Victorian
village, showcasing one-of-a-kind designer creations. A 10-day community event
in support of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital, Providence
Continuing Care Centre and the Kingston Regional Cancer Centre. You won't want
to miss the unique shopping opportunities, live entertainment and a variety of
exciting children's activities the festival has to offer.
Santa Parade
Held end of November
Location: Downtown Kingston
Hours: starts at 5pm
December
Jingle Bell Walk
Held early December
Location: City Hall to City
Park
Join in a walk to witness the
lighting of the trees in City Park
Craft Creation Christmas Craft
Show
Held mid December
Location: Portsmouth Olympic
Harbour
613-256-1414
Rockin’ at the Clock
Held December 31
Location: In front of City
Hall
613-546-7998
Admission Free
Bundle up and celebrate the New
Year with the whole family in front of city hall with hot chocolate, a host of
local entertainers, and a spectacular fireworks finale.
Arts
Kingston Symphony Association
77 Brock Street
Kingston ON K7L 1B2
613-546-9729
Call for performance schedule
Over 25 concerts of Orchestral
and choral music are presented each season.
Grand Theatre
218 Princess Street
Kingston, ON K7L 5C8
613-530-2050
Call for performance schedule
The Grand Theatre is an 820
seat performing Arts Facility located in downtown Kingston in an historical
building. It is the home of The Kingston Symphony, which provides a variety of
concerts and stage productions appealing to a wide audience.
Thousand Islands Playhouse
690 Charles St. South
Gananoque, ON K7G 2T8 (20 minutes from downtown Kingston)
613-382-7020
Live, professional theatre in a
picture-perfect riverside location. Dock at our front door! Comedy music and
drama from mid-May to early November.
Sports
Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Ontario Hockey League
Kingston Memorial Centre
303 York Street
Kingston, ON
613-542-4042
