With Kingstonlicious culinary events, film screenings, hockey, a new art installation, and loads of live music, there are plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the season this February in Kingston.
Do you have an event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our Kingston events calendar for consideration. If you’re looking to submit a French-language event, please use our French submission form.
From the panoramic views of Lake Ontario through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the rich, warm tones of the wood walls of the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall, there’s a magic to the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
As both a performance hall and an educational hub for Queen’s University, the Isabel is a surprisingly energetic space, even when there isn’t a performance scheduled. A first-time visitor may be surprised to find the sun-drenched Alexander Murray Jeffery Grand Lobby bustling with visitors sitting down with cups of coffee and tea from nearby Juniper Café, taking in the lake views in the quiet ambiance.
Alexander Murray Jeffery Grand Lobby
It’s the kind of place that’s great to visit even when there isn’t a concert to attend, but those moments without an exciting performance are few and far between. 2024 marks the Isabel’s tenth year of programming, and over the season the hall will be filled with the sounds of inspiring and diverse music.
Carrying a legacy of progress
Since opening its doors in September 2014, the Isabel has earned itself a reputation as a premier destination in Kingston for international live music. According to Isabel director Gordon E. Smith, that was always the plan.
Esme Quartet with Yekwon Sunwoo performance in the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall
“The Isabel is a signature destination. In terms of the performing arts, there really is no other place like it.”
Built into the hillside overlooking the lake, the Isabel creates a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings by capturing elements of the natural landscape. There’s intentionality to its design just as there’s intention to its purpose, which can all be traced back to its namesake: Isabel Bader, who, along with her husband, Alfred, led a legacy of generosity and philanthropy, both in Kingston and elsewhere. It is their legacy that’s expressed in the direction of the Isabel.
“Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility. These are priorities at the university, but also at the Isabel,” says Smith. “These are pivot points for inspiration…These are exciting pathways that we can explore in terms of the performing arts.”
Inspiration and alliances
The theme behind the Isabel’s tenthanniversary is “Inspiration and Alliances,” a name and credo that embodies the selection of this year’s performers. This season sees both new and returning artists on the Isabel stage..
“This tenth anniversary season is a balance of returning artists,” says Smith, “but [also] looking to the future in terms of diversifying what we’re putting on the stage.”
This direction is clear to see in this year’s list of performers. Returning artists like virtuosic pianist Bruce Liu and Canadian Indigenous tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher are slated alongside international artists making their Isabel debuts, like The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Finnish string quartet Meta4.
In the landscape of Kingston music venues, the Isabel cultivates a very different feel from other local spots like the Broom Factory and the downtown pubs where local artists tend to play. Over the years the Isabel has hosted many local artists, from blues singer Miss Emily to the occasional rock band like the Wilderness, and in its tenth season, the performance centre is launching a series specifically designed to welcome local performers into the space. “Friday Nights in the Recital Hall” challenges the notion of certain spaces being designed for certain artists and brings new energy into the space.
The Wilderness performing at the Isabel Bader Centre in 2023
“I like to think of this as breaking that down a bit. It’s about accessibility and inclusion,” says Smith. “This is not meant to compete with anybody in the area, but to animate the space… in ways that engage the community.”
Up-and-coming local artists take to the stage of the Karen Hitchcock Recital Hall for intimate concerts at $20 per ticket. These include returning singer-songwriter Alex Mundy to musicians making their Isabel debut, like local multi-instrumentalist Chris Brown and singer Kate Fenner.
Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall
A must-see destination for any visit
From rousing performances in the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall to quiet coffee chats by the water, the Isabel is a space unlike any other in town.
“It’s well worth coming by, at any time of year,” says Smith. “We love the place, and we like to share it with people.”
If you find yourself roaming around Queen’s University’s historic campus on a Kingston Creative Walking Tour and want to refuel with a sandwich or soda, stop by Café Union.
Bringing in the best in the region
As the name suggests, this campus café in Goodes Hall (143 Union Street) brings together Kingston’s businesses, offering drinks and food items made from locally sourced produce, dairy, and meat products.
Café Union works with local partners such as White Buffalo, a coffee provider that supports Indigenous farmers across Canada, aligning themselves with the Anishinaabe grandfather teachings. White Buffalo rotates their coffee beans seasonally, offering customers the freshest and tastiest brews year-round. You can enjoy your beverage in Café Union’s outdoor seating area on a hot summer afternoon or behind their sweeping glass windows on a cold winter’s day.
The café also offers house-made refreshers, teas, and all-natural sodas from The County Bounty Artisanal Soda Co., boasting eclectic flavours like raspberry & lime, strawberry & basil, and cherry & vanilla.
Quick artisanal meals and exciting flavours
Beyond cold drinks and hot lattes, Café Union serves delectable food options from a savoury chorizo breakfast warp with eggs, roasted red peppers, pico de gallo, and warm pepper cheese to a focaccia panini stuffed with ham, maple bacon, fresh arugula, whipped goat cheese, and cranberry jalapeno jelly.
For a lighter lunch option, you can order the blueberry, apple, and walnut salad topped with a honey balsamic vinaigrette. If you’re in a rush, pick up some egg or energy bites, a cheese croissant, an Allergy Smart cookie, or the café’s specialty, an apple cinnamon loaf, perfect for a cozy fall day.
Other local partners include Juniper Cafe, Wilton Cheese, Wilton Wheat Kings–Dream Come True Kitchen and Patchwork Gardens. Café Union also has vegan, vegetarian, and halal options. They serve an assortment of salads excluding gluten-containing ingredients with an option to add chicken or other protein; if you have any allergies, you’re encouraged to ask before you eat.
At the end of the day, when the café’s kitchen closes its doors, untouched and unused food is donated to local Kingston and Queen’s campus community partners committed to addressing and mitigating food insecurity.
By ordering a coffee or wrap, you’re supporting a network of local businesses, all linked through the café’s charming spot in the heart of Queen’s University’s campus. Café Union is open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 9 pm, Friday from 7:30 am to 6 pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.
In Kingston, limestone passageways open to streets lined with window displays, cafés, and restaurants beckoning you to duck in from the cold and enjoy a comfortable escape indoors. Here are seven delicious food and drink experiences to explore this winter.
The summer may be behind us but it’s still patio season at Wharf and Feather, where you can enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu in one of their heated dining domes. Start with either French onion soup or an order of cheese fondue for two while you take in the lakeside ambiance. Then dive into an entrée of either mushroom risotto, pan-seared chicken supreme, or chateaubriand. Top off the meal with either chocolate fondue for two or raspberry and lemon cheesecake.
Escape from the cold with a hot drink at Crave Coffee House & Bakery. Before you grab a cozy spot by their fireplace, pick out something from their seasonal drink menu, featuring wintery favourites like cool peppermint hot chocolate, gingerbread cold brew, and a snowball latte with white chocolate and coconut. Make sure to browse their selection of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, cakes, squares, and cookies.
Looking for a cozy spot for dinner and a drink? Atomica is celebrating the season with a new line of cocktails and mocktails. Enjoy their winter mule, a seasonal twist on a Moscow Mule with vodka, Galliano, apple, lime, cardamom bitters, and ginger beer. Or try a frosted cosmo, mixing vodka and cherry liqueur with white cranberry, lime, and orange bitters. Pair one of their flavourful cocktails with their new Zucca Violina pizza, topped with butternut squash, prosciutto, chèvre, alfredo sauce, toasted pepitas, and hot honey.
370 King Street West and 497 Cataraqui Woods Drive
Juniper Café’s two locations offer an ideal winter reprieve. Stop by their location in the Tett Centre on the water and grab a peppermint hot chocolate, topped with their house-made peppermint marshmallows, or head to their Terra Verde location on the west end and pick up some peppermint macarons or a bowl of their delicious house-made soup.
Tango Nuevo’s seasonal offerings include a variety of tapas perfect for sharing, like their roasted squash, covered in brown butter honey, chèvre, arugula, toasted walnuts & pumpkin seeds, and a white balsamic glaze, or their heirloom carrot gnudi with brown butter, sage, pumpkin seeds, spinach, garlic yogurt, and lemon. Need some extra protein? Check out their Persian BBQ lamb tacos, filled with confit lamb, pomegranate barbecue sauce, sumac-onion salad, cashew dukkah, garlic yogurt, and house-made pickles on grilled soft taco shells.
Black Dog is rolling out the tavern hot toddy, a rye whisky cocktail with brandy, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, Angostura & ginger bitters, and a house tea blend. Add a bowl of their French onion soup to really warm yourself up. Feeling a little more adventurous? Grab a spot on their back patio in one of their winterized dining domes, perfect for groups between four and eight. Domes are available to book every Thursday through Saturday from 5 pm until close.
No holiday season is complete without delicious seasonal sweets, so be sure to stop by Card’s Bakery to stock up. Get a box of their freshly baked gingerbread Santas or buttery shortbread or tap into your creative side and get everyone involved with their take-home sugar cookie decorating kits.
As the curtain falls on 2024, a wave of anticipation sweeps through the air, drawing us together to ring in the New Year. Whether you find yourself lost in a concert, savouring the delights of a celebratory culinary experience, or standing in awe at those prime spots where time appears to pause during the countdown, this curated list of events is your compass for ushering in the new year in style.
The K-Town Countdown at the INVISTA Centre offers activities for kids and adults. From 5 to 9 pm, activities include a Zoo-To-You Animal Education exhibit, colouring contests, magic and comedy shows, a 19+ painting workshop, a live DJ skate party, glitter tattoos and face-painting, and stuffed animal building. View more details online.
Indulge in one of two prix fixe menus at HEIST Restaurant & Wine Bar, featuring fresh seafood and other curated dishes. Elevate your experience with the addition of shareables, including oysters, shrimp cocktails, pizzas, and more. To view the full menu and book your spot, visit their website.
Limestone City Burlesque will perform their Roaring Twenties New Year’s Eve show at the Spire from 7 to 11 pm. During the show, you will take a step back in time and enjoy a night in the jazz age. With music, dancing, drinks and entertainment, you will surely have a memorable celebration this year. Book tickets online.
Enjoy music, food, and celebration at AquaTerra. Listen to a live DJ and delight in a five-course tasting menu, featuring lobster cacio e pepe, Wagyu striploin, foie gras torchon, and more. Vegan options are available. Opt-in for the wine pairing to experience complementary international wine with each course. View the full menu and reserve a spot online.
Kingston’s Hat Trick with Michael Myers on vocals, Dan Charbonneau on guitar, and Mark Ready on drums, will be playing ’60s-inspired rock n’ roll at RCHA Club from 9 to 11:30 pm. To purchase tickets, call (613) 542-8152 or pick them up in person at the RCHA Club.
Dine in Kingston’s historic Sydenham ward at one of the city’s finest inns. Choose between a three-course and a five-course meal for New Year’s Eve dinner at the Frontenac Club. Chef Cayley will prepare menu options including bison striploin, black cod, olive oil cake, and more. View the full menu and reserve your spot online.
Sing into the new year at Daft Brewing’s NYE Karaoke from 9 pm to 2 am. Call up your friends and meet at Daft for a night of energetic tunes and local brews. Will you be brave enough to get up and sing? Don’t worry; they project the words onto a screen so everyone can sing along with you.
Enjoy live music with friends and family paired with the perfect pint and shareable pub food. The Trevor Walsh Band will get the celebrations rockin’ and rollin’ at 9 pm. To reserve a table, call (613) 544-7474.
Dance the night away from 9 pm to 1 am with DJ FreshPay. There will be appetizers at 10 pm, and a glass of wine with late-night bites at midnight. They also offer a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine at your table if you book six tickets. Book tickets online.
Celebrate the new year at Wharf & Feather with music and a delicious four-course dinner. Enjoy passed canapés, sparkling drinks, and entrees like salmon en croûte, beef short tib, or vegetable mille-feuille, and celebrate the occasion with live music until midnight. Reserve your spot on their website before they sell out!
Bonus: NYE menus at Black Dog Hospitality
Atomica: 71 Brock St.
Black Dog Tavern: 69 Brock St.
Dianne’s: 195 Ontario St.
Harper’s: 93 Princess St.
From 11:30 am to 10 pm, indulge in prix fixe menu items while sipping on festive cocktails at Atomica, Black Dog Tavern, or Dianne’s. Or gather the family and head to Harper’s, open from 11:30 am to 9 pm for a New Year’s Eve feature, then finish your night with a delicious sundae.
From new golf simulators and bowling experiences to the World Junior Championship pre-tournament game, there are sport activities and games for everyone during the holidays in Kingston.
Whether you’re a professional golfer or just looking for something new to try, the Tee Time at Back 9 Indoor Golf offers a realistic and immersive golfing experience. You can reserve a one-hour session for up to five people online.
Get in a quick practice session or stay for a full round of golf on a virtual course at Norm’s Golf & Social. From classic practice and target challenges to mini-games including Capture the Flag and Bullseye, there’s something for everyone’s interest. Get competitive and challenge your friends to a contest for the longest drive. Book a session online.
Save 50% from Monday to Thursday and 25% from Friday to Sunday off mini putt simulators at The Bunker over the holidays. Play a game on the 18-hole indoor dark-light mini-putt course or in a multi-sport simulator. Reservations are not required for mini putt. Reservations are required for the multi-sport simulators. Reserve a time online or call 613-344-3001.
Splitsville has 24 lanes of 10-pin bowling, a new arcade, and a full-service bar and lounge. Its fun and energetic atmosphere makes this a great spot to gather with friends to play some games this season. Reserve a bowling lane online. Wrap up your visit with the classic combo of cheesy pull-apart garlic bread paired with a beer at the bar and lounge. View menu details online.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a live DJ skate party or a sensory skate at the INVISTA Centre. More details can be found online. There are various locations offering public skating throughout the holidays in Kingston, including the INVISTA Centre, Memorial Centre, Centre 70, and Springer Market Square. View the public skating schedule online.
Bundle up and explore the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. It’s the perfect place to go hiking and appreciate nature this season. Bring some bird feed and head to the chickadee feeding area for an opportunity to watch as they eat out of your hand. Learn more about the activities available at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area online.
Challenge yourself or your friends and take on the climbing walls at the Boiler Room Climbing Gym. This won’t be easy (unless you’re a pro), but it will be a fun time with friends. Are you a first-time climber? Find out what you need to know for your first visit online.
Treat your kids to a day at XTreme Trampoline Park over the holidays. There are lots of opportunities here to let off some steam, from jumping around on trampolines to going shot-for-shot in basketball or battling it out in a dodgeball game. Book tickets online.
Holiday hours: Dec 23, 27 – 30 & Jan 2 – 5, 10 am – 8 pm
Rejuvenate for the new year at Morro Yoga. Get your heart-pumping at a reformer pilates class or practice your deep breathing and stretching to boost strength, balance, and mobility at a yoga class in the hot room. Book a class online.
Join us in welcoming the World Junior teams at the Slush Puppie Place. Kingston is one of eleven cities hosting a pre-tournament camp before the World Junior Championships. Team USA and Team Slovakia take the ice on December 21 at 7 pm in a pre-tournament game. Book tickets online.
Catch the first hockey game of the new year on January 1 at 4 pm and watch the Kingston Frontenacs battle against the Brampton Steelheads. For those who need a few days to recover from the holidays, you can also catch the game against the Oshawa Generals on January 3 at 7 pm. Book tickets online.
Kick off 2025 in Kingston with skating in the square, hockey, live music, and unforgettable spa experiences.
Do you have an event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our Kingston events calendar for consideration. If you’re looking to submit a French-language event, please use our French submission form.
Feel the joy and experience holiday fun in Kingston this holiday season. From workshops, markets, and music to welcoming Santa and ringing in the New Year, there’s holiday spirit aplenty in Kingston this season.
1. The Holiday Market
2. Christmas Light Tour
3. Kingston Holiday Market
4. Festive Friday
5. The Nutcracker
6. All Things Christmas gifts & art sale
7. Candlelight Christmas Kingston Symphony
8. Holiday Evening Market
9. Nighttime Santa Claus parade
10. Elvis: a Christmas Special starring Pete Paquette
11. CFB/BFC Kingston Fall Craft Sale
12. Christmas with the Ennis Sisters
13. Snowman candy tray workshop
14. Workshop: Make your own charcuterie board
15. Good Lovelies Christmas concert
16. Candlelight: a holiday special featuring “The Nutcracker” and more
Juno-award winning trio the Ennis Sisters are coming to The Spire to perform their original songs and holiday classics, in addition to a little Irish step-dancing and humourous recitations.
Maureen, Karen, and Teresa Ennis’s soulful folk music highlights their deep connection to their hometown of St. John’s.. The sisters have released 14 albums and, as well as a Juno Award, have won a SOCAN award and multiple ECMAs and MusicNL awards.
The Juno nominee and three-time Canadian Blues Awards female vocalist of the year is spreading the holiday cheer at The Spire on December 6 at 7 pm. MIss Emily is also a longtime supporter of the Kingston Humane Society. Anyone who adopts a pet from the A
December 7 at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm – Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
The Isabel Voices are ringing in the holiday season with a performance of John Rutter’s album Gloria!. The vocal group will be accompanied by a nine-piece brass ensemble, organ, and percussion who will all be illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. The combination of fast and slow songs in Gloria! creates a jubilant atmosphere—the perfect way to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.
In addition to Rutter’s joyous repertoire, the ensemble will perform Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols with Juno-nominated harpist Caroline Léonardelli.
Indulge in festive treats and a glass of bubbly from the cash bar before, during, or after the performances, which will take place on December 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held during the evening performance, enhancing the event’s elegant ambiance.
The Festive Celebration sold out last year and tickets are expected to sell quickly, so purchase them online today.
An East Coast Christmas is an energetic musical by the MacNeil family featuring instruments including accordion, guitar, piano, fiddle, and Celtic harp. Bring your dancing shoes because this Celtic performance will make you want to stomp to the music! Book tickets online to secure a spot at the Barra MacNeils – An East Coast Christmas.
December 20 at 7:30 pm – Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
This trio of songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and harmonizers known for their unique mix of folk, old-time swing, soul, and bluegrass music are coming back to Kingston this December to spread the holiday cheer.
Good Lovelies will perform classic holiday songs and original music from their Juno-nominated album, “We Will Never Be the Same” at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
With the performance taking place just a few days before Christmas, purchase your tickets today to amplify the holiday excitement.
December 20 & 21 at 7:30 pm and December 22 at 2:30 pm – The Spire
Join the award-winning Cantabile Choirs for their beloved annual concert and enjoy traditional carols and holiday music from around the world. The choirs who will be performing include Medio (Sunday matinee only), Grande, Youth Singers, Coro Profondo, and Coro Spirito.
Planning to bring the kids? The afternoon matinee performance is ideal for young families and those who prefer an earlier start.
You never know what you’ll find at Montreal Street Collective; they have used clothing, toys, household décor, and locally handcrafted items, including cards and candles. Visit their store and build a necklace or bracelet to give a loved one this Christmas. Choose from several new and old-fashioned charms to create the perfect gift.
Explore Kingston’s amazing used and vintage clothing stores, where you’ll be sure to find a unique outfit for a special occasion, from a holiday party to a wedding. From What’ll I Wear, a local favourite since 1995, to Kingston’s newest vintage clothing stores, Moxie & Mine and Thrifty Girl. Find bridal wear at Moxie & Mine and everything from warm sweaters to cocktail dresses at Thrifty Girl. Be sure to check out YGK Thrift, Reid’s Clothing, and ClosettCandyy Consignment for more great clothing selections, and Threads & CO Thrift Shop for shoes and vintage clothing. Out on the west end of the city? Check out The Revolving Door for vintage women’s clothing, and Talize for clothes, shoes, and vintage goods for all ages.
Kingston’s refilleries have terrific options for gifts and for your household. Check out Harlowe Green and The Keep Refillery. Put together a basket of handmade bath soaps, pick up some stocking stuffers, and bring in your own containers to stock up on everything from shampoo to laundry soap.
At Kingston’s antique and vintage stores, you can find a perfect piece of seasonal décor, a unique piece of jewelry for a last-minute gift, or even chairs for the extra company around your dinner table this holiday season.
In downtown Kingston, stop by Antique Alley for everything from mid-century modern furniture to fine china, vintage costume jewelry to novelty signs. Antique Emporium offers both vintage and new items, with a great selection of kitsch. The Carson House in the west end offers not only high-end furniture on consignment, but also new home décor, including a nice selection of recycled art glass pieces.
Kingston is the perfect place to explore to complete your holiday shopping list. Read on to discover an eclectic array of small businesses, including a family-owned business selling butter- and lime-infused olive oils and a pottery store boasting unique mugs and bowls.
Shop on us! Receive a $100 Visa gift card when you book an overnight stay between November 18 and December 22 with select hotels. Book a package online!
If you’re unsure what to get for a gourmand friend, visit Cooke’s Fine Foods and Coffee this holiday season.
Stepping inside this nineteenth-century building in the heart of downtown Kingston, you’re met with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and shelves of eclectic sweet treats, including tart jams and creamy chocolates from Europe. Cooke’s sells candies, chocolates, and cookies you can’t find at the grocery store. You can also purchase gourmet sauces, baking supplies, or gift baskets. Cooke’s curates beautiful arrangements, including a cheese lover’s basket, chocolate lover’s basket, and tea lover’s basket.
Card’s Bakery and Goods sells fluffy vanilla cupcakes topped with red and green frosting and soft banana or carrot bars for the sweet-treat lover in your life.
In addition to their seasonal cookies, cupcakes, and bars, Card’s also sells a variety of baking and kitchen supplies. For the cook in your life, pick up a spatula or an embroidered apron, as well as a bag of fresh gingerbread cookies they can dig into on Christmas morning.
Kingston has a variety of breweries selling classic light lagers and dark amber brews for the beer lovers in your life. Daft Brewing offers beers infused with blood orange, lemon balm, and lemon sour or raspberry lemon flavour. Their tall-canned beers are decorated with colourful art from local Kingston artists.
Head over to Riverhead Brewing Company west-end location and purchase one of their tall cans for that lager lover in your life this holiday season. Try the Tropical IPA, with citrus and tropical fruit notes or Feel the Glow, an amber beer with hints of caramel.
Spearhead Brewing Company sells a selection of beers and non-alcoholic beverages you can give this season. Grab a can of Spearhead’s famous Hawaiian Style Pale Ale or AKWA, a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage featuring hints of tropical fruit. For someone who enjoys a darker brew, try Skeleton Park’s Amber or Autumn Fyre.
Amanda’s House of Elegance offers claw clips, essential oil candles, and dainty rings and necklaces perfect for gifts. Buy your girlfriend a necklace with her initial dangling from the silver chain, a light blue retro Bluetooth speaker, or a Taylor Swift-themed coaster for her morning coffee.
Amanda’s also offers Christmas items such as sparkly pinecone candles and glass tree ornaments. Visit Amanda’s Princess Street location to explore their home accessories, candles, jewelry, and more.
Buy a cozy mystery or heartwarming romance novel for the book lover in your life at Novel Idea. The downtown bookstore sells the newest fiction and non-fiction releases, as well as titles by local Kingston authors. Finish your bookish gift off with Novel Idea’s pens or a journal.
Can’t find that fantasy novel your daughter or son put on their wish list? Novel Idea can place a special order, delivering the book to the store free of charge.
Minotaur boasts a plethora of puzzles and card games perfect for gifts. From classic playing cards to escape room puzzles to family night trivia to unique brain teasers, there’s something for everyone at Minotaur.
Their selection of games is always changing, so visit their downtown shop and see what games you can put under the tree this holiday season.
With its bright purple exterior, this shop selling eclectic home goods and accessories is hard to miss.
Lazy Daisies offers products straight from your daughter’s Pinterest board, such as pastel water bottles, sunglasses, keychains, home goods, and interesting candles that smell like fruity cereal or fresh laundry. They also boast a wide selection of stationery, like planners and notebooks, perfect for friends headed back to school in January.
From green mugs to cobalt blue plates with watercolour gradients, each item at this Kingston pottery store is meticulously crafted by local artist Marc Lemieux.
Black Dog Pottery has been selling their handmade functional and ornamental pottery for more than 25 years. Pick up a pair of wine cups to make a holiday toast or a jewel-toned porcelain serving tray for that friend who loves hosting charcuterie nights.
Step inside this thrift store to find some unique gift ideas. Montreal Street Collective has 10 clothing vendors in the shop every month who curate their own sections, so you’ll encounter new cozy sweaters, or sophisticated button-ups every time you step inside.
As well as clothes, Montreal Street Collective sells a variety of housewares and handmade goodies perfect for stocking suffers. If you want to create a sentimental gift, head over to the area of the store where you can make your own charm bracelets.
This clothing and accessory shop offers a diverse selection of collections to suit the unique interests of everyone on your list this holiday season.
Shopping for a Queen’s alumnus or student? Whit Kingston has its own Queen’s University collection that includes toques, crewnecks, and mugs. For music lovers, look at “The Hip” collection, boasting stickers and T-shirts honouring the famous Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip.
They even have a holiday collection with Christmas-themed candles, cozy slippers, and ornaments.
From Levi’s jeans to Kingston sweaters to Taylor Swift stationery, Whit Kingston is a treasure trove of holiday gift ideas.
The Visitor Information Centre offers Kingston T-shirts, sweatshirts, toques, and more for anyone who’d love a touch of Kingston charm under the tree this December.
Their selection of Kingston patches, stickers, and pins make the perfect stocking stuffers as well.
Pamper someone this season with an e-gift card from Glow Spa.
Glow Spa offers facials, massages, and a relaxing thermotherapy experience where customers step into a hot tub, sauna or steam room, move to a cold plunge, and rest before repeating the process for one, two, or three hours. Thermotherapy has a myriad of health benefits, including improved circulation and stress relief. Beyond their rejuvenating treatments, Glow Spa sells nourishing lip balms, soothing serums, and other skin care staples to add on to the e-gift card.
Pick up some mini sampler bottles of handmade lime-infused extra virgin olive oil or champagne white vinegar to tuck into Christmas stockings.
Kingston Olive Oil Company is a family-owned business specializing in small-batch olive oils and balsamic vinegars, ensuring the freshest quality products. As well as classic olive oils and vinegars, they also sell specialty products that you won’t find anywhere else, such as pink guava rose balsamic vinegar, and butter-infused EVOO.
At Kingston Olive Oil Company’s tasting bar, you can taste a selection of oils and vinegars before deciding on the perfect bottle.
Delight the foodie in your life with a gift of tickets for Kingston Food Tours.
Kingston Food Tours offers two walking tours year-round. Their “Classic Kingston” tour includes exclusive tasting experiences at local restaurants peppering the city’s downtown core. Customers gain insight into Kingston’s history while eating crispy tacos and handmade pastas. Their “Tapas Tour” stops at four restaurants where customers sample small tastings paired with an alcoholic beverage or mocktail.
Give an ornament of a significant Kingston site or structure, like the Wolfe Islander III or the old K&P train station. Since 1994, Downtown Kingston has released an annual holiday pewter collection. Kingston-themed ornaments are available for purchase at the Grand Theatre box office (218 Princess Street), Slush Puppie Place box office (1 The Tragically Hip Way), and the Visitor Information Centre (209 Ontario Street) throughout November and December. To get a discount on new ornaments, just show $25 worth of receipts from downtown purchases.
This year, Downtown Kingston offers five ornaments commemorating Kingston’s iconic landmarks (and one ferry). The first ornament to be released is of the old K&P train station (now home to the Visitor Information Centre), available for purchase starting Monday, November 18.
The ornament depicting 178 Ontario Street, home to Mio Gelato, will be released on November 25, and the Wolfe Islander III ornament comes out on December 2. The LaSalle Causeway ornament releases on December 9 and The HIP Sign, commemorating The Tragically Hip, will be available for purchase on December 16.
You can also purchase a selection from previous years’ releases online.
Enjoy live music, festive markets, cozy evenings, and world-class sports in Kingston as we wrap up 2024 and make our way into the new year!
Do you have an event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our Kingston events calendar for consideration. If you’re looking to submit a French-language event, please use our French submission form.
Click each image for information.
1. Christmas Light Trolley Tour
2. Kingston Holiday Market
3. Hockey Road to the World Jrs: Team USA vs. Team Slovakia
4. Paint nite: Santa and the twinkling lights
5. Free horse & wagon rides
6. Dead Root Revival
7. The Great Lake Swimmers
8. Candlelight holiday special featuring “The Nutcracker” and more
9. A Miss Emily Christmas
10. Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny
11. Outdoor holiday party for the animals
12. Night of wonder: songs of the holiday season
13. Golden Feather + Nice On
14. Kingston Frontenacs games
15. Santa’s Little Elves Market
16. Holiday craft workshops
17. O Christmas Tea: a British comedy
18. Musiikki Merch Market
19. Board game night
20. Escape room
21. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
22. Trivia Tuesdays
23. The Homecoming: a Christmas story
24. K-Town Countdown
25. Santa Saturdays
Are you looking for more things to do, packaged experiences, and places to dine in Kingston?
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