As the weather warms in Kingston, we’re looking forward to summer months full of events! From Pickleball Championships to the Football Canada Cup and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CORK, read on to learn about the top five Summer sport events in YGK.
Kingston will play host to the 2019 and 2020 Pickleball National Championships; welcoming almost 1,000 participants from across Canada to the Invista Centre. “Pickleball is among Canada’s fastest growing sports and we see its popularity here in Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “We look forward to these exciting events growing the awareness and popularity of this great sport.” The tournament is expected to have an economic impact of $2 million to the city over two years.
The season will kick off in early July in Kingston at Queen’s University’s Richardson Stadium. Eight provincial teams from coast to coast – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and host Ontario will play in Kingston to compete for gold in the national championships. The competition also showcases the top players in the country, and is the main recruiting event for USports programs.
Drop by Portsmouth Olympic Harbour for the 2019 World Sailing – ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships. This year, we’re expecting at least 200 participants from 29 countries. Athletes will have qualified in their own country to compete in this championship. Racing starts every day a noon with up to eight races per day. If you’re looking for a location to spectate, CORK recommends the waterfront pathway between Portsmouth Olympic Harbour to the Kingston Yacht Club and even on Wolfe Island.
Kingston will welcome at least 160 athletes from 31 confirmed countries around the world in August. Similar to the ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships, athletes will be in the younger age range of 13-17 years old. Many of the sailors return to Kingston year after year and have significant family ties to the sport. Keep your eye out for a few Kingston athletes representing Canada at this competition!
The Chess’n Math Association, the Chess Federation of Canada and the World Chess Federation will be hosting the 16th Annual North American Youth Chess Championships at Queen’s University. This will be the first time Kingston hosts a FIDE event and the fourth Canadian city to host this international 9 round tournament. Kingston will welcome players from Canada, United States and Mexico during the 6-day competition.
All Canadian music fans can trace some of their favourite acts back to the Limestone City. For local band Enrights, that history starts with a case of beer two years ago.
After their respective earlier bands shared a stage, Enrights guitarist Andrew Wright and frontman Jack McAvoy split some drinks and planned their next project—a high-energy indie act dedicated to their Canadian music heroes. Both students, they holed up in a free recording space over Reading Week, writing their first EP in “a couple of days” with no producer or label. The result was their first release, Dad Beers Vol. 1.
The record is a love letter to student life, filled with beer-soaked, party-ready indie rock tunes. Their next EP, Six Pack, followed later that year and the band’s voice came into sharper focus—heartfelt tracks crammed with references to local geography and real-life relationships.
Photo via Enrights Facebook
It’s a familiar story in Kingston’s music scene, where national acts often start with little more than a DIY attitude and some free time from school or work. For this city, catching a band like Enrights at local establishments like The Toucan or The Mansion is a bet on the future of country’s music scene.
For McAvoy, Kingston music fans’ support has been vital for the band. The city’s small enough for a community to form and nurture new artists, connecting the live acts and the promoters that make the city the home of Canadian music.
In the Enrights case, that support helped them share a stage with The Sam Roberts Band, Theory of a Deadman and The Trews within a couple of years of forming.
“Someone one will ask a local band to play a show and that local band can’t play it. They’ll say, ‘check out the Enrights; they’re good guys,’” McAvoy said.
Photo via Enrights Facebook
The band’s early success as a live act is a direct result of their bubbly energy on stage, channelling the spirit and improvised dance moves of a house party into the crowd-pleasing indie on their records. Since releasing their debut full-length album, Marathon, the band’s set their sights on expanding their fanbase, planning to tour Ontario on their way to releasing their sophomore LP.
Benefitting from a longer production timeline, their debut album is a more mature offering that retains the husky vocal delivery of earlier efforts while adding eye-watering harmonies. Lyrically, the beer and house parties of past records have taken a backseat to a newfound vulnerability. Album standouts like “Marathon” and “Dancing in the Rain” mine personal relationships for a relatable, surprisingly confessional record.
For a band raised on Canadian rock, it’s another step toward joining their influences on stages across the country. While other acts might only appear in Toronto or Vancouver, Wright said “We’re just surrounded by [Canadian music] … you can see your favourite bands for 10 or 15 bucks. That’s a treat.”
On that front, Kingston has built a reputation for a reason. Churning out great live acts is one thing, but all of them playing within a few blocks of each other is another. For Wright, following Gord Downie passing away—and more of the city’s musicians gaining traction—the musical hub is getting more attention.
With another album on the way and shows lined up for the summer, Enrights are just one of the acts building on the town’s legacy.
“We’ve gotten so lucky with the Kingston music scene,” McAvoy said.
As always, July has some heavy festival hitters this year, including Artfest and the Buskers Rendezvous at the beginning of the month and Taste of Kingston at the end. In between are three theatre festivals and Fort Henry’s annual tattoo.
Canada Day in Kingston
Sunday, June 30 – Monday, July 1, 2019
Downtown and Grass Creek Park
The Canada Day good times start on Sunday evening with a concert in Confederation Park headlined by Mauricio Montecinos & The Latin Beat Band. On Monday, seven artists play Confederation Park too, including local indie rockers The Wilderness at 9 pm. Elsewhere downtown, the Limestone Mile footrace returns, as does the People Parade. Out at Grass Creek Park, expect family-friendly activities like carnival games, a kite festival, and a DJ. Or you can just hang at the beach and build sandcastles. At 10 pm, head back to Confederation Park for the city’s biggest fireworks show of the year.
Free
Artfest Kingston
Until Monday July 1, 2019, 10 am – 6 pm
City Park
Canada Day also marks the last day of this weekend fest featuring over 200 artists from across Ontario and Quebec. Browse and buy their pottery, glass, wood, jewellery, and other creations, and then check out some live theatre and the 100-foot art mural. A few bands and poets are also expected, as is a First Nations art pavilion, a craft beer and wine tent, and programming for the kids.
Free
Kingston Buskers Rendezvous
Thursday, July 4 – Sunday, July 7, 2019
Downtown
The acrobats, contortionists, and fire-breathers return to Kingston for the 31st time this year. Catch them in four downtown areas: Market Square, Confederation Park, Princess Street, and Ontario Street. No doubt one of the big draws will be Denmark’s DynaMike, whose comedy show includes ninja-grade machete manipulations, a ten-foot unicycle, and chainsaw juggling. Whoever you see, though, remember to fill the hat — that’s how performers get paid.
Donation
One-Act Play Festival
Friday, July 5 – Saturday, July 6, 2019
Domino Theatre
This yearly juried theatre fest includes five short plays over two nights written and performed by local talent. Three judges choose which play goes on to the Eastern Ontario One-Act Festival in November in Perth, though you can help them decide if you see all five shows. The lineup this year includes three comedies, an improvised farce, and a family drama.
The second theatre fest this month really tries to push the boundaries of what theatre is, or could be. As an audience member, for instance, you might find yourself in a living room or even in a basketball game onstage. None of it’s kitschy, though. This is a professionally run three-week festival featuring award-winning Canadian performers and original, internationally award-winning works.
Prices vary
Storefront Fringe Festival
Friday, July 19 – Saturday, July 27, 2019
Downtown
Like other fringe fests around the world, this one is all about un-curated and uncensored experimental theatre. Eighteen shows are on the lineup this year, and they’ll happen over eight days in three empty downtown storefronts. Some of the theatre companies are from Kingston, but others are from elsewhere in Canada, the U.S., and England. One is San Diego’s Intrepid Theatre Company, which will perform “The Thousandth Night”, about an actor who gets arrested in occupied France in 1943.
$12 per show, plus a one-time $3 payment for a Fringe Pin
Fort Henry Annual Tattoo
Saturday, July 27, 2019, 7:30 pm
Fort Henry
Tattoos were once known as evening drum or bugle signals recalling soldiers to their quarters, but now they’re big musical and drill showcases open to the public. This annual one at Fort Henry’s Parade Square features various fife, brass, pipe, and drum acts, including the HMCS Ontario Band, The Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada, and The Commissioner’s Own Pipes and Drums of the Ontario Provincial Police. The evening will culminate in a massed band grand finale with fireworks.
$17 – $25 (free for kids 4 and under)
Taste of Kingston
Sunday, July 28, 2019, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Confederation Park
Here’s your most efficient way to get a taste of Kingston’s award-winning food scene. Dozens of food vendors will be at this annual food fest offering up bite-sized creations that have, in the past, included everything from grilled cheese paninis to butter chicken to roasted garlic bruschetta. Tasting tickets are $1 each, but samples could require multiple tickets. All proceeds go to sending kids living with diabetes to Diabetes Canada’s D-Camps.
If you’re a fan of singer-songwriters, you’re definitely covered this month, as recent Indigenous Music Award-winner Mimi O’Bonsawin plays Musiikki, local up-and-comer Alexa Goldie is at The Mansion, and New York legend Willie Nile is on the Blu Martini stage.
Luscious
Friday, July 5, 2019, 10 pm
The Merchant Tap House
What was once The Brielle LeBlanc Band is now Luscious, a pop-rock cover band that plays everything from Led Zeppelin to Bruno Mars. The group packs some serious Kingston talent, including the always captivating LeBlanc, so it’s no wonder they’re becoming known as one of the most captivating and consistently fun cover bands in the city.
Free
Dave McGrath
Saturday, July 6, 2019, 2 pm
Spearhead Brewing Company
Every Saturday afternoon, Spearhead hosts different local musicians in its taproom, and this week its acoustic troubadour Dave McGrath. Born in Kingston and now living in Rochester, New York, McGrath plays a mix of blues, rock, and country covers and originals. If you like what you hear, you’ll have plenty of chances to see him again, as he plays over 200 shows a year throughout the region.
Free
Buckcherry
Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 8 pm
The Ale House
Can you believe that Buckcherry has released eight studio albums? It seems like yesterday the high-energy California rockers were hitting it big with the album “15”, which included early hits “Crazy Bitch” and “Sorry”. But that was over 12 years ago, and since then they’ve released four more albums, including this year’s “Warpaint”, which some are saying is their best since “15”.
$39.99
The Angelina Hunter Trio
Saturday, July 13, 2019, 9 pm
RCHA Club
This Ottawa-based trio is all about soul-infused blues rock punctuated by screaming guitar solos from Angelina Hunter. They released their first album last year, but they’ve been playing together for years, and you can hear that familiarity in the power of Hunter’s voice and the tightness of bassist Adam Bell and drummer Sandy Hunter. It’s no wonder they won the Ottawa Blues Society’s Road to Memphis competition in 2017.
$10
The Lionyls
Wednesday, July 17, 2019, 9 pm
The Mansion
The second Ottawa band on this list is the four-piece rock and soul outfit The Lionyls. They’ve been making crowds get up and groove all over the Ottawa Valley for over five years now, and have supported artists like Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, and The Trews. This fall they’ll release their second album, which mixes elements from afrobeat, jazz, and hip hop with the band’s funk, soul, and rock roots.
$10 adv/$12 door
Mimi O’Bonsawin
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 8 pm
Musiikki Café
Contemporary roots songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin is coming off a big win at the Indigenous Music Awards this spring for Best Pop Album. Now the Northern Ontario-born artist is touring all over the province with her soulful voice and rich stories that often touch on her Abénakis and French-Canadian heritage. She says she writes songs with the intention of giving back and spreading the word about the merging of those two communities.
Pay what you can
Alexa Goldie
Friday, July 19, 2019, 7 pm
The Mansion
Kingston singer-songwriter Alexa Goldie has been writing her own music and performing around town since she was 12. Now the rising 20-year-old is set to release her debut country single “Take the Blame” at this all-ages Mansion show. She’ll also be playing other pop-country originals and covers with a full backing band.
$15 adv/$20 door
North Easton
Friday, July 19, 2019, 8 pm
Musiikki Café
North Easton is an award-winning songwriter from Ottawa with more than 1,000 songs to his name. You may have heard some of those tunes on radio, TV, and in independent films across the country over the past 20 years, but you’ll definitely want to hear them live, as the man has a gift for coupling thought-provoking lyrics with powerful, heartfelt vocals. Think Cat Stevens, Adam Duritz, and Don McLean.
Pay what you can
Willie Nile
Friday, July 26, 2019, 9:30 pm
Blu Martini
Willie Nile is a giant of American folk and rock, and may be one of the most underappreciated singer-songwriters of his generation. Soon after he began playing in the late 1970s in Greenwich Village, the New York Times called him “the most gifted songwriter to emerge from the New York folk scene in some while.” Today, his fans include Bruce Springsteen and Bono, and though he’s now 70 years old, he and his band still know how to blow the roof off any venue they play.
$20
Lotus Shaker
Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 pm
The Toucan
This four-piece Kingston rock band has been taking the city by storm for over a year with a mix of funky, dark covers and now original tunes, too. As they put it: “We play a variety of gut-wrenching, soul searching, rough-around-the-edges kind of music.” In other words, the perfect fit for a sweaty summer show at the intimate and gritty Toucan.
Free
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
Kingston Live is a monthly podcast that offers up behind-the-scenes insight into the Kingston music scene. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s emerging artists and where to see them play live, you’ll find it here! If you’re a resident music lover or visitor looking for the inside scoop on Kingston’s local music scene, it’s a perfect fit for you, too.
John and Riley mix it up this week by sitting down with members from two hard-hitting rock bands. They chat with Patrick and Tara of Hallowood as well as Mike of Days of Thieves. Hallowood has been performing in Kingston for five years and recently won 2018 Juvenis Festival Battle of the Bands. Days of Thieves is a hard rock band that shares the powerful spirit of bands like Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine despite only having two members: Guitarist and vocalist Mike Brown and drummer Kyle Cochrane.
Talking from the unique perspectives of performing hard rock to audiences in the limestone city, they discuss the culture behind the music they make, get very introspective about life in general and discuss how they represent their fans through music. “We see their problems and want to bring their plight to the forefront,” says Patrick. They also touch on how they use their websites for marketing. As with all Kingston Live guests, they share advice to any aspiring musicians.
The incredibly talented and loved, Miss Emily, has graced crowds around the world with her charm and mixture of pop, rock and blues. She touches on what it’s been like to work in a male-dominated industry and offers her advice to women, she shares how she became a full-time musician, who she’s met and worked with along the way (The Hip’s Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair!) and her new philanthropic initiative, M.I.K.E.S. (Music Industry Kingston Emergency Support). She also discusses what makes Kingston such a special town to work in as a musician, “I couldn’t be a full-time musician in Toronto and have a mortgage,” she says.
As always, your hosts list the latest live shows and where to catch them in the YGK.
Look out for new podcasts every month to stay up to date on the Kingston music scene! The Kingston Live podcast is syndicated to all major podcast platforms. Find them wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to subscribe: Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, TuneIn and Stitcher. You can also follow them on Instagram.
Home in the space once occupied by Stone City Ales, Something in the Water Brewing thrives on curiosity, creating drinks that are as inviting and delicious as they are unexpected. They started brewing in Toronto and expanded to Kingston in 2022, bringing their curious beverages to the limestone city. Their brand is centred around supporting swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water, as five cents from every can purchased goes to clean water initiatives across Canada, and all their beers are named after their favourite bodies of water.
What to try:Painted Lake Peach Crisp Berliner Weisse:sweet peaches meet classic sour wheat beer for a taste of gently tart peach juice.
The brews available at Riverhead walk the line between traditional and adventurous, with varieties that offer something for everyone’s palate. Seasonal brews round out Riverhead’s offerings, often echoing the local climate and the time of the year. The restaurant side is as thoughtfully curated as their beer selections, with shareables and “Brew Pizza” reflecting the company slogan, “Adventurously Brewed.”
What to try:the Tropical IPA: this well-balanced IPA is layered with multiple hop additions to achieve the desired citrus and tropical fruit characteristics.
Founded in 2011, Spearhead’s mantra is “Beer without Boundaries” and it’s reflected with their mainstay brews including a New England IPA, Big Kahuna Imperial IPA, Queen of Wheat, and Hawaiian Style Pale Ale. During the year, they play host to events like live music, trivia, and open mic nights, comedy shows, and happy hour. Stop by their patio during the summer for sips with friends.
What to try: Hawaiian Style Pale Ale. As the name suggests, this bold, hoppy West Coast pale ale is brewed Hawaiian style – with pineapple. It’s naturally carbonated, unfiltered and dry-hopped to provide delicate carbonation and complex flavour.
Housed in an 1800s telegraph office, Kingston Brewing Company is packed to the rafters with assorted beer memorabilia. It’s best known for its beer, its laid-back vibe, and the gorgeous, private patio in the old carriageway beside the pub. Established in 1986, the Kingston Brewing Company is Ontario’s oldest brewpub. The food is pub standard with unique twists and beer used in many of the recipes. Visit their Bottle Shop next door to purchase your favourite brews to go.
What to try: The Whitetail Cream Ale, golden in colour using malts and hops to make it a clean, crisp, full-bodied ale. Pair it with the KBC Royale with Cheese – a 6oz beef burger with bacon, American cheese, Royale sauce, lettuce, onions, and pickles.
Skeleton Park Brewery’s owner and brewmaster comes from a family of brewers and bootleggers that goes back three generations. The current generation of brothers have over 45 years of brewing experience. The name (and playful dog logo) pay homage to Kingston’s Skeleton Park. Their brews are based on tradition and reimagine long-lost brews from Kingston’s past.
What to try: the Amber 6.6, a well-balanced European-style amber ale. This style of big-bodied, high- ABV ale was popular among the hard-working men and women of Kingston’s past.
Just down the road in historic Bath, the MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company brews on the 1,400-acre farm that has been in the family since 1784. Brothers Ivan and Daniel renovated century-old barns to house the equipment and planted hops and malting barley in the surrounding fields. The character and history of the place shines through in every glass. In the summer, they host the popular festival Back to the Farm; a day-long celebration with beer, food trucks, and live music!
What to try: the Red Fox Summer Ale, an easy drinking ale with a distinct colour and flavour from the addition of beets. The Citra hops deliver a foxy, citrus bitterness.
The Daft Brewing team started this project with the hope of creating something great – transforming an old car garage into a West-coast style taproom/brewery. Its mission is to create an ever-changing array of beer, maintain a steady stream of collaborations, and cultivate a community gathering spot in the Williamsville neighbourhood. Visit the taproom or check out the new Daft Wandering Bar at events in Kingston for some damned good beer.
What to try: Lemongrab, a mint lemonade sour beer made with lemon zest, fresh mint, and lactose milk sugar. It is a tart and creamy beer for easy drinking.
This brewery was founded on the philosophy that life and beer require balance to be at their best. And finding that balance is as personal as finding a beer you love. That’s why they’re constantly brewing new releases made with carefully sourced high-quality ingredients to pour pints that are as unique as the people who drink their beer. Visit their taproom on the weekend for a tour of the brewery – just ask at the bar.
What to try: any of theGelato Sours. Their vision for the Gelato Sour series was to make a creamy, lightly soured, fruit-forward beer that is both thirst-quenching and as satisfying as gelato in the August sun.
Corey Hart may be the biggest name coming to town this month, but no doubt Great Lake Swimmers, Charlotte Cornfield, and Shotty Horroh will be hot tickets, too.
Almost 30 years after forming in Kingston, this Tragically Hip tribute band is still one of the best. They don’t tour as extensively as they did in the 90s, so when the chance comes to see them — especially on a home stage similar to where Gord and the boys started — take it. Hip acts are aplenty out there, but you likely won’t find one this tight, this consistent, and this able to tap into the rich, raw power of “Canada’s Band”.
Chris Jackson has been a mainstay in the Kingston music scene for years, impressing audiences with some serious guitar chops and a deep repertoire of classic rock, country, blues, and funk hits. His weekly Friday night gigs in the lounge at Blu Martini are always popular and always the perfect way to start the weekend. Plus, you never know what other local musicians will show up to play with him from week to week.
If you’ve never been to an east coast kitchen party, these guys will give you the best intro this side of Edmundston. Playing a mix of traditional and contemporary east coast, Irish, and Scottish Celtic music, they throw in a healthy dose of pop, classic rock, and country, too. Influences include The Pogues, Spirit of the West, Bruce Springsteen, and Dropkick Murphys.
This power pop band from Toronto has its feet in punk, garage, and classic rock à la Cheap Trick, Kiss, and the Ramones. With shout-along choruses, call-and-response backing vocals, and guitar licks right out of the 70s, they bring a ton of energy to their shows. As Sam Coffey himself told the Toronto Star a couple of years ago: “We bring the heat live! Not a lot of bands have as much fun as we do.”
With the release of his 1983 smash hit “Sunglasses at Night,” Montreal-born Corey Hart launched himself into international stardom. He went on to sell over 16 million records, have nine consecutive singles on the U.S. Billboard top 40, and have 11 top 10s in Canada. This year, he released his first studio album in over 20 years and is taking off on a major arena tour across Canada and Asia — his first since the 1980s.
This Frontier Needs Heroes is the moniker of Nashville-via-Brooklyn folk artist Brad Lauretti. He has been touring for the past 10 years, playing clubs, houses, and festival stages across North America and Europe. With just a guitar and his voice, you can hear both the desolation of the road and the rollicking, foot-tapping good times that come with any adventure. His mix of alt-country, folk-rock, indie, and Americana is influenced by songwriters like John Prine, Billy Bragg, Kris Kristofferson, and Townes Van Zandt.
Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield self describes as a “song farmer”, and exists on the same continuum as Bob Dylan, Courtney Barnett, and Angel Olsen. She just released her third album, “The Shape of Your Name,” which includes collaborations with a few Broken Social Scene members. Pitchfork said the new album “holds its own against some of the better singer-songwriter records of the last few years.” Toronto-based soul artist Lydia Persaud will play this show as well.
“A national treasure,” as the CBC called them, Great Lake Swimmers have been delivering their own blend of melodic folk-rock since 2003. Their sound has evolved over the years, however, and is now louder and faster than ever. Take, for instance, their 2018 album, “The Waves, The Wake,” which abandons the acoustic guitar and introduces the harp, lute, pipe organ, woodwinds, and marimbas for an elevated, eclectic sound.
Every Tuesday evening from 6 pm – 9 pm, a rotating cast of Kingston jazz musicians play downtown Italian restaurant Olivea. This week, it’s local legend Spencer Evans on vocals, keyboard and clarinet, and Bob Arlidge on bass. Evans has played all over the world and has toured and performed with Sarah Harmer, The Cowboy Junkies, Jeff Healey, Dan Aykroyd, and others. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean.
Juno Award-nominee and proud Newfoundlander Kellie Loder seems to be just hitting her stride. She called her 2018 album, “The Benefit of the Doubt,” a transitional work that allowed her to move from a “contemporary Christian artist to embodying a contemporary folk/pop singer/songwriter’s aesthetic.” Like her home province, her music and shows are studies in contrasts: poignant lyrics and melodic rhythms; electrifying festival shows and intimate bar gigs; heartfelt emotions and lots of laughs.
For over 25 years, this three-piece has been delivering their own brand of country rock to audiences throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Known for their high-octane live shows, they’ve been nominated for a handful of Canadian Country Music Awards and won CMT Canada’s reality TV series “Plucked.” This special afternoon show will happen on The General Wolfe’s lakeside patio.
Manchester, England rapper Shotty Horroh has been tearing up the UK underground music scene for close to 10 years, and recently signed a four-album deal with Sony Music. A rap battle of his from 2012 has garnered over 11 million YouTube views and the attention of Canadian electronic legend deadmau5. The two went on to collaborate on multiple songs, including “Are You Not Afraid,” “Okay,” and “Legendary.”
While not technically a season, we all know it’s everyone favourite time of year — it’s patio season. We’ve survived the frigid winds surging in from the lake, had our time to enjoy the cozy cafes and hot cocoa, but we’re ready for the sun. And the best part about Kingston summers? The amazing selection of patios around the city.
Whether they are overlooking Lake Ontario, nestled in the heart of downtown, or tucked in a secret hideaway, these patios are the only place you’ll want to spend your summer months! Here are some of our must-visits.
Coffee, music, and whiskey; the combo we never knew we were missing until Musikki. It only gets better in the warm months when you add in their hidden back patio. Walk through the hip, cozy interior and you’ll get to your new summer oasis filled with live music!
What to get: Haley’s Smoked Lemonade with cherry whiskey, lapsang tea and lemonade.
The last place you would expect Kingston’s largest waterfront patio to be? On the site of a 19th century World UNESCO Heritage site, Fort Henry. The original fort was built in 1812, and today it’s a living history museum and a hub of culture in Kingston. Battery Bistro is the perfect spot to experience that history, and take in amazing views of Lake Ontario from your table right on top of the Advanced Battery. Head here for a meal before the Sunset Ceremony for a truly memorable experience!
Spearhead’s unconventional “Beer without Boundaries” methodology has been gaining a huge following ever since they opened in 2011. Skip to 2017, Spearhead decided to make a home base so they could start making their beers in house. The result? A 2,000 sq. ft. space to craft their core and seasonal beers. Come here for a tour of the Tap Room (100% of the proceeds go to Hospice Kingston), get expert recommendations from their friendly staff, and enjoy this micro-brewery in action.
Arguably one of the best waterfront patios in the city, Dox is a must visit! Attached to the Holiday Inn, enjoy your contemporary, locally inspired meal overlooking Kingston’s historic inner harbour. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you can soak in those views morning to night!
What to get: The Mushroom Bruschetta and Roasted Prime Rib Sandwich.
Located steps away from Market Square, Kingston Brewing Company is the oldest brewpub in Ontario and they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Not only do they have 26 beers on tap, and 16 additional rotating guest taps to spotlight Ontario craft breweries; they also have two patios. One in the front overlooking the water, and a cozy one in the back! Head here for classic pub food with “unique twists.”
What to Get: One of the beers, wines, ciders, or soda pops that they make right in the restaurant! And you can’t go wrong with the Chopped Brisket Sandwich (smoked on a wood pit that uses locally sourced wood.)
Would this list really be complete without this Kingston classic? Everyone knows Chez Piggy as one of the top foodie destinations in Kingston, with a menu inspired by world travels and cooked with only fresh, locally sourced produce. Behind the beautiful limestone building lies their intimate patio covered in flowers, trees, and string lights. Head here for date night, to catch up with friends, or for a solo treat yo’self feast (we would).
What to get: Charcuterie with local and house charcuterie, Bistecca Tagliata, or for one of their vegetarian options, the grilled cauliflower steak.
When you think of the Mansion you probably think of amazing live music and huge schooners, but come the warm months there is so much more. This upbeat patio offers up the classic Mansion food and drink menu and live entertainment, but also adds in a pick-up volleyball court, and tiki bar to celebrate the summer.
What to get: BBQ Whiskey Burger, or the Rec Room Nachos.
Hop on the ferry for your mini getaway to this amazing patio. The Wolfe Island Grill is known for their friendly service and delicious food, but what really makes it stand out is the epic views you get from their waterfront patio. From soaking up the afternoon sun to taking in the sunset views, this time it’s not about the journey, but the destination.
What to get: Coffee Crusted Lamb Chops, Wilton Aged Cheddar Cheese Bread, or the Wolfe Island Caesar Salad with prosciutto.
It’s a big month for festivals this June in Kingston, as Skeleton Park, Pride, and the YGK Craft Beer Fest all make their return. Here are eight to put at the top of your list.
Kingston Frontenac Public Library (Central Branch)
June 1, 2019, 9 am – 5 pm
Check out the newly renovated Central Branch at this annual literary festival all about genre fiction — fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, and science fiction. Expect panel discussions, workshops, readings, pitch sessions, a big vendor area, and lots of chances to meet authors, editors, and publishers. As usual, there will be a couple of special events, too, like the “Crime in Limestone” evening at the Kingston Brew Pub, where Crime Writers of Canada will host book signings, readings, and trivia (7 pm).
You may not have the musical chops to beat Beethoven, but how about the legs? Back for its 24th year, this contest challenges you to finish an 8-kilometre race or a 4-kilometre fun run/walk through downtown before the Kingston Symphony finishes playing 50 minutes of Beethoven’s best. The 8- and 4-kilometre events start at 10:30 am at Confederation Park. The 1-kilometre kid’s race starts at 9:45 am at Confederation Park.
The Fort’s back hill will be the place to sip a few cold craft ones again this year. The brewery lineup was still being finalized at the time of writing, but there are usually several breweries from across the province and a few locals. The format will be the same as previous years, though — a $2.50 beer token will get you a 5-ounce sample — and as for food, think food truck eats like poutine, fresh salads, jerk chicken, and gelato. There will be artisan vendors on site as well, plus plenty of live music throughout the afternoon.
This second annual festival is unlike any other in Canada, as it explores and presents live performance integrated with digital technologies. Some of those performances will happen at The Isabel in front of live audiences and broadcast to cities across the country. Others will happen in different Canadian cities and be broadcast to Kingston and elsewhere. There will also be debates, discussions, workshops, and keynotes, each wrestling with the question: what is live Canadian performance in the digital age?
What started with only about 15 people walking up Princess Street in 1989 now usually has several hundred people celebrating gender and sexual diversity throughout the day. The parade starts at McBurney Park at 12 pm, goes down Princess, and ends at Confederation Park, where there will be a community fair with a few dozen participants. Remember, too, that while the parade and fair are the pinnacles of Pride, there are lots of other Pride-related events happening in June as well (check the website for an up-to-date list).
While you celebrate Pride, remember to give some local love to your favourite downtown businesses at this annual sidewalk sale. Over 50 merchants typically take to the pavement every year, many of them offering some very sweet deals. Downtown Kingston also gets in on the deal-making action with a $500 shopping spree (fill out a ballot to win at any participating downtown business). Plus, if you take a downtown pic during the day and use the hashtag #dkshopfest in your Instagram post, you’ll automatically be entered to win other prizes.
One of the most eclectic family-friendly festivals of the year is here again with just as much live music, local artisans, food vendors, and summer solstice games as always. Taking place in and around McBurney “Skeleton” Park, the music lineup this year includes Witch Prophet, The Wilderness, The Soul Jazz Orchestra, Kaia Kater, Wolf Saga, Deux Trois, Piner, and The Orontes Quartet. Many of them will play in the park on the Saturday and Sunday, but don’t forget about the film screening, live music aqua fitness, porch jazz parade, and other activities happening throughout the week, too.
The shady paths of City Park will be packed again this Canada Day weekend with over 200 artists and artisans from across Ontario and Quebec. They’ll be there showing off their pottery, glass, wood, jewellery, and other creations alongside food vendors, bands, and poets. There will also be live outdoor theatre, a 100-foot art mural, a First Nations art pavilion, kids programming, and a craft beer and wine tent to keep you hydrated and happy.
Let’s kick off summer 2019 in Kingston with Canada Day celebrations and roll right into an incredible lineup of festivals ranging from music to theatre, food, and everything in between. It’s going to be a fun three months so start planning!
Do you have a Kingston event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration!
1. Canada Day Celebrations 2019 in Downtown Kingston — July 1, 2019
2. Artfest Kingston at City Park — June 29 – July 1, 2019
3. Cirque du Soleil Crystal at the Leon’s Centre — July 3-7, 2019
4. Kingston Buskers Rendezvous 2019 in Downtown Kingston — July 4-7, 2019
5. Storefront Fringe Festival in Downtown Kingston — July 19-27, 2019
6. Fort Henry Annual Tattoo at Fort Henry — July 27, 2019
7. The Kick & Push Festival at The Grand Theatre — Dates to be announced
8. Taste of Kingston Festival at Confederation Park — July 28, 2019
9. Kingston Penitentiary Tours — All Summer Long
10. Movies in Springer Market Square — Thursday Nights
11. Haunted Walk Tour departing from Downtown Kingston — Daily
12. Chef Cooking Demos at Springer Market Square — Saturdays
13. Princess Street Promenade 2019 — August 3, 2019
14. The 38th Annual Kingston Women’s Art Festival at City Park — August 18, 2019
15. Back to the Farm: Beer & Music Festival at MacKinnon Brothers Brewery — August 18, 2019
16. 1000 Islands Cruises departing from Confederation Basin — All Summer Long
17. Limestone City Blues Festival in Downtown Kingston — August 22-25, 2019
18. Wolfe Island Music Festival — August 9–10, 2019
19. Kingston Ribfest & Craft Beer Show at Memorial Centre — September 6-8, 2019
20. The 10th Anniversary Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival at Confederation Park — September 8, 2019
21. Classic Kingston Food Tours starting at the Visitor Information Centre — Various Days
22. Rockin’ the Big House at the Kingston Penitentiary — September 14, 2019
23. Kingston Poutine Feast at City Park — September 19-22, 2019
24. Kingston WritersFest in Downtown Kingston — September 25-29, 2019
25. Fall Art After Dark in Downtown Kingston — September 27, 2019
It’s August. What else is there to do besides grabbing a cold one on the patio and soaking up every last drop of that good sunshine? We’re in the heart of the festival season and some of our favourites have returned like the Wolfe Island Music Festival, Back to the Farm, the Limestone City Blues Fest, and so many more.
Do you have an event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration!
1. Thousand Islands Open at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour — August 2-4, 2019
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3. Hop On, Hop Off Trolley Tours start at the Visitor Information Centre — Daily
4. K-Town Triathlon in Downtown Kingston — August 4, 2019
5. Campfire Songs at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum — Thursdays in August
6. Guided Fishing Tours with Blue Rock Charters — August 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 2019
7. Emerald Music Festival on Amherst Island — August 9-11, 2019
8. Kingston Pen Tours at the Kingston Penitentiary — All Month Long
9. Wolfe Island Music Festival — August 9–10, 2019
10. Chef Cooking Demos 2019 in Downtown Kingston — Saturdays at 11 am
11. CORK International Regattas — August 7-24, 2019
12. Big Band Music Lunch & Dinner Cruise with 1000 Islands Cruises — August 13, 2019
13. Classic Kingston Food Tours start at the Visitor Information Centre —Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
14. The Michael Jackson HIStory Show at the Grand Theatre — August 16, 2019
15. 1000 Islands Poker Run at Confederation Basin — August 16 + 17, 2019
16. Movies in the Square — Thursday Evenings
17. Midsummer Festival at Happy Tails Farm Sanctuary — August 17, 2019
Team Canada rower Will Crothers, of Kingston, got his start in the sport training on the Cataraqui River for the Kingston Rowing Club and Kingston Collegiate and since the age of 14 has excelled at the grueling sport.
Crothers, 31, has an Olympic silver medal to his credit, from the men’s eight at the 2012 London Olympics and a couple of World Cup bronze medals in the men’s four. Crothers won two gold medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto as a member of the four and the eight.
In 2016 at the Rio Olympics his men’s four team made the A final but finished sixth.
Crothers said he got into rowing because his brother Daniel had done it and his friends needed a fourth member to round out the team.
“Rowing is one of those sports where if not everybody shows up you can’t go out obviously,” he said from his home in Victoria, B.C. where Team Canada trains. “Once I was roped in I started to really enjoy it and myself and three others guys I was rowing with and our coxswain went undefeated in our novice season and we got a little taste for winning and never looked back.”
Crothers may be a glutton for punishment and enjoys the competition and pain, which comes with giving your all in a race.
“It’s a notoriously difficult sport and painful sport and those elements I enjoy for sure and I think it’s one of the ultimate team sports as well, everybody has to be moving in sync perfectly for it to be a positive experience for you and to win races. Everybody not only has to be perfectly sound but physicially sharp and it’s a special combination of the technical aspect of the sport along with the power,” he said.
“It’s also a bit of a pain contest, I guess I’m a bit of a sucker for pain.”
After competing at the World Cup in 2017 Crothers took a year off as Rowing Canada was going through some changes.
“I thought I was retiring for good,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how much I could contribute to the team anymore.”
He moved to Whistler to live and hit the slopes during the first year after retirement.
“I had a lot of lonely chair rides thinking about rowing and hearing what the guys were doing back in Victoria and I began to really miss it and I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t done with the sport yet,” he said.
He also took firefighters’ training in Texas and once that was completed last July he decided to come back and start training for the national team again. His first World Cup event on his comeback will be in Poland in late June.
Crothers said most likely the Toyko Olympics will be his last and then start his firefighting career.
He said he’ll be back in Kingston late this summer after the last race of the rowing season.
“What’s not to like, I love Kingston, especially Kingston in the summertime is pretty unbeatable if you can get out on the water.”
“I’m always really appreciative of all the support I get from Kingston and all the people there and just a really big thank you to everybody who’s helped me along the way.”
He said the Kingston community has been “super supportive” to Olympic athletes like himself, fellow rower Rob Gibson, triathlete Simon Whitfield and sailor Danielle Boyd. “I hope one day be able to give back like the people have done for me.”
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