Experience four vibrant days of creativity this June in Kingston. Featuring over 165 artists, live entertainment, and the Jay Bell Redbird Indigenous Arts Pavilion with 12+ Indigenous artists, Artfest Kingston runs from June 28 to July 1 in City Park.
Here are some of the artists and artisans featured this year. Check out the full list of artisans and vendors on Artfest’s website.
Sasha Jimenez French of Birdgirl Arts has enriched Kingston’s cultural landscape since she burst onto the scene in 2014.
French blends her Cuban heritage with bold colour, storytelling, and movement to create her dynamic designs in oil and acrylic paint. As a muralist, she also brings themes of memory and identity into public and private spaces, transforming walls into vibrant art pieces.
Rod Watson’s passion for detail and storytelling through his work has earned him numerous awards and international recognition. His art has reached audiences across the globe, from Spain to Taiwan.
The certified painting instructor has been commissioned for public art pieces across Canada, including a sand sculpture for the City of Kingston. Beyond these pieces, Watson specializes in intimate pet portraits and watercolour landscapes, including one of Kingston’s waterfronts you can experience yourself after visiting Artfest.
Since 1982, Carolyn M. Barnett has been crafting vibrant, functional garments through knitting and felting.
With a background as varied as her skill set—ranging from early childhood educator to glass studio assistant and road-travelling craftsperson—Carolyn creates unique knits she’ll be selling at Artfest this year.
Rooted in the natural beauty of her Eastern European childhood, this artist transforms memories of rivers, clouds, and forest textures into handcrafted jewelry. Working with wire, recycled glass, and semi-precious gemstones, they blend traditional techniques with wire wrapping, twisting, and weaving to create bold, contemporary pieces.
You can purchase their collection of earrings, necklaces, pendants, and cuff bracelets at Artfest.
Christine Jamieson is a Kingston-based graphic designer, illustrator, and fine artist. Through her studio, Found and Lost Art, she blends her love for watercolor, ink, and digital media to create unique illustrated products of sweeping landscapes and cute animals.
This family-owned confectionery, founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife team Gary and Denise, is coming to Kingston.
All of their sweets are made by hand in copper pots and cooled on marble tables—ensuring every bite is rich in flavour. Over the years, they’ve perfected their original recipes and introduced new favourites, offering a wide range of treats including fudge, brittle, sponge toffee, caramel corn, beer nuts, and candy apples.
