10 years after The Tragically Hip took their final bow in Kingston, the band’s hometown remains a place of pilgrimage for fans. That connection comes into focus through Forever Hip, a multi‑month celebration honouring the music, the legacy, and the place that shaped one of Canada’s most beloved bands.
Kingston is turning up the volume on Forever Hip – from larger-than-life murals and immersive walking tours to live performances and iconic landmarks, Forever Hip transforms Kingston into a city‑wide celebration where fans don’t just remember the music, they live it.
Quick guide to Forever Hip:
August 20 marks the 10 year anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final concert
Murals and sidewalk art downtown
Walking tours and iconic Hip landmarks
Live performances, activations, and shared experiences
Contests, giveaways, and fan moments
Kingston is home of The Hip
Formed in Kingston in 1984, The Tragically Hip is an essential part of Kingston’s cultural identity, with a legacy that is inseparable from the place they have long called home. That relationship came full circle on August 20, 2016, when the band returned home for their final concert. Around 6,700 fans filled the arena, while 25,000 more gathered in Springer Market Square. The concert was livestreamed by CBC for more than 11.7 million viewers. It was more than a performance. It was a shared national moment.
Forever Hip is not about looking back. It is about stepping into the story and feeling how deeply it continues to live here.
Forever Hip on the 401
The experience begins on the road to Kingston. Forever Hip signage along Highway 401 marks the journey, welcoming visitors into the hometown of The Tragically Hip.
Custom Tragically Hip art in Kingston
Local artist EronOne will create a custom Forever Hip mural on Wellington Street beside HEIST Restaurant + Wine Club, turning the streetscape into a bold visual tribute.
Across the downtown core, Forever Hip sidewalk art will appear along key routes, guiding fans between landmarks while celebrating moments from the band’s history.
Guitar‑pick‑shaped Forever Hip window decals will also appear in local shops, visually linking storefronts into a shared, citywide experience.
Music Walking Tours
Grab your headphones, connect to city WiFi, and hit the streets of Kingston
Music Walking Tours offer three self‑guided audio experiences that place The Tragically Hip within Kingston’s broader music story:
The Downtown Tour explores early days and formative venues
The West Tour highlights high school memories, Queen’s University stops, and community music hubs
The Extended Tour connects past and present stories from across the city
Along the way, fans can explore archival images, behind‑the‑scenes video, and stories that helped shape generations of Canadian music right from their phones.
The Hip landmarks of Kingston
The Tragically Hip Way - The street outside Slush Puppie Place was renamed The Tragically Hip Way in 2012 to honour the band’s impact on Kingston. In 2024, “THE HIP” sign was installed where fans can stand in for the “I,” marking the site of the band’s final Kingston concert. Stop here for photos and soak in the energy of downtown Kingston.
In Springer Market Square, a commemorative stone engraved with lyrics from Blow at High Dough marks the spot where thousands gathered on the night of the final concert.
Along the waterfront, the Gord Edgar Downie Pier extends into Lake Ontario at Breakwater Park, honouring Gord Downie’s deep connection to Kingston and his ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
For the ultimate Hip stay, the Backstage Suite at the Frontenac Club brings fans inside the legacy, featuring limited‑edition photographs, rare memorabilia, and a private record collection, including Paul Langlois’ Juno Award for Phantom Power.
Induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The anniversary arrives during a meaningful year – The Tragically Hip will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at Massey Hall in Toronto on September 26, recognizing the enduring power of their songwriting. It is a national moment that underscores what fans have always known: the songs born in Kingston continue to be the soundtrack across the nation.
New Live album release
To mark the 10 year anniversary of the final tour, The Tragically Hip will also release a new live album, Live July 22 – August 20, 2016, featuring recordings from their final cross‑Canada run, including the last night in Kingston. To coincide with the release, CBC will rebroadcast The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration concert in full on August 22.
Anniversary of That Night in Kingston
Springer Market Square becomes the heartbeat of the 10 year anniversary week, hosting three days of music, community, and celebration.
7–10 pm
Rockin’ the Square presented by Empire Life featuring Choir! Choir! Choir!
Celebrate 10 years since The Tragically Hip’s final concert with an unforgettable night of music, community, and iconic Canadian anthems at Springer Market Square.
Join Choir! Choir! Choir! for the ultimate Forever Hip singalong experience, where the crowd becomes the choir and every voice is welcome. The evening will also feature powerful live tributes from celebrated Kingston artists including Miss Emily, The Abrams, and members of Kasador.
12–10 pm
Visit Springer Market Square for a heartfelt celebration of The Tragically Hip’s enduring legacy in Kingston, featuring archival videos and clips on the big screen, Music Walking Tours, and a local Merch Market supporting Kingston musicians and makers.
At 8 pm, settle in under the evening sky for a free screening of Long Time Running (2017), the documentary film chronicling The Tragically Hip’s emotional final cross-Canada tour and hometown concert following Gord Downie’s cancer diagnosis — a moving tribute to the band, their fans, and a moment forever etched in Canadian music history.
7–10 pm
10 years after The Tragically Hip’s historic final hometown concert, Kingston is preparing to relive one of Canada’s most unforgettable musical moments.
In 2016, thousands packed Springer Market Square for a massive community viewing party while millions more tuned in across the country for the CBC livestream.
Now, on August 22, fans will gather once again in the Square for a special concert viewing celebration featuring CBC’s commercial-free rebroadcast of The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, honouring the band’s enduring legacy as well as the release of their new live album, Live July 22 – August 20, 2016.
More Forever Hip experiences
On May 23, acclaimed tribute band 50 Mission takes the stage at The Spire, offering fans the chance to gather for live music in one of Kingston’s most creative performance spaces. Book tickets online.
Kingston City Hall music exhibit
A free exhibition in the Market Wing Cultural Space in City Hall opening in June to celebrate Kingston’s rich musical legacy. A dedicated selection will celebrate The Tragically Hip for their foundational influence locally and nationally including objects, artifacts, archival material and memorabilia.
Downtown Kingston public art installation Play Me Kingston
The installation will transform downtown into a living gallery featuring 10 large-scale guitar sculptures designed by local and regional artists and inspired by Kingston’s music scene, its history, performances, artists, venues, and the sense of connection music brings to the community.
Throughout August, Kingston restaurants will mark the Forever Hip celebrations with limited-time food and drink features inspired by The Tragically Hip. Offered across multiple locations, the menus invite fans to experience the celebration through Kingston’s vibrant culinary scene.
On Thursday, August 20 at 7 pm, fans are invited to test their knowledge, share memories, and raise a glass in honour of The Hip.
Art After Dark: Forever Hip edition
In September, downtown Kingston’s signature Art After Dark event takes on a Tragically Hip theme. Galleries, studios, and cultural spaces across the core will create programming inspired by the band’s music and legacy.
Arriving in Kingston this fall from October 22–November 8, It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken brings The Tragically Hip’s songs to the stage through a new jukebox musical set in Kingston. Presented by Thousand Islands Playhouse in association with Theatre Aquarius, the production weaves the band’s music into an original narrative, adding a theatrical dimension to the Forever Hip experience. Book tickets online.
Contests, giveaways, and fan moments
Forever Hip will also include contests, giveaways, and special fan moments throughout the summer and fall. Stay connected as new experiences and surprises are announced.
Tragically Hip merchandise
Take a piece of Forever Hip home with licensed Tragically Hip merchandise and Kingston‑made keepsakes at downtown locations: WHIT Kingston, the Kingston Visitor Information Centre including limited edition Canadian grown haskap berry & dark chocolate guitar shaped chocolates and Novel Idea for copies of Secret Path by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire, The Tragically Hip ABC and Coke Machine Glow by Gord Downie.
