Top Five Things to See and Do in December 2017
I often go into the holidays kicking and screaming. Not because I don’t love the holiday season but I’m just not a fan of how things seem to get started earlier and earlier every year. It seems like Christmas is being shoved down our throats while our pumpkins are still fresh on our porches. For the last two years though, I am all about it. Bring on the holidays! Deck the halls, bake and eat all the cookies, play the carols, drink the peppermint hot chocolate, and so on and so forth. (This attitude shift may have something to do with a desire for cheer and goodwill in the midst of an orange monster attack down south, but I digress…). So, naturally this month’s Top Five is a holiday-focused one, and it was really tough narrowing things down to only 5 events! There are so many great, fun things happening in ygk over the next 4 weeks, but we’ve managed to narrow it down to a select few that we think are definitely worth checking out. For more good times, be sure to check out our Guide to Holiday Entertainment coming soon!
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Dec 6-10: The magic of Tim Burton’s 1993 blockbuster, The Nightmare Before Christmas is coming to The Baby Grand for one week. Blue Canoe’s staged concert incorporates story elements from the film with a focus on Danny Elfman’s spellbinding musical score. Enjoy an evening of food, drink, music and general merriment. Tickets are $10.62 plus HST and handling fee, and are available at The Grand Theatre box office, online or enter our contest for a pair of tickets to Saturday’s show – but don’t wait! The first four shows are completely sold out, so get your tickets now.
Kingston Outdoor Christmas Market, Dec 8-10: One of Kingston’s favourite Bed and Breakfasts, The Hochelaga Inn, will host a three-day Outdoor Christmas Market. Vendors will be set up outside the inn offering a little something for everyone on your list. Food and drink will also be available and there will be a stage area for live music and carol singing. The inn, located at 24 Sydenham St., is a short walk from downtown and there is plenty of parking available in the area. The market runs 4pm-9pm Friday and Saturday and noon-6pm on Sunday. Admission is free.
Snow Much Fun, December 8, 5pm-9pm: Market Square will come to life with free festive fun for the whole family. Step inside a life-sized snow globe for a wintry photo, try kids crafts in Santa’s Workshop, ride on the holiday trolley, meet Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and The Grinch, go for a skate and catch a synchronized skating demo at 7:45 (weather permitting), shop the Holiday Market and warm up by the fire pits. There will also be story-telling by Mayor Paterson, music, cider and other yummy treats. Everyone is encouraged to bring along a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the Kingston Toy Drive.
Holiday Rock Show, Dec 21, 8pm: Save the date! The 22nd annual Holiday Rock Show is back at Stages Nightclub, raising funds for Dawn House, Martha’s Table and KFLA Addiction & Mental Health Services. This year’s line up includes B. Rich, The Mahones, The Huaraches, Deck the Halls with Balls and Kelly feat. Brucey the Git, Deux Trois, Krista Muir and of course, hosts Sarah Harmer and Luther Wright. Tickets are $25 and are available at Zap Records, The Brass, Stages and online. This is an all ages event. Doors open at 7pm.
K-Town Countdown, 31 Dec, 5pm-9pm: The City of Kingston will hold its annual family-friendly New Years Eve celebration inside and outside The Rogers K-Rock Centre. Inside, enjoy free skating and entertainment including Ventriloquist Tim Holland; The Greg Tarlin Juggling Show and Rynestone the Magician. There will also be a NYE photo booth, face painting and other fun activities for all ages. Outside, at Market Square, there will be more free skating (weather permitting) and White’s Wagon Rides. At 9pm, make your way to Confederation Basin for the spectacular Fireworks display to ring in 2018.
Photo credit to James Kemp, Andrew Sweeney, Kingstonist, the Holiday Rock Show, and Joselito Ochotorena.
