Top Five Things to See and Do in April 2016

It’s hard to believe that March Break, the start of daylight savings, the first day of Spring, Easter and even April Fools are all behind us, but today we welcome the arrival of April with open arms.  While the rain may have gotten you down over the past few days, I tend to put a positive spin on things, believing that mother nature is helping wash away all of grime and sins of Winter.  Street sweepers have begun to make the rounds, and many of us have already embarked on our first glorious bike rides of the season!  With happy days ahead, we’re springing into a busy, event-packed month.  At a glance, April represents a transitional time where outdoor leagues and activities are starting to come to life.  Once again, we’ve sifted through a long list of activities and curated the very best events in Kingston in April 2016.  Read on as we count down the top five things to see and do in Kingston this month.

Kingston Frontenacs Playoffs, 1, 7 and 8 April 2016 (15 and 19 April if required): with last night’s misstep against the Oshawa Generals, the Kingston Frontenacs remain one win away from conquering the first round of the 2016 OHL playoffs. #FrontsFever is at an all time high, thanks to the momentum generated by the team’s regular season success as Eastern Conference Champions! In spite of last night’s OT loss, the boys in black and gold are arguably playing some of their best hockey when it matters most, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by diehard and new fans alike.  With a 3-1 series lead and game five set for tonight in Kingston, we’re confident they’ll emerge from round one. Moreover, we can’t wait to see who they’ll face off against next on the Road to Red Deer!  This month, Kingston Frontenacs tickets will undoubtedly be in high demand.

2015-2016 Quidditch Canada National Championship, 2-3 April 2016: with over 400 teams worldwide, including 30 Canadian squads, perhaps it should come as no surprise that there’s even such a thing as a national Quidditch championship.  Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s fantastical wizarding world of Harry Potter, Quidditch is the high-flying, semi-contact sport where brooms, quaffles and snitches are the keys to victory.  Kingston will play host to the second annual, two-day championship tournament, featuring teams from across the country, who will descend upon the 1000 Islands Sportsplex for exciting, fast-paced competition.  All Muggles are encouraged to come out and immerse themselves in the spirited magic from the books and cheer on the country’s best Chasers, Beaters, Keepers and Seekers!

Hedley’s Hello World Tour, 14 April 2016: the return of Canadian pop-rock supergroup, Hedley, is sure sell out Kingston’s largest concert venue once again.  The multiple Juno and MMVA winning band is currently touring in support of their sixth album: Hello, which is bursting with adventurous new sounds and pop gems.  Hedley’s Hello World Tour is billed as a state-of-the-art stage production, with “elements that will bring the band closer to the fans than ever before”. Hedley will be supported by “Call Me Maybe” hit maker Carly Rae Jepsen, who is climbing the charts thanks to her latest album E·MO·TION.  Rising pop star Francesco Yates rounds out the supporting cast of new talent who will be joining Hedley when they touch down in Kingston.

K4Paws Charity Auction, 23 April 2016: the first ever K4Paws Charity Auction will raise much needed funds to help those with PTSD, autism, seizures and mobility challenges, connect and gain support from service dogs.  Attendees will be treated to complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar while bidding on 125 desireable items via silent and live auctions.  Set to take place at the picturesque Vimy Officer’s Mess at CFB Kingston, organizers envision this event becoming an annual fundraiser that they can count on.  Without any government funding whatsoever, K4Paws Service Dogs rely on these fundraisers to enable their programming and meet the increasing need for their services.

At Last! Georgette Sings Etta James, 29 April 2016: backed by her phenomenal 11 piece band and 50 members from local chapters of her Shout Sister! choir, Georgette Fry returns to the The Grand Theatre to deliver a soulful  retrospective of legendary jazz, blues and soul master, Etta James.  Similar to James, Fry’s big voice seamlessly floats from one genre to the next. There’s no imitation or impersonation here.  Georgette promises to deliver her own solid, sensitive interpretation of treasured songs in honour of Etta’s legacy.  Her band includes notable local talents: Jon Stewart (sax), James Wannamaker (sax), Janet MacRae (trumpet), Dave Barton (guitar), Zak Colbert (bass), Ken Hall (organ), Alain McCann (piano), Duncan Holt (drums) and Anna Robertson (background vocals).

Thanks to Meg Stewart, Tyrone Mitchell, Sean Stephens, Ed Brownson and Shout Sister Choir for today’s photo.