Top Five Things to See and Do in June 2017
This month’s list of great things to do in Kingston is chock-full of arts and culture based events with a little bit of sports thrown in for good measure. If you love to read, run, listen to a symphony, take in some local theatre or catch some great live music, then June is the month to be in ygk. From the Kingston Symphony’s annual Beat Beethoven Race to workshops about mystery novels and taking an Aqua Fit class while being serenaded by Spencer Evans and his Goatstepper Parade Band, there is most definitely something for everyone in Kingstonist’s Top Five Things to See and Do in June 2017.
Limestone Genre Expo, 3-4 June 2017: Calling all readers and fans of genre fiction! This weekend is the annual Limestone Genre Expo featuring panel discussions, readings, workshops and pitch sessions centered around mystery, fantasy, horror, romance and sci-fi novels. The expo runs at St. Lawrence College over 2 days and will also include a large vendor area, a short story contest and opportunities to interact with attending authors, editors and publishers. Be sure to check the expo website for full listings of guests, special events and the full schedule.
Beat Beethoven Run, 4 June 2017: Celebrating its 21st year, Beet Beethoven annually challenges participants of all ages and athletic abilities to compete in 4km and 8km races. The ultimate goal: to cross the finish line in front of City Hall before the Kingston Symphony has played the last note of a Beethoven symphony. This significant annual fundraiser is a fantastic opportunity to support one of the city’s most treasured cultural resources, all the while getting just the right amount of sweaty. For those who aren’t keen on running or walking, rest assured the concert in Confederation Basin is free! The music starts at 10:30am when the gun fires and a short pops concert will follow the run. Don’t miss out on this final opportunity to see the symphony in action before next Fall.
Chipped Off Performance Collective Presents: Rhinoceros or What’s Different About Me?, 14-18 June 2017: Every June for the past 4 years, Chipped Off Performance Collective, lead by Artistic Director Kim Renders, has created performances that surprise, enlighten, provoke, astonish, challenge and change. Chipped Off is the only Feminist/Queer performing arts collective in Kingston committed to presenting work that speaks to the needs and concerns of underrepresented or marginalized communities in Kingston, and does so by partnering with a wide range of groups and individuals from the community. This year’s performance will run from June 14-18 at The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $15 or pay-what-you-can and are available at the door only.
Skeleton Park Arts Festival, 21-25 June 2017: SPAF 2017, Kingston’s annual Summer Solstice celebration, will run from June 21st-25th. The festival showcases multi-disciplinary artists from Kingston and around the world, in addition to hosting family and heritage activities. This year’s festival will include the much loved Porch Jazz Parade, live music Aqua Fitness at Artillery Park, an outdoor screening of Jay Middaugh’s Live in Kingston and performances by Fred Penner, Hidden Cameras, Old Man Ludecke and Sarah Harmer, to name a few. Check out the SPAF website for a full listing of events and keep an eye out for our upcoming Guide to SPAF 2017.
Storefront Fringe Festival, 23 June to 1 July 2017: For just over a week at the end of the month, Theatre Kingston’s Storefront Fringe Festival is taking over three empty storefronts in downtown Kingston. Last year’s festival was a huge success, with sold-out houses and incredible buzz – don’t miss this opportunity to join Kingston’s own indie theatre party in 2017. To gain access to the festival, purchase a $3 Fringe Pin at The Alibi between 11am and 3pm or online. Once you have your pin, tickets for the Storefront Fringe Festival shows are $10 each. Wearing your Fringe Pin, you’ll get access to discounts at local hotspots like the Alibi, Harper’s Burger Bar, Balzacs, and Choi’s Rolls. Check out the Theatre Kingston website for a full listing of shows.
Photo credit to: Tom Simpson, Ico Oliveira, Chipped Off, Kingstonist and Kymberly Janisch.