Top five things to do this long weekend in Kingston
With the forecast looking to bring the quintessential Kingston summer weather – hot and humid – the forecast for events this weekend is also fairly typical of Kingston in the summer: no shortage of things to see and do!
We’ve put together a list of the top five Kingston happenings this holiday weekend, so get out and enjoy these ‘dog days of summer’ while they’re here! Of course, there are always awesome events that happen on a regular basis (the Music in the Park series downtown, the Music in the Gardens series in the west end, Movies in the Square on Thursdays, and Local Chef Cooking Demos on Saturdays), and there’s also the Kingston Public Market, the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, and the newly-opened Kingston West Side Farmers’ Market to browse and stock up for the week ahead. You can also check out our events calendar any time to see what’s going around town.
Rockin’ the Square with Cold Creek County and Abby Stewart
With two albums and a Juno nomination under their belts, Cold Creek County will be stomping into Springer Market Square as they headline this year’s second installment of Rockin’ the Square. The six-piece band from just down the road has certainly built quite a following, with their country-rock party songs blaring out at bars and parties across Ontario. Having recently expanded, Cold Creek County promises to bring a bigger sound to the stage in Kingston.
Opening up for Cold Creek County (or CCC, as they’re called by fans) is Kingston’s own Abby Stewart. A rising young star, Stewart has shared the stage with the likes of Dean Broady, Dallas Smith and Hunter Hayes in recent years. From her own original tunes, to covers of classic artists (like Dolly Parton) or contemporary superstars (like Taylor Swift), Stewart is sure to put on a great show here in her hometown.
Where: Springer Market Square
When: Friday, Aug. 3, 2018; concert begins at 8 p.m.
More information: www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/city-calendar-events/feature-events/rockin-the-square
Princess Street Promenade 2018
One of the city’s most bustling events, Promenade sees businesses, restaurants, and community groups all fill Princess Street for the entire day. With the street closed off, you can wander up and down Princess Street, checking out stores and restaurants who often have samples to indulge in or activities to engage in. You can also learn about all sorts of community groups and local initiatives, take part in a variety of family-friendly games and activities, and inevitably bump into lots of people you know – it is Kingston, after all!
With free transit offered throughout the city all day, it’s easy to get to or from Promenade, and, thanks to a new addition this year from Improbable Escapes, take part in an escape room like no other: Magic Transit Bus.
Where: Princess Street from Division Street to Ontario Street
When: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More information: www.downtownkingston.ca/events/2018/princess-st-promenade
Agokwe Unplugged
Presented by The Kick and Push Summer Festival, Agokwe, the critically acclaimed exploration of love between two teenaged boys from neighbouring reservations in Ontario. Developed through the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Young Creators’ Unit, Agokwe addresses raw and important topics like bullying, homophobia, social isolation and the lost traditions of the Anishnaabe peoples.
Follow the story of Mike and Jake, who notice one another in the Kenora Shoppers Mall. Mike, a hockey player, and Jake, a traditional dancer, connect through a mutual love of movement. When they confess their love to one another, the pair endure their youth, distance, and isolation keeping them apart. This incredible story, the winner of six Dora Mavor Moore Awards, is one that inspires thought and tolerance, and has awed audiences across Canada since its debut in 2008.
Where: 274 Princess Street (the former American Apparel)
When: Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 at 8 p.m.
More information and tickets: www.kingstongrand.ca/events/agokwe-unplugged
Kingston’s Strongest Man and Woman 2018
Ready to see someone rip apart phone books with their bare hands? How about bench pressing a fire hydrant (which weigh a whopping 210 lbs)? Or carrying a 170 lb anvil as far as possible? These are just some of the feats that local men and women will take on, all in the name of a good cause.
With proceeds going to the Kids with Cancer Fund through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, this outdoor event offers unique fun and excitement that you won’t see often – how often do you see someone bend a horseshoe as far as they can with just their grip?
Where: Kingston Family Fun World (bring lawn chairs)
When: Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information: www.facebook.com/events/1308746622590450/
Hiroshima Peace Day Walk
Come together with others in the community to take a walk in solidarity and recognition of those who lost their lives during the Hiroshima bombing. It’s been 73 years since the USA dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. While the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which took a combined 129,000+ lives, marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War, the effects and impact of the only use of nuclear weapons in military history still live on today.
Organized by PeaceQuest, Sisters of Providence, the Hiroshima Day coalition, and Amnesty International, the Hiroshima Peace Day walk will leave Kingston City Hall and end at McBurney Park, with five interactive stops along the way. Learn more about the history of Hiroshima Peace Day and the events that inspired it, and join others in singing and pledging to a peaceful future.
Where: Begins at City Hall, ends at McBurney Park
When: Monday, Aug. 6, 2018; Walk leaves City Hall at 11 a.m.
More information: peacequest.ca/event/kingston-hiroshima-day-peace-walk/