New walking tours explore Kingston’s film, music, and literary scenes
Residents and visitors to Kingston can immerse themselves in the local literary, film, and music scenes, thanks to new self-guided walking tours provided by Tourism Kingston.
“Uncover music venues where some of Canada’s best bands got their start; visit the set locations of popular television productions and visit the places that have inspired award-winning novels,” the local tourism agency said in a media release, dated Thursday, Jul. 13, 2023.
The complimentary tours are available on Tourism Kingston’s website. Each theme offers three tour options: downtown, west (Queen’s University and nearby neighbourhoods) and extended, and ranges from approximately 60 minutes to two and a half hours in length, allowing users to explore at their own pace. According to the release, the mobile-optimized interface makes it easy to follow along on a smartphone phone, with route maps, directions, stories, and assets like photos, videos, and music, presented seamlessly.
The following details about the tours were provided by Tourism Kingston:
Discover Kingston’s cinematic past and present by visiting recent film and television production locations while learning about the early history of cinemas and film productions in the city. will see how Kingston streets and buildings have been transformed for productions, into anything from 1890s New Orleans to a futuristic planet in the Star Trek universe.
Become immersed in the musical stories of Kingston, from rock to pop or classical. Visit the places where some of Canada’s most talented musicians got their start and explore Kingston’s vibrant live music scene. The music tours take the user from the downtown site of The Tragically Hip’s first show to their very last, as well as exploring the venues that sparked musical collaborations and careers from such notable Kingston musicians as Miss Emily, the Mahones and The Glorious Sons.
Explore the Kingston connections of notable Canadian authors, from Robertson Davies to Bronwen Wallace. This tour will take users to a variety of literary landmarks and sites that continue to inspire the written word. Users will learn about a Rembrandt painting that inspired a modern poem, the penitentiary that inspired several literary works, and the archives that safeguard many literary legacies.
The tours are free and Tourism Kingston recommends earphones for the best tour experience. More information about the new walking tours and other options can be found at visitkingston.ca/walking-tours.
The Creative Kingston Walking Tour project is presented by Tourism Kingston and made possible by a Tourism Relief Fund grant through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and with support from the City of Kingston.
That is such a smart idea!