What’s open and closed in Kingston for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays

This holiday season is like no other. With a government mandated lockdown period beginning on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, creating this list feels like saying goodbye to a long and emotionally draining year.

Many businesses will not open their doors for in-person shopping and services after the holidays, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to support them. Deliveries and curbside pick-up will be the way to do business for the next month, so please continue to have patience, and stay home when you can. We want to get through this lockdown as quickly, and safely, as possible.

Please note that some stores were unable to provide hours for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at time of press (Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020). We will continue to update this article accordingly.

A reminder from Kingston Fire and Rescue: Never burn wrapping paper or Christmas trees in your fireplace. They burn too hot and create creosote, which can cause chimney fires.

No matter what you observe or how you celebrate, best wishes from all of us at Kingstonist for a safe and happy winter holiday season!

City of Kingston offices and services

• All administrative offices, including housing and social services on Montreal Street and Provincial Offences: Closed Dec. 24, 25, 28 and Jan. 1.
• Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro: Closes at noon on Dec. 24 and 31 and remains closed on Dec. 25, 28 and Jan. 1. In the event of a utility emergency, such as a gas smell, power outage or a water main break, call the Utilities Kingston 24-hour number at 613-546-1181. Hydro One electricity customers in the west and east ends can call 1-800-434-1235. Union Gas customers can call 1-877-969-0999. Remember: for electricity used on weekends and holidays, electricity prices are off-peak.
• Garbage and recycling: There is no collection on Dec. 25 or 26 or on Jan. 1. Put your collectibles out two days after your normal pick-up day if your regular collection is on Friday – that means putting it out on Sunday – and one day after your normal pick-up day following New Year’s Day.
  Two-Untagged Bag Reminder: Your household can put out two untagged bags or cans of garbage for your first collection day after New Year’s Day (the two-bag collection days are Jan. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7).
• Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC): Closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. Christmas trees can be dropped off free-of-charge at KARC, 196 Lappan’s Lane.

Public Transportation

• Kingston Transit will have the following schedule changes. Plan your bus trip here.
  • Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 – Regular weekday service.
  • Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25 – No service.
  • Boxing Day, Thursday, Dec. 26 – Sunday service
  • Monday, Dec. 28 – Routes move to Saturday service level Monday through Saturday during lockdown period, except Route 10 which remains on weekday service levels.
  • New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31 – Saturday service.
  • New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1 – No service.
• Kingston Access Bus will have the following schedule changes:
  • Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 – Regular on-road service and hours. Office closes at 6 p.m.
  • Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25 – No on-road service. Office closed.
  • Boxing Day, Saturday, Dec. 26 – Limited on-road service, 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Office opens 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  • New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31 – Regular on-road service and hours. Office closes at 6 p.m.
  • New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1 – No on-road service. Office closed.

Arts and recreation

• Kingston Frontenac Public Library branches:  Closed from Dec. 24 to 26 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. All library branches are returning to curbside pick up during the government mandated lockdown period.
• Artillery Park Aquatic Centre:  Closed Dec. 24, 25 and 26 until the end of the lockdown period.
• INVISTA Centre: Closed on Dec. 24 and until the end of the lockdown period.
• Rideau Heights Community Centre and Library: Closed from Dec. 24 to the end of the lockdown period. The library open for curbside pick up during the government mandated lockdown period.
• Arenas: Closed for lockdown as of Dec. 21.
• Grand Theatre Box Office: Responses to voice mail and emails sent to [email protected] will be offered Dec. 19 to Jan. 3. The Box Office is expected to re-open for phone inquiries only starting Jan. 4. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online 24 hours a day at www.kingstongrand.ca (http://www.kingstongrand.ca/).
• Tett Centre:  closed to the public Dec. 24 through lockdown. (Check the Tett website for updates.)
• Heritage Resource Centre:  closed for lockdown as of Dec. 23.

Shopping

Many stores and grocery stores will be closed or have reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Please check with individual locations for store hours. Here is what we know for certain regarding closures:

• The Cataraqui Centre is open Christmas Eve Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The mall is then closed on Christmas Day, and did not provide details for the lockdown period.
• Walmart is open Christmas Eve from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. before closing for Christmas Day. It reopens on Boxing Day with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will be closed on New Year’s Day.
• Costco is open Christmas Eve from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Christmas Day. It reopens on Boxing Day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store will be open on New Year’s Eve from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on New Year’s Day.
• The Frontenac Mall will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• Both Staples locations will be open on Christmas Eve from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then closed on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, the Gardiner’s Road location is open for curbside pick up from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the downtown Queen Street location is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both locations will be closed on New Year’s Day.
• Both Loblaws locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and then closed on Christmas Day. They will be open on Boxing Day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The No Frills locations on both Division Street and Coverdale Drive will be open on Christmas Eve from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then closed on Christmas Day. They reopen at 9 a.m. on Boxing Day, and close at to 6 p.m.
• All Metro locations will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. We could not confirm with the Barrie Street location, but the others are running regular hours outside the two closed days.
• All Food Basics locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and closed on New Year’s Day.
• Farm Boy will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and closed for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On New Year’s Eve, it will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 pm., and then closed on New Year’s Day.
• FreshCo will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas Day. It reopens on Boxing Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then resumes regular hours until New Year’s Eve, when it is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed on New Year’s Day.
• The Foodland location in Amherstview will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and then closed on Christmas Day. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boxing day. On New Year’s Eve, it will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed for New Year’s Day.
• All LCBO locations will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. All Beer Store locations will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and be closed for Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, the Midland Avenue location will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, all Beer Store locations close at 6 p.m., and all stores are closed on New Year’s Day.
• Most Shoppers Drug Mart locations will be open regular hours throughout the holiday season, but some may vary. Click here to search store hours in Kingston.
• Many downtown Kingston businesses do open on holidays, but all keep their own hours. Call ahead to find out whether your favourite stores or restaurants are open.

Banks and post office locations

A majority of banks and post offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Call your branch ahead of time to find out.

News

As always, Kingstonist will be open. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the goings-on in the city, as they happen. We will also be happy to hear from you if there is something you think we should know about. Please reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook or via our contact page any time.