January 1

New Year's Levee

Come meet Senator Hugh Segal, Peter Milliken M.P. and Speaker of the House, John Gerretsen, M.P.P., Mayor Mark Gerretsen and members of City Council at the annual New Year's Levee.

Time:

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

January 11

Sir John A. Macdonald's Birthday

Join Mayor Mark Gerretsen in marking Sir John A. Macdonald's birthday January 11 — Sir John A. Macdonald Day across Canada by an Act of Parliament. A Civic ceremony will be held at Sir John A's statue in City Park at noon. The annual celebration will feature remarks from the Mayor, performances by the Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School Special Events Choir, a Citizenship re-affirmation ceremony and more. The Master of Ceremonies is lawyer, Robert Tchegus, of Cunningham Swan. Happy 196th birthday Sir John A!

Location:

City Park, corner of West and King St.

Time:

12 p.m.

February 21

Family Day

The City of Kingston is offering a variety of activities on the Family Day holidays. The activities include: swimming, skating, a Family Fit Challenge at the INVISTA Centre, and a free day at the YMCA that includes swimming, face painting, air castles and live music. Also, Those with youth memberships at the INVISTA Fitness & Wellness Centre are welcome to bring a friend for free to use the KIDZ Fit Zone games.

See the Family Day Activities Schedule.

Location:

Various

Time:

Various

March 9

West-49 Lyons Skatepark

Come learn about the upcoming relocation and improvement of West-49. See www.cityofkingston.ca/skateboard for more information.

Location:

Polson Park Free Methodist Church hall, 5 Miles Ave.

Time:

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

March 15 to 19

March Break

See what's on at City facilities during March Break - Adventure Camp, leisure swims, FREE CPR event and FREE public skating at the K-Rock Centre, courtesy of K-Rock 105.7, and more. See the City's March Break Schedule.

Location:

Various

Time:

Various

April 16

Kingston Area Recycling Centre Drop-in Tours

See what the City does with the recyclable materials it collects from your Blue and Grey Boxes. See more information about Kingston Area Recycling Centre Drop-in tours

Location:

196 Lappan's Lane

Time:

Drop-in anytime from 10 a.m. to noon

May 1-7

Emergency Preparedness Week

Are you and your family prepared to respond to a household, local or regional emergency? Get ready at: www.cityofkingston.ca/emergency.

Location:

N/A

Time:

N/A

May 7

Composting Workshop

Learn how to make your organic waste into "black gold" using a backyard composter. Backyard composters will be available for purchase for $40 plus HST at this workshop.

Contact: Derek Ochej, Public Education Coordinator, 613-546-4291, ext. 2703

Location:

196 Lappan's Lane

Time:

10 a.m.

May 12

Rock The Wally

The United Way of KFL&A, CRNC and K-Rock 105.7 FM will host a free concert and BBQ featuring the Trevor Walsh Group from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come out and enjoy a hotdog and groove to the tunes. For details please call the Wally at 613-542-3817

Location:

The Wally Elmer Neighbourhood Centre, 50 MacCauley Street

Time:

4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

May 14

Rolling on the Runway

Exchange a Food Bank item for three hours of fun physical activity. Bring your family, your bicycle (and helmet!), skateboard, wheelchair, stroller, scooter, in-line skates or walking shoes to Roll on the Runway at Kingston Airport. For more information call KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875

Location:

Kingston Airport, 111 Len Birchall Way

Time:

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 30

CRCA Roundtable on Drinking Water Source Protection

Come to a this Cataraqui Region Conservation Area community roundtable discussion about sensitive groundwater areas and source water protection in the Kingston region.

Register by May 18 by contacting roundtables@cataraquiregion.on.ca or 613-546-4228, ext. 248. See www.cleanwatercataraqui.ca.

Location:

Front Lounge, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 53 Yonge St.

Time:

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

June 18

Doors Open Kingston

Get a behind-the-doors' look at many cherished and interesting Kingston buildings including: Agnes Benidickson House, HMCS Cataraqui, Kingston Police Headquarters and the Shoal Tower National Historic Site amongst others. This event is FREE to the public.
[ DOWNLOAD A MAP OF PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS]

For more information on each of these sites, including accessibility information and links, please see the Doors Open Ontario site for Doors Open Kingston.

Location:

Various

Time:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 1

Canada Day Celebrations

Two locations to choose from!

Confederation Park/City Hall - The Limestone Mile at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Red and White people parade, a civic ceremony, live music all afternoon and evening in Confederation Park and Fireworks at 10 p.m.
[CANADA DAY AT CONFEDERATION PARK/CITY HALL]

Grass Creek Park - Bring your family to Grass Creek Park in Kingston East, and celebrate with a variety of family oriented activities, live entertainment, beach volleyball, etc.
[CANADA DAY ENTERTAINMENT AT GRASS CREEK PARK]

Call 546-4291 ext 1715 for more information.

Location:

Confederation Park/City Hall
& Grass Creek Park (Highway 2 East)

Time:

Various

July 6 - August 31

Music In The Gardens

Free evening concerts in Lions Civic Gardens, beside the Cataraqui Town Centre. Wednesday and Sunday evenings, weather permitting. Enjoy a variety of local and visiting entertainers, sponsored by City of Kingston and the Music Performance Fund.

For the full line-up, please see the Music in the Gardens page.

Location:

Lions Civic Gardens

Time:

7 to 8 p.m.

July 14-17

Buskers Rendezvous

A Downtown Kingston! event. For more information call 613-542-8677 or visit www.kingstonbuskers.com/index.html.

Location:

Various

Time:

Various

July 23

Kingston Area Recycling Centre Drop-in tours

See what the City does with the recyclable materials it collects from your Blue and Grey Boxes. See more information about Kingston Area Recycling Centre Drop-in tours

Location:

196 Lappan's Lane

Time:

Drop-in anytime from 10 a.m. to noon

July 31

K-Town Triathlon

Watch as athletes from around the world run, bike and swim from Confederation Park. Visit www.ktowntri.comt for details.

Location:

Confederation Park

Time:

7:30 a.m.

August 5-7

1000 Islands Poker Run

Kingston will play host to powerboats from across Canada as they compete over 3 days. Live entertainment, and lots of action-packed excitement! Call 613-542-8677 or visit www.downtownkingston.ca for details.

Location:

Various

Time:

Various

August 14

From the Tree: Designs in Wood

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and creative wood works at From the Tree: Designs in Wood, the 2nd annual show and sale at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum. This free event will feature local artisans, demonstrations and opportunities to try paper-making and blacksmithing. Admission to the Museum is also free (donations welcome). See www.woodworkingmuseum.ca.

Location:

MacLachlan Woodworking Museum

Time:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

August 25

Movies in the Square: Driving Miss Daisy

Bring your own chair to Springer Market Square and enjoy an outdoor movie-viewing presentation courtesy of Downtown Kingston!

Location:

Springer Market Square

Time:

Dusk

August 30

Vintage Wings BCATP Aircraft Come To Kingston Flying Club

Vintage Wings of Canada brings its "Yellow Wings tour" — including an FG-1D Corsair craft — to the Kingston Flying Club at Kingston Airport. The tour commemorates the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) accomplishments during the Second World War. A display of Fleet Finch, Boeing Stearman and Fleet Cornell yellow trainers and a Goodyear FG-1D Corsair fighter will be open to the public throughout the day at the Kingston Flying Club at 1040 Len Birchall Way. Flyovers will take place throughout the day. The Kingston Flying Club will hold a lunchtime BBQ.

Location:

Kingston Flying Club, 1040 Len Birchall Way

Time:

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

September 3

Fare on the Square

Local chefs from Kingston's best restaurants — paired with local producers from the Kingston Public Market. Visit www.downtownkingston.ca for details.

Location:

Springer Market Square

Time:

10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

September 20

In your Words | Kingston Poetry Project Launch

This public event will feature readings by Eric Folsom, David Helwig, Joanne Page, Carolyn Smart and Daniel David Moses. Interspersed throughout the event will include some participatory events for attendees including several 60 second poetry events, and other interactive ideas. Immediately following this event Eric will attend the City Council meeting where he will be introduced to the community by Mayor Gerretsen, receive a recognition plaque and read a poem that will become part of the official minutes of the Council meeting.

Location:

Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall

Time:

5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

September 29

Darwin's Garden

Head Gardener at Down House — Charles Darwin's home — Rowan Blaik, will divulge how the Darwin used his garden, and the wider landscape surrounding his home, to study the natural world. Drop in for this free event. Call 613-549-8888 for additional information.

Location:

Central Branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson St.

Time:

7 p.m.

October 1

Chilifest

One of Kingston's best loved festivals is back with even more chili and fun! Visit www.chilifest.ca for details.

Location:

Confederation Park

Time:

12 p.m.

October 22

Town-Gown Event: Ride on the Magic School Busk

The City of Kingston hosts the Queen's Magic School Busk, a group of university students who will be busking to raise money for the University Hospitals Foundation Kingston, on Saturday, Oct. 22 (rain date October 23) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Market Street and the South Court of City Hall (amphitheatre off Market Street).

Queen's Magic School Busk features students with many diverse talents including: music-making, dancing, acting and juggling. "We wanted to give back to the city that so generously accepted us as members of the community. Queen's Magic School Busk believes that giving all the raised proceeds to the University Hospitals Foundation Kingston is a great way to do this. Breaking out of the Queen's bubble and contributing to the Kingston community is what Magic School Busk is all about," says Stephen Penstone of Magic School Busk.

Location:

Market Street & the South Court of City Hall

Time:

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Come down to the market on October 22nd for our free Pumpkin Decorating Event. Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. Free refreshments and expert decorating advice from the Kingston School of Art.

Location:

Springer Market Square

Time:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

October 30

Rick Hansen "Man in Motion Relay"

25 years ago, Rick Hansen 'wheeled' himself through 34 countries, and over 40,000 km. His goal was to make the world a more accessible and inclusive place, and to find a cure for spinal cord injury. 25 years later, we mark the anniversary of the world tour in Kingston's Market Square when it stops for an end of day celebration on its way across the country. Join us on Sunday afternoon, for this inspirational event, as our medal bearer arrives in the square. Kingstonians will be entertained with live music, activities and community displays, during the most inclusive event Kingston has ever hosted! Then, send the medal bearers off the next morning in Kingston's 'always enthusiastic' style as it continues it way west. Watch for details as they become available.

Location:

Springer Market Square

Time:

2-5 p.m.

November 19

Nighttime Santa Parade

An evening Santa Claus Parade...Come on out and enjoy the lights and magic of the season!

Location:

Various

Time:

5:00 p.m.

December 31

K-Town Countdown

A family oriented celebration of the new year that will excite young and old alike. Held both indoors and outdoors, the event features horse drawn wagon rides, live entertainment, free skating on the K-ROCK ice, and a variety of ongoing activities of interest to all ages. Proceeds for hot chocolate go to PRO Kids. The whole evening culminates in a fantastic fireworks finale! Its fun and its free.

See the live music line-up.

Location:

K-ROCK Centre

Time:

5 to 9 p.m.