Intercultural Arts Festival

The event features live performances, cultural pavilions, community exhibits, artisan vendors and international cuisine, creating opportunities for residents and visitors to connect, learn and celebrate together. The festival will also incorporate the City’s "Welcome to Kingston" initiative, providing information, resources and connections for newcomers to the community.  Specific times will vary; schedule is subject to change. 

Admission is free.  

Confederation Park 

Live music and dance performances throughout the day, featuring: 

• DJ Malobi
• India-Canada Association of Kingston
• Kings DON Taiko 
• Mabuhay Filipino-Canadian Incorporation
• Association of Indian Graduate Students at Queen's 
• Elisabeth Santos 
• Kingston Nepali 
• AfroMama Rytmées 
• Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston and District 
•  Kingston Jewish Council 
• DANSANI Dance Company 
• La Vida Bistrobar & Social 
• Royal Scottish Country Dance Society 
• The Amazing Alba 
• Chris Giguère, presented by Centre Cultural Frontenac 
• Kingston Malayali Association 
• The Imperial Court of the Maple Leaf Empire Inc. 
• Ukrainian Association of Kingston 
• Khadijah 
• Rangon Ki Aasha — Shruti Malhotra 
• McGrath Irish Dance, with special guests the Celtic Kitchen Party 
• Sazanami, Miyake Renshu-kai 

Cultural pavilions and community booths showcasing traditions, food, art and heritage from various ethnocultural communities, including: 

• Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston and District   
• Discover Venezuela in Kingston – A Venezuelan Cultural Project 
• Harp of Tara – CCE Irish Community 
• India-Canada Association of Kingston 
• Italo-Canadian Club of Kingston 
• Japanese Community 
• Kingston African Caribbean Collective 
• Kingston Malayali Association 
• Kingston Nepali 
• Le Centre Cultural Frontenac 
• abuhay Filipino-Canadian Incorporation 
• Manar Acadamy 
• Peruvian Community
• Philippine Integrated Community of Kingston, Ontario (PIC-KO) 
• Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Kingston Branch
• Samahang Filipino-Canadian ng Kingston (SFCAK) 
• Telugu Association of Kingston 
• The Imperial Court of the Maple Leaf Empire Inc.
• Turkish Community 
• Ukrainian Association of Kingston 

Local food and artisan vendors sharing international cuisine and homemade goods from a variety of cultures, including: 

• Adelitaz Mexican Food 
• Adufe Alamala Restaurant   
• Blossom African Foods  
• Bomi Beauty  
• Dokings Afro Fashion House Limited  
• Ella’s Cuisine  
• Euroglam  
• Hakka Himalaya  
• Kreyol Kitchen  
• La Kefa Mexican Food  
• Liudmyla Voitova  
• Marisol Take Out Food  
• Mnafs Clothing and Jewelry  
• Naira’s Collections – Indian Clothing Boutique  
• Ona Ara Store  
• Perle d’Afrique  
• Riddim & Food Jamaican Cuisine  
• Syrian Corn  
• The Amazing Alba, Typewriter Poet  
• The Lovely Lotus  
• Vastrakalacreations  
• Vee’s Cookhouse 
• Wombat Crafts Kingston 

Local services and organization providing resources and information for newcomers to Kingston, including: 

• Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario Conseil régional des Mille-Îles (ACFOMI) 
• Al-Anon  
• Addiction and Mental Health Services - KFLA 
• BGC South East EarlyON  
• Cantabile Choirs of Kingston  
• City of Kingston  
• CSC Vanier Settlement Services Program  
• Epilepsy South Eastern Ontario  
• KEYS Employment & Newcomer Services  
• Kingston-Frontenac Public Library  
• Kingston Immigration Partnership  
• Kingston Interfaith Community  
• Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest  
• Madeleine-de-Roybon School (Les Ami.e.s de Poche) 
• Resolve Counselling Services  
• Réseau de Soutien à l'immigration francophone de l'Est de l'Ontario (RSIFEO) 
• Sexual Assault Centre Kingston  
• Tett Centre for Creativity & Learning   
• Trellis HIV and Community Care  
• Utilities Kingston 

Memorial Hall, City Hall 

•     Citizenship Ceremony, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 55 residents will celebrate becoming Canadian citizens  
•     Art Exhibition, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.  
  • Temporary installation of ‘IN BETWiN: Stories of Kingston’s Immigrants’ by Sergio Jaua 
  • A series of portraits that celebrate the diverse voices and stories of immigrants living in Kingston.   
  • Sergio Jaua is a Venezuelan-Canadian artist and designer who explores identity, memory and migration through this work. His portraits blend design sensibilities with painterly expression, reflecting resilience and the shared stories of belonging.  

Transportation 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use public transit to attend Canada Day.  Use the Kingston Transit Trip Planner to find your way there!  

Parking  

Street parking is free on Sundays. There are multiple options for parking, all located less than a 10-minute walk away from City Hall, including surface lots, parking garages and on-street parking.   

Weather

This event happens rain or shine. The event will only be cancelled if it becomes unsafe to be outside. Some activities may need to stop temporarily if it is raining but will start again when it is safe to do so.   

Road closure notifications 

Please note that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise the public that the LaSalle Causeway will be fully closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on Sunday, September 20 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Additional closures: 

• Ontario St. will be closed from Clarence St. to Brock St.  

Accessibility information 

• Confederation Park is fully accessible. Some activities will take place on the grass.  
• Accessible and non-gendered public washrooms are available in the Visitor Information Centre in the park. Additional washrooms are located in City Hall.  
• Water bowls will be available for service dogs at the Special Events Office information booth.   

If you have any specific accessibility needs, please email specialeventsoffice@cityofkingston.ca    

Photography notice 

This event is being photographed and/or video recorded. Please be advised that by entering this event site you are agreeing to being filmed and/or photographed, and the resulting assets may be used for City of Kingston marketing or promotional purposes. Should you wish not to be photographed or recorded on video, please notify one of the event photographers or videographers.