Things to do
Things to do in Kingston
Ontario's first capital: limestone streets, the waterfront where Lake Ontario becomes the St. Lawrence, and the 1000 Islands at the doorstep.
Photos for Kingston are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Kingston
The Limestone City: 19th-century stone, the 1000 Islands, and Queen's.
- Downtown & Springer Market Square — The limestone core: the 1850s City Hall, the market square's skating rink in winter.
- Fort Henry — The 1830s British fortress: the Sunset Ceremonies (summer), the panoramic harbour views.
- Kingston Penitentiary tours — The 1835 prison: the guided tours of the closed penitentiary — book ahead.
- 1000 Islands cruises — The Gananoque/Kingston boat tours: Boldt Castle, the island maze — the summer essential.
- Queen's University campus — The limestone campus: Grant Hall, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
- Bellevue House — Sir John A. Macdonald's home: the Parks Canada historic site.
- Waterfront Trail — The Lake Ontario path: Confederation Basin, the marinas.
Free things to do in Kingston
Kingston is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Waterfront Trail — The lakeside walk: free.
- Springer Market Square (square) — The square: free.
- Lemoine Point — The conservation area trails: free.
- Queen's campus (grounds) — The limestone quads: free.
- Fort Henry (hill views) — The hilltop views: free.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- Kingston Buskers Rendezvous (July) — The street-performer festival downtown: four days, free shows.
- Limestone City Blues Festival (August) — The blues weekend across downtown venues.
- FebFest (February) — The winter festival: skating, the ice sculptures.
- Canada Day (1 July) — The waterfront fireworks.
And the national calendar:
- Canada Day (1 July) — The national birthday: fireworks, concerts, red-and-white everywhere. Big in every town on this list.
- Thanksgiving (second Monday of October) — Harvest long weekend: turkey dinners, fall colours at peak in much of the country.
- Victoria Day (Monday before 25 May) — The May long weekend: unofficial start of summer, fireworks in many cities.
- Remembrance Day (11 November) — Ceremonies at cenotaphs nationwide; the National Ceremony in Ottawa is the reference point.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: Hockey
The Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) at the Slush Puppie Place: junior hockey in a hockey-mad town. Queen's Gaels carry the university sport — the Vanier Cup history, the homecoming weekend. Sailing: Kingston is Canada's freshwater sailing capital (CORK regatta, the Olympic harbour).
Rowing on the Cataraqui; the 1000 Islands poker runs for the boating crowd.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Kingston
The Penitentiary tours keep selling out — book ahead. The small-ship cruise schedule grows yearly. The downtown waterfront keeps improving.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Kingston?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Kingston for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Kingston?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Kingston
If you book through these links, Dayfari may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.