Local News
Winter activities:
Skating is free at Springer Market Square. Public restrooms, a warming/change area and lockers are available in the Market Wing of City Hall.
Facilities
Accessible public washrooms, a change/warming area and small lockers for personal items and shoes (bring your own lock) are available in the lower Market Wing of City Hall via the North and South courtyards. An accessibility ramp to the lower level Wing is available at the North entrance off Brock Street.
Bringing a group to skate?
Notify us if your group plans to skate at Springer Market Square: Although we do not accept private bookings for schools or corporations for the Springer Market Square Rink, groups are more than welcome to skate anytime during the posted hours. In order that your large group gets the maximum enjoyment from their outing, teachers and group leaders are advised to notify Recreation and Leisure of their planned arrival so that we can make you aware of other large groups already expected. To send notification of your planned visit, please call 613-546-4291 ext 1801.
Skate Rentals
Skate rentals will be available on the dates listed below in the lower level of City Hall, directly off the courtyard and beside the skate change room and washrooms.
Hourly Rates:
- Children (12 and under) – $2
- Youth (13-17 years old) – $3
- Adults (18 years and older) – $4
- Seniors (65 years and older) – $3
- Families (maximum of 2 adults and their children under the age of 18) – $2.50 per person
Hours (weather dependent):
- Thursday, Feb. 5 (4 – 10 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 6 (4 – 10 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 7 (3 -6 :30 p.m. & 8:30 – 10 p.m.)
- Sunday, Feb. 8 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
Public Skating hours during Febfest:
- Thursday, Feb. 5 (9 – 11:30 a.m. & 12:15 – 10 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 6 (9 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 7 (3 – 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 – 10 p.m.)
- Sunday, Feb. 8 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2 – 10 p.m.)
All of the outdoor rinks in parks listed below are now open. Check the Skating in the Square page for the current opened/closed status of the rink in Springer Market Square.
The Kingston has several outdoor rinks in parks, both staffed and unstaffed, located through out the city. Find one close to you in the list below.
Want to build a community rink? First review the policy and then follow the instructions provided in the manual.
Staffed Rinks
- Heated changing facilities, with washrooms
- Open Monday to Friday, 4-9 p.m.;
Saturday and Sunday, 12-9 p.m. - Each facility has a skating area or track and a hockey rink
| Rink | Phone No. | Location |
|---|---|---|
| City Park | 613-546-5797 | Bagot St. (Between Barrie & West St.) |
| McBurney Park | 613-546-5900 | Contained by Alma, Balaclava & Ordnance St. |
| Polson Park | 613-546-6056 | Robert Wallace Dr. (Between Miles & Runnymede Rd.) |
| Springer Market Square | 613-546-000 | Brock and King Streets |
| Victoria Park | 613-542-0462 | Brock St. (Between Alfred & Albert St.) |
| Woodbine Park | N/A | 1180 Woodbine Rd. |
Unstaffed Rinks
- No change facilities.
- These rinks will be made subject to available water supply and weather permitting.
| Rink | Location |
|---|---|
| Cataraqui Woods Park | 805 Cataraqui Woods Dr. |
| Henderson Park | 800 Henderson Blvd. |
| Markers Acres Park | 201 Conacher Dr. |
| Molly McGlynn Park | Rose Abby Dr. (Off Highway 15) |
| O’Connor Park | Inverness Cres. (Between Aberfoyle & Westmoreland Rd.) |
| Shannon Corners | 2400 Perth Rd. |
| Third Avenue Park | 141 Third Ave. |
Community Rinks
- No change facilities.
- These rinks will be made subject to available water supply and weather permitting.
- The respective community groups maintain these rinks.
| Rink | Location |
|---|---|
| John Brewer Park | Brewers Mills Rd. (Next to Firehall #2) |
| Pierson Park | Joyceville Rd. (Next to Firehall #1) |
Up coming events for the year
| February 5-8 – Feb Fest 2015 Join in on one of Ontario’s premier winter events. Feb Fest features a flurry of fantastic fun: a figure skating show, Hockey Day in Kingston, skate with the Fronts, Car Harris Cup, The Historic Hockey Series, a winter fun zone, public skating and so much more! | |||
| May-September – Kingston Public Market Established in 1801, the Kingston Public Market operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6am to 6pm in Springer Market Square- watch for special market events & Antique Market on Sundays. www.kingstonpublicmarket.ca | |||
| April 26 & 27 – Limestone Race Weekend Let’s get moving! Challenge yourself in the area’s most scenic 5km, 10km and Half Marathon races. Sign up at www.krra.org | |||
| May 10 – Homegrown Live This annual music festival features Kingston’s favourite “homegrown” bands and artists in venues around Kingston. Proceeds go to the Joe Chithalen Music Instrument Lending Library and the Partners in Mission Food Bank. www.homegrownlive.ca | |||
| May 10 Breast Cancer Action Kingston Walk The Breast Cancer Action 21st Annual Walk for Awareness takes place May 10th from 9am-1pm in Confederation Park with activities for young and old! For more info visitwww.bcakingston.org | |||
| May 23 – Art After Dark Take the tour of Downtown’s finest Galleries from 7-10pm. Click here for the event poster! Click here for the event map, with locations of over 15 participating galleries!Click here to learn more about the artists participating in the event! | |||
| June, July & August – Movies in the Square Grab your lawn chair and come down to Springer Market Square for another great season of Movies in the Square! Shows begin June 19 and happen every Thursday until August 28. Show time is at dusk. Click here for the full movie line-up! | |||
| June, July & August – Music In The Park Noon Hour Series – Tuesday, Thursday & Saturdays at 12:30pm, Confederation Park Downtown Country – Thursdays at 7pm, Confederation Park Downtown Choral – Thursdays at 7pm, St. Andrew’s Church Lawn Big Band Fridays – Fridays at 7pm, Springer Market Square Courtyard Click here for the full summer schedule! | |||
| July and August – Local Food Local Chefs Cooking Demos Free cooking demos happen every Saturday starting in July from 11am – noon at the Kingston Public Market where Kingston’s best chefs demonstrate how to cook with local food straight from the Market! Samples $2 while supplies last. www.kingstonfood.ca | |||
| June 13 – First Capital Day Celebrate the anniversary of Kingston being named the first capital of a united Canada! History comes alive in City Park! | |||
| June 15 – Kingston Pride 2014 Parade Show your colours and show your pride at the official Kingston Pride 2014 Parade! Everyone is welcome to march in the parade. www.kingstonpride.ca. | |||
| July 1 – Canada Day The Limestone Mile at 9:00am, People Parade at 11:30am and live music all day in Confederation Park ending with fireworks at 10:00 pm! Download all the details here! | |||
| July 3-6 – Summer Sidewalk Sale Downtown merchants take to the streets offering tremendous savings! | |||
| July 10 to 13 – Kingston Buskers Rendezvous Jugglers, acrobats, dancers, singers, musicians, comedians, fire-eaters, magicians and more hit the streets for this world-class buskers festival. www.kingstonbuskers.com | |||
| Aug 2 – Princess Street Promenade We’re takin’ it to the street on Saturday, August 2 from 10am to 4pm. Join us as we close Princess Street for an active, fun & entertaining experience! Your favourite shops & community groups are offering great deals & great fun. Looking to apply to take part? Click here if you’re a downtown business! or Click here if you are a local community group! | |||
| August 8 & 9 – 1000 Islands Poker Run Kingston will play host to the Power Boating Canada 1000 Islands Poker Run on the weekend of Aug 8-9! This is the largest performance boating event in North America, drawing spectators from all across the continent to view more than 100 of the most spectacular and exotic boats on the water. See the boats on display at Confederation Basin, and enjoy the action on the water – all FREE for spectators. The event begins on Friday night with a display of the boats in Downtown Kingston, and shifts into high gear on Saturday when the boats take off at 10 am. Enjoy the exciting performance boating video coverage in Power Boating Canada’s FREE “Speedzone Theatre” in Confederation Park all day Saturday and watch the boats return at 3:30 pm. Live entertainment and lots of action-packed excitement! For more information visit http://www.powerboating.com/ | |||
| August 21 to 24 – 2014 Limestone City Blues Festival The best in blues! Four days of the blues hit the Princess Street Stage, Confederation Park, and your favorite Downtown venues, capped off by an unforgettable concert in Market Square! www.kingstonblues.com | |||
| September 20 – Princess Street Promenade Fall Event A second promenade will take place this fall on Saturday, September 20th. Looking to apply to take part? Click here if you’re a downtown business! or Click here if you are a local community group! Click here if you are a restaurant! | |||
| September 26-September 28 – Culture Days Have you ever wanted to join a drum circle? Experience some of Canada’s great works of art? Be the star in your own film? Take a salsa dance class? Whatever your passion or curiosity, indulge it during Culture Days, Canada’s annual countrywide celebration of arts and culture, returns to Kingston from Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, 2014. With over 50 events to choose from over the 3-day weekend, there’s something for everyone. Create. Participate. Celebrate. Visit the website to learn more: www.culturedays.ca | |||
| September 24-28 – Kingston WritersFest Six days of literary inspiration and excitement. The 2014 lineup of authors and events can be found here www.kingstonwritersfest.ca | |||
| September 26 – Art After Dark Take the tour of Downtown’s finest Galleries from 7-10pm. Click here for the event poster! For information on participating galleries, click here. To download the gallery map, click here. | |||
| September 7 – Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival Connect with diverse cultures of Kingston at this family-friendly event in Confederation Park from 11am to 5pm. Music, Dance, Food, Arts, Crafts, Stories and more! Visit wwww.kingstonmulticultural.ca for more information.To view the postcard, click here. | |||
| September 27 – Chilifest One of Kingston’s best loved festivals is back with even more chili and fun! Event is from noon to 3 pm in Confederation Park or until all the chili is gone! For more information, visit www.chilifest.ca | |||
| November 22 – 2014 Nighttime Santa Parade You better watch out, you’d better not cry… Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa will make his way down Princess St. beginning at Bath Rd. starting at 5pm. Commercial Application:| PDF | Non-commercial Application:| PDF | | |||
| November – Limited Edition Pewter Collectibles The annual release of 5 historic properties cast in pewter begins in November. | |||
| December – Window Wonderland Downtown really comes alive after dark! Take a stroll and enjoy some of the cheery and bright holiday windows. windows@downtownkingston.ca Email your favourite before Dec 12 for your chance to win a downtown shopping spree and gift certificates from some of your favourite stores! | |||
| December (Saturdays) – Santa in the Square Every Saturday from December 6 to December 21 from 11 am – 2 pm, Santa comes to Springer Market Square to visit all the girls and boys in Kingston. Before or after your skate stop by and take a FREE picture with Santa! Don’t forget your camera! |