By Kristina Pernar
1. Feb Fest in Downtown Kingston
The 15th annual downtown winter festival will begin on February 1, 2019 and will be holding numerous events over the course of the weekends in February. It will be equipped with warming stations, Muskoka Chairs, fire pits, and hay bales in Market Square. Beavertails will also be available every weekend.
*Check out the downtown Kingston website for regular updates and to view the entire schedule for Feb Fest.
2. Springer Market Square Ice Sculpting
Friday February 1st – The opening of the Kingston Winter Park. Award-winning ice sculptors and snow carvers will be building ice slides and ice sculptures for children to enjoy on their PA Day.
3. PA Day Movie
Friday, February 1 – From 2:00pm – 3:00pm, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library will be hosting a movie screening for families at the Isabel Turner Branch. For this PA Day the scheduled movie is Incredibles 2.
*Check out kfpl.ca for all of the family events and programs going on for free and indoors during February.
4. Imagination on Ice: Saturday, February 2
Springer Market Square will be closed from 9:00am to 10:00, for Imagination on Ice practice. You can watch the practice with your family, or head over at 1:00pm to watch the show starring Kurt Browning.
5. Polar Plunge:
Sunday, February 3 – At 11:00am on Sunday morning, head over to the Crawford Dock to watch this year’s Polar Plunge in Support of the Special Olympics. If you’re feeling brave, you could jump in too!
6. An Artsy Afternoon:
Sunday February 17 – Pop in and out of businesses and galleries downtown to check out local art and original pieces. There will be paintings, sculptures, drawings, glass, and so much more. Or head to Martello Alley located on Wellington St. in downtown Kingston. Open year-round until 5:00pm, Martello Alley is a historic alley displaying the works of local artists.
7. Horse-drawn Wagon Rides
Every Saturday and on Family Day from 11am – 2pm in Springer Market Square.
8. Skating at Springer Market Square
Grab your skates and head over to the square to enjoy the music and the outdoor rink in downtown Kingston. If you are willing to spend a few dollars to warm up, head to one of the many cafes lining the square for hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Every Friday and Saturday from 6:00pm – 9:00pm during Winterfest there will be a live DJ. (Except on February 15).
*Don’t have skates? Trailhead on Princess Street is a great spot for well-priced rentals. Check their website for availability and more information. Trail Heads
9. Lemoine Point Conservation Area
Bundle up and hit the trails of Lemoine Point, 11km of scenic lookouts and mostly flat trails. Great for bird watchers and viewing small forest critters. Located off Front Road in Kingston or by Hwy.33 at Collins Bay, free onsite parking as well. Lemoine Point website
10. Toboggan at Fort Henry
Bundle up and head over to Fort Henry to enjoy the hills with your family. You can toboggan, krazy karpet, or stroll around and take in the views of Kingston and the St. Lawrence River. I recommend catching a sunset or two from the top of this hill.