Explore the best of Kingston’s film, music and literary scenes with nine new self-guided walking tours. Uncover music venues where some of Canada’s best bands got their start; visit the set locations of popular television productions and visit the places that have inspired award-winning novels.
Through archival images, video clips, behind-the-scenes stories and a robust itinerary of local sites, these free tours will provide a new appreciation for Kingston’s creative history for residents and visitors alike. Each tour features written text and audio narration in both English and French from musicians, actors, poets, radio personalities and arts professionals from Kingston’s creative community, including Juno-nominated singer Miss Emily; Bill Welychka (MuchMusic VJ, 1992-2005); poet Bruce Kauffman; actor and musician Anna Sudac and more.
Each theme offers three tour options: downtown, west and extended, and ranges from approximately 60-minutes to two and a half hours in length allowing users to explore at their own pace. The mobile-optimized interface makes it easy for users to follow along on their phones, with route maps, directions, stories and assets like photos, videos and music, presented seamlessly. Tours include:
Discover Kingston’s cinematic past and present by visiting recent film and television production locations while learning about the early history of cinemas and film productions in the city. See how Kingston streets and buildings have been transformed for productions, into anything from 1890s New Orleans to a futuristic planet in the Star Trek universe.
Become immersed in the musical stories of Kingston, from rock to pop or classical. Visit the places where some of Canada’s most talented musicians got their start and explore Kingston’s vibrant live music scene. The music tours take the user from the downtown site of The Tragically Hip’s first show to their very last, as well as exploring the venues that sparked musical collaborations and careers from such notable Kingston musicians as Miss Emily, The Mahones and The Glorious Sons.
Explore the Kingston connections of notable Canadian authors, from Robertson Davies to Bronwen Wallace. This tour will take users to a variety of literary landmarks and the sites that continue to inspire the written word. Users will learn about a Rembrandt painting that inspired a modern poem, the penitentiary that inspired several literary works and the archives that safeguard literary legacies.
All tours are complimentary. Earphones are recommended for the best tour experience. More information on the new walking tours and other options can be found at visitkingston.ca/walking-tours.
The Creative Kingston Walking Tour project is presented by Tourism Kingston and made possible by a Tourism Relief Fund grant through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and with support from the City of Kingston.
