Kingston is buzzing this month with great Canadian music, comedy shows, and creative workshops. Get out and celebrate spring by trying something new, and here’s the 50 best things in Kingston this April to inspire you!
UPDATE for 2017: “25 Things To Do In April 2017“
Theatre + Live Performance
1. The Just For Laughs Roadshow is an annual event that is not to be missed. These up-and-coming comics will make for a night of sidesplitting laughter at The Grand Theatre (April 5)
3. Experience four different genres of dance in one incredible performance by Ravel, Stravinsky, and Bernstein at The Grand Theatre (April 17)
Concerts + Music
5. Every Friday Night, Tir Nan Og is home to live jazz music with The 20th Century Band. Come down and join in on a great night of music! (every Friday)
7. Head to The Mansion for great, small-size shows. May we suggest Canadian indie-rockers Kasador, coming to Kingston this month (April 1)
9. Spend an afternoon at The Isabel with Cameron Carpenter, a young organist who is trying to break the stereotypes of traditional organ music (April 3)
10. Head down to Tir Nan Og to either listen to, or participate in, Open Mic Night (April 4)
12. One of South Africa’s most celebrated musicians, Johnny Clegg, will be performing at The Grand Theatre this month (April 8)
13. The Men of the Deeps are North America’s only coal miner’s choir. Originally formed in 1966, the group celebrates the coal mining communities of Cape Breton through their music and live performances. Don’t miss them at the Grand Theatre this month! (April 9)
14. Join award-winning pianist Minsoo Sohn for Bach Goldberg Variations at The Isabel (April 10)
16. Montreal-based group Trio BBQ will be performing their jazz music, infused with klezmer music and latin rhythms, at The Octave Theatre (April 15)
17. The Octave Theatre will be hosting two Welsh acts – Martyn Joseph and the Red Dirt Skinners. Joseph has a 30 year, 32 album career, and his been dubbed “the Welsh Springsteen”. Red Dirt Skinners are award-winning musicians in both country and blues, and create unique music through saxophone and guitar instrumentation (April 16)
19. The Kingston Chamber Choir will be performing Magnificently Mozart at The Isabel later this month (April 24)
21. Check out Nova Scotia native Joel Plaskett at The Grand Theatre (April 26)
23. Check out Dave Bennett performing his new show, American Roots, at the Grand Theatre (April 30)
Events
24. Put all those random facts to use at Trivia Night at the Brooklyn! (every Sunday)
26. Once a month, book (and beer) lovers get together at Tir Nan Og to chat about what they’ve been reading. Head to this months Books & Beers for Twentysomethings and maybe you’ll discover a great new page-turner! (April 11)
27. The Kingston Symphony will be hosting their Nearly New Sale this month at the Kingston Symphony Warehouse! See the website for sale times, as well as information on how to donate (April 14 – 16)
29. You’re invited to Writers & Friends 2016 at Kingston City Hall, in aid of Horizons of Friendship and the work they have done with marginalized people in Central America and Mexico (April 17)
30. More of a coffee drinker than a beer drinker? No worries, there’s a book club for that too! Once a month, meet for a coffee and chat about your new favourite books at Books and Beans, hosted at Coffeeco Kingston Centre (April 25)
Community
32. Get yourself signed up for some new activities to celebrate spring! Visit the Recreation and Leisure Showcase at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour for information on everything available (April 2)
33. Join Amnesty International Kingston for a film screening of Blood Coltan, hosted at The Screening Room (April 3)
Food + Drink
36. You won’t want to eat anywhere other than The Grizzly Grill on a Wednesday – with specials on both pizza and bottles of wine, what more could you need?! (every Wednesday)
The Arts
38. Learn the beautiful Japanese art of Shifu at the Spinning Paper workshop at The Tett (April 2)
39. A Stitch in Time is a colourful showcase of new work done by the Kingston Fibre Artists, as well as a celebration of the history of the Tett Centre (April 2 – April 30)
41. Want to improve your poetry, or even just learn the basics? Then come to the Poetry Writing Workshop hosted by the Kingston Public Library (April 9)
42. Learn a new craft at the Make Your Own Ornament workshop at the Kingston Glass Studio! (April 9)
43. Make a beautiful memory with your little (or big) one just in time for Mother’s Day at the Handcasting event at the Kingston Glass Studio! (April 16)
45. Join local artists Suzy Lamont and Whitney Haynes for Grafting Talent, a one day workshop in photography, jewelry-making, and mixed media design at The Tett (April 16)
46. Head to The Tett for a group exhibition featuring both collaborative and independent works. Aryen Hoekstra, David Court, & Shane Krepakevich are featured in this exhibition which explores the situation of cultural production within social structures and spaces (until April 16)
47. Join the Kingston Potters’ Guild for their Spring Show & Sale, hosted in The Tett Centre (April 28 – May 1)
Sports + Outdoors
48. Embrace the spring weather by getting some fresh air along the Rideau Trail! See their website for a listing of group hike dates, or route maps if you’d prefer to plan your own.
49. As winter comes to an end and we begin a new season of outdoor activities, there couldn’t be a more important time to do inventory on all your gear! Come to the Gear Swap event at Trailhead to hand off what you don’t use anymore, and pick up something new! (April 16 – 17)
