Celebrate Kingston’s rich diversity through food, music, art, and culture on September 17, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Confederation Basin and Springer Market Square.
The Intercultural Arts Festival is a celebration of the Kingston area’s rich cultural diversity featuring free, family-friendly entertainment including live music and dance performances from local and out-of-town talent, workshops, international markets & cuisine.
Come and experience arts and cultural performances on the festival mainstage including a headlining performance by Tocani, a Tkaronto/Toronto-based contemporary fusion act, whose members have their roots in South America, a show blending costume, music, dance, poetry, and theatre. Other highlights include francophone folk/pop singer-songwriter Pierre-Hervé Goulet, a Kathak dance by Parul Gupta, and a performance by the Kings Don Taiko drummers.
Participate in workshops, sponsored by Empire Life, including the popular drag make-up tutorial presented by Kingston Pride and dance workshops in Bachata, Aztec, West African dance, and more!
Bring your appetite, the Festival will also feature food by Q-Bite (Indian Fusion), Jerkebago (Caribbean), Los Gringos (Mexican), Dr. Shawarma (Egyptian), and B’s Bike Bites in addition to multicultural arts, crafts, and food in the International Pavilion.
The festival also includes the September 17 iteration of the Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market, which takes place weekly in Springer Market Square from June 4 until September 24. The market is coordinated by RIEL Cultural Consulting with support from Tourism Kingston and the City of Kingston. The festival will kick off with Kingston's Civic Awards, presented by Mayor Bryan Paterson. Winners of the 2023 Civic Awards were announced July 6.
Accessibility: Confederation Park and Springer Market Square are accessible to those with mobility issues and mobility devices. There will be a sensory-reduced zone for those experiencing sensory overload or sensitivity. ASL Interpretation will be available for the opening ceremonies and Mayor’s Civic Awards, however interpretation will not be provided for workshops and performances. Please contact the City of Kingston Special Events Office if you have any accessibility questions by emailing [email protected]
MAIN STAGE
(Ontario St. @ Brock St.)
11 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies featuring community addresses by Mayor Bryan Paterson, Grandmother Kathy Brant, Chief Maracle, Chief Simpson, and Judith Brown.
11:45 a.m.: Kingston Civic Awards presented by Mayor Bryan Paterson
12:15 p.m.: Poetry Readings by Kingston Poet Laureate Sadiqa de Meijer and Sarah Brown Dunkley
12:30 p.m.: Fancy Dancing by DJ Classic Roots
1:10 p.m.: Chinese Guzheng performance by Man Yu Lee presented by the Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston
1:30 p.m.: Indian Semi-Classical Dance performance by Anupama and Aarti
1:40 p.m.: Salsa Dance performance presented by Kingston Latino Society
1:55 p.m.: Dabkeh Arabic Cultural Dance by Peace Doves presented by Arab Society of Kingston
2:10 p.m.: Ukrainian Opera singer Inna Leschuk
2:20 p.m.: Taiko Japanese Drumming by Kings Don Taiko
2:40 p.m.: Nepali Song & Dance presented by Kingston Nepali Association
2:50 p.m.: Rob Roy Scottish Pipe Band and Highland Dancers
3:15 p.m.: Traditional African Muunda performance by Ndinda Msiska
3:20 p.m.: Santur performance by Sadaf Amini
3:35 p.m.: Bollywood Medley presented by the Association of Indian Graduate Students at Queen’s
3:45 p.m.: Arabic Dance performance by the Egyptian Student Association at Queen’s
3:55 p.m.: Opanna traditional dance performance by the Kingston Malayali Association
4:20 p.m.: Drag performance presented by Kingston Pride
4:30 p.m.: Kathak Dance performance by Parul Gupta
4:50 p.m.: Francophone Folk Pop performance by Pierre-Hervé Goulet
5:35 p.m.: Bhangra performance by the School of Indian Folk Art & Tradition
5:55 p.m.: Tocani – contemporary fusion music & dance performance
WORKSHOPS (sponsored by Empire Life)
Confederation Park Tent
1 p.m.: Indigenous Corn Husk doll-making with Grandmother Kathy Brant
2 p.m.: Henna Drawing with the Egyptian Student Association at Queen’s
3 p.m.: Pakistani Truckart presented by Pakistan Canada Association (Ontario St.)
4 p.m.: Arabic Writing with the Arab Society of Kingston
5 p.m.: Drag Make-Up Tutorial with Kingston Pride
Amphitheatre Tent
(Market St. behind City Hall)
1 p.m.: African Song & Dance with Ndinda Msiska
2 p.m.: Bhangra Dancing with SIFAT
3 p.m.: Aztec Dancing with Tocani
4 p.m.: Afrobeats/Afrodance with Benedictus Mattson
5 p.m.: Bachata Dancing with Kingston Latino Society
6 p.m.: Western Music Hardware Education with Ryan Lewis
VENDORS
Katarokwi Indigenous Art & Food Market
(Springer Market Square, 10am-3pm)
W.C. Creatives
Cadue’s First Foods
Dream Creations
Flint and Maple Beadwork
L and B Native Crafts
4 Crazy Crows
Turtle Island Snacks and Fine Foods
Creations by Can
Mishigamiing Beading
Colleen’s Crafts
For more information about the Katarokwi Indigenous Art & Food Market see:
https://www.visitkingston.ca/katarokwi-indigenous-market-vendor-roundup/
International Pavilion
(Confederation Park)
Arab Society of Kingston (Food & Crafts)
Association of Indian Graduate Students at Queen’s (Arts & Crafts)
B’s Bike Bites (Frozen Treats)
Bay Eats (Caribbean Food Truck)
Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston & District (Food & Bubble Tea)
Dr. Shawarma (Egyptian Food)
Edible Earth (Korean-Canadian Preserves)
Egyptian Students Association at Queen’s (Foods & Crafts)
The Great Panda Society (Chinese Crafts & Activities)
HappyBuddha (Chinese arts & crafts)
Harp of Tara (Irish Food & Activities)
Italo-Canadian Club of Kingston (Arts & Crafts)
India-Canada Association of Kingston (Crafts & Activities)
Islamic Pavilion (Arts & Crafts)
Japanese Pavilion (Food & Activities)
Jerkebago (Caribbean Food)
Kingston African Caribbean Collective (Food & Crafts)
Kingston Malayali Association (South Indian Food & Spices)
Kingston Nepali (Food)
Kona Ice (Frozen Treats)
Latino Pavilion (Food & Art)
Los Gringos (Mexican Cuisine)
MNAFS Clothing by Naureen Sohail (Pakistani Clothing & Jewelry)
Migmar Dolma (Tibetan Crafts)
Mo’s Dainty Bites (Naija Food)
Naan Stop Express (Indian Food)
Q-Bite (Indian Fusion Food)
Pakistan Canada Association (Arts & Crafts)
Scottish Pavilion (Arts & Activities)
Tibetan Pavilion (Crafts)
Turkish & Azerbaijani Pavilion (Arts & Crafts)
Tunisian Pavilion (Arts & Crafts)
Ukrainian Pavilion (Arts & Crafts)
Community Information Booths
(Ontario St.)
Anti-Racism Task Force
Association Canadienne-francaise de l’Ontario Conseil regional des Milles-Iles (ACFOMI)
Canadian Blood Services of Kingston
Le Centre Culturel Frontenac
Conseil des ecoles publiques de L’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO)
Conseil des ecoles catholiques de L’Est de L’Ontario (CECEO)
CSC Vanier
Diocese of Ontario Refugee Support (DOORS)
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Cataraqui
Immigration Services Kingston and Area (ISKA)
KEYS Employment & Newcomer Services
Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF)
Kingston Immigration Partners (KIP)
Kingston Literacy Skills (KLS)
Kingston Native Centre & Language Nest (formerly KILN)
La Route du Savoir
Reseau de Soutien a l’immigration Francophone de l’est de l’Ontario (RSIFEO)
ReStart Employment Services
Fresh FM/Big FM Radio
For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.
In-Person Event
Sun. September 17th 2023 + Add to Calendar
Confederation Park
11:00am - 7:00pm
Free
