Love Kingston Marketplace
Love Kingston Marketplace
About the Project
The City of Kingston, Tourism Kingston and the Downtown Kingston! BIA are once again reimagining parts of downtown to help respond to the impacts that residents, businesses, culture, tourism and the local economy face due to COVID-19.
Love Kingston Marketplace includes several initiatives that provide additional space and programming for businesses to expand operations, and for residents to dine, shop, move, play and engage outdoors while following health and safety guidelines.
On this page:
Springer Market Square
Starting in April and continuing until the fall, Springer Market Square will host a variety of Love Kingston Marketplace initiatives.
Vending Stalls
Businesses have the opportunity to rent a vending stall in Springer Market Square. The vending stalls provide a unique opportunity for businesses to sell their products and wares and showcase their services.
Night Market
The Night Market is a dynamic and community-oriented outdoor market that presents a variety of high-quality, locally produced handcrafted goods to the community.
Dining/Seating
Bistro tables, shaded benches and Muskoka chairs will be in place in Springer Market Square and on Market Street throughout the year for everyone to enjoy. All areas are regularly sanitized and cleaned.
Kids’ Corner
In the Amphitheatre of Springer Market Square, Love Kingston Marketplace welcomes back Kids’ Corner. Kids’ Corner is a dedicated and accessible space in Springer Market Square for children and families to enjoy family-friendly activities like the selfie walls and ‘chalk art’, as well as variety of programming. Programming will be registration-based, and a limited number of participants will be permitted to attend based on current gathering restrictions due to COVID-19. Kids' Corner is sponsored by Utilities Kingston.
Movement in the Market
Movement in the Market provides registered participants with the opportunity to join a physically distanced, instructor-led wellness or fitness class. Classes such as yoga and Zumba will be held in the middle of Springer Market Square twice a week. Participants will be required to bring any necessary equipment with them and will be provided with a designated, physically distanced space to participate.
Indigenous Programming
Visitors to Springer Market Square will have the opportunity to shop the Indigenous Market, and watch and listen to performances from a variety of talented local Indigenous community members from various nations across Turtle Island.
Musical Performances
Live musical performances will be returning to Springer Market Square this summer. Showcasing a variety of local solos, duos and trios, this diverse live music program will offer a wide selection of performance styles and genres from Kingston musicians. All public health guidelines will be closely followed including physical distancing requirements to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for audiences and artists.
Bistro at the Square
After a successful first season, Sociavore is returning as part of Love Kingston Marketplace in Springer Market Square as Bistro at the Square. Sociavore is a mobile ordering platform that provides delivery of food/beverages from local restaurants to a bistro table in the Square. Patrons sit at a “Love Kingston” stickered and numbered bistro table, use their mobile device to scan a QR code to order from a variety of participating restaurants, pay and tip. Ordered items are then delivered by the restaurant to the patron based on their numbered table location in Springer Market Square.
Downtown Streets
Expanded Temporary Patios
Downtown businesses will once again have the opportunity to expand their patio space adjacent to their business. Expanded patios allow operators to increase the number of patrons they can accommodate due to capacity restrictions related to COVID-19. Most expanded patios will occupy parking spaces adjacent to a participating business and can accommodate licensed and unlicensed patios, retail displays and waiting lines.
Patios in the City are important to attract customers to commercial businesses, especially when COVID-19 restrictions are still in place and social distancing requirements decrease normal capacities. The City is working to fast track temporary patio permits on Private and Public lands to support local businesses. The approval process is different, depending on if the temporary patio will be located on public or private land. If you’re not sure, email patios@cityofkingston.ca and staff can help. Please note that permanent patio approvals on private land continue to be available through the regular planning process.
Temporary Road Closures
Temporary road closures on Market Street, Ontario Street, Sydenham Street and Princess Street have been proposed this year as part of Love Kingston Marketplace. These temporary road closures will provide additional space for:
- Seating such as the Muskoka chairs on Market Street
- Temporary patio expansions
- Sidewalk Sale such as the Princess Street Promenade
- Other animation/programming
Road closure information that is part of Love Kingston Marketplace will be updated regularly on the City’s road closure page. Necessary signage, detours, accessibility and safety measures will be in place as part of any closure. Event organizers from Downtown Kingston! BIA will provide more detailed information to those that are directly impacted by the closures and will ensure that access or alternative arrangements are made to accommodate any specific needs during closures.
Pick-Up & Delivery Parking Spaces
10-minute pick-up and delivery parking spaces will continue to be available downtown for free to support curbside pick-up. View the pick-up and delivery map.
Accessible Parking
The existing accessible parking spaces will be maintained in the project area throughout the duration of Love Kingston Marketplace.
The accessible parking map shows the existing and new accessible parking spaces available for use.
Public Art - Paved Paradise
Paved Paradise is an annual public art program by the City that features works by local artists on several pedestrian-level billboards located on the north side of Brock Street at Ontario Street. This year, Paved Paradise will be part of Love Kingston Marketplace.
Musical Performances
In addition to musical performances in Springer Market Square, there will also be select pop-up performances on Sydenham Street throughout the summer featuring Kingston performers.
Bicycle Valet
Enjoy free bicycle valet parking courtesy of Cycle Kingston. Your bike will be secure for you to enjoy downtown and Bistro on Ontario.
Beyond Downtown
Arts Walk
Going beyond the bounds of Kingston’s downtown core, the Arts Walk will highlight Kingston’s public art along the waterfront from Douglas Fluhrer Park to Lake Ontario Park, as well as downtown. This self-guided walking tour will include decals to highlight the trail and a digital map/app. Printed Arts Walk postcards can be picked up at various locations including City Hall.
More to come
Stay tuned for additional details as we continue to work with partners on other exciting initiatives. Important information such as location, dates, timing and registration of initiatives will be added to this page as information and details become available.
All Love Kingston Marketplace initiatives are being developed in collaboration with KFL&A Public Health to ensure that activities meet current health and safety requirements.
In the video below, Mayor Bryan Paterson introduces the 2021 edition of Love Kingston Marketplace and all it has to offer our great city this summer season:
