Spring has (almost) sprung. The sunshine is a reminder to get out of hibernation mode and do something fun! Kingston has a lot to offer this March. Here are my top picks full of my three of my favourite things: art, culture and movies.
- Maple Madness
Location: 1641 Perth Rd. (Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area)
Date/Time: Every weekend in March and all week for March Break
Price: $5.25 for adults, $3.75 for children
Registration Required: Yes
What is more Canadian than maple syrup? I grew up in Alberta where we do not make maple syrup making this a must-try cultural experience for me. A day at Maple Madness is filled with a self-guided sugar bush tour, wagon rides, sugar shack with pancakes to purchase (yum!), maple recipe sharing, maple shop and a maple madness photo contest. New this year is a free bus service to and from Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. If you are like me and have a four-legged furry friend, feel free to bring them along. Dogs welcome however cannot go on the wagon rides.
- March of the Museums
Location: 14 different museums in Kingston and the surrounding area
Date/Time: March 10 – 14
Price: Free
Registration Required: No
Last year I wrote a blog post entirely on March of the Museums because there is so much to do and see. Essentially for March Break most of the 14 participating museums open their doors for free and have a corresponding activity for kids of all ages. Two highlights include:- Make your own Indigenous Seed Balls with the Lodge Pole Arts Alliance (LPAA), March 13, 10am – 2pm, Miner Museum of Geology (on campus).
- Drum Teaching & Mini Drum Making with W.C. Creatives, March 14, 2:30pm – 3:15pm and 3:30pm – 4:15pm at Modern Fuel. Spots are filling up quickly so be sure to RSVP soon.
- March Break Movies at The Screening Room
Location: The Screening Room
Date/Time: March 11 – 14
Price: $5 for March Break movies, $7 for regular matinees
Registration Required: Yes, ticketed event
For March Break the screening room plays a handful of classics geared towards families. My top picks include The Cartoons of Max Fleischer (1920s-1940s), The Goonies (1985) and The Little Mermaid (1989). At $5 a ticket it is a fun escape from the stress of grad school and a nice way to reconnect with your childhood. Pro-tip: the popcorn with nutritional yeast layered in the middle is the best in town.
- Holi Hai, Potluck and Celebration
Location: QUIC, Mitchell Hall, Floor 2, Queen’s University
Date/Time: March 16, 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: Yes
Holi is the Hindu Festival of Colours celebrating spring, love, new life and new beginnings. This potluck celebration is put on by the Association of Indian Graduate Students at Queen's (AIGSQ). I have been so fortunate to have wonderful friends studying here from India, including presidents Bhavya Bogra (our very own Gradifying Blogger) and Ashiq Abdul Rahiman - with these two in charge, this is an event not to be missed! Last year I had the most delicious food and laughed so hard during Jeopardy that my cheeks hurt. This year I am looking forward to wearing a gifted traditional outfit from my good friend Navgit Gaurav and might even try bringing homemade Masoor Dal from a recipe he shared with me.
- 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) – Preliminaries and Finals
Location & Date/Time:
Heat 1 - Tuesday 18th March, 12noon in Mitchell Hall, Event Commons
Heat 2 - Wednesday 19th March, 12noon in Mitchell Hall, Event Commons
Heat 3 - Thursday 20th March, 12noon in Mitchell Hall, Event Commons
Final - Wednesday 26th March, 5pm in Kinesiology 101
Price: Free
Registration Required: No to watch. Yes to participate.
Queen’s Annual 3-Minute Thesis is a great way to show your graduate colleagues support and to hear about the important interdisciplinary research happening at Queen’s. With no props, one slide and 3 minutes Graduate students compete in three heats with the winners then presenting at the finals on March 26th. The unique format and face pace makes this competition exciting for both the participants and the audience.
- Re:Fuel Sessions at Modern Fuel – Print Making
Location: Modern Fuel
Date/Time: March 15, 2pm – 4pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: Yes
Re:Fuel Sessions at Modern Fuel – Collage
Location: Modern Fuel
Date/Time: March 20, 6pm – 8pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: Yes
As a collage artist myself, I was so excited to see this collage workshop where participates are encouraged to make their own zine.
Drop-in Arts and Crafts Session – Artist Trading Cards
Location: Union Gallery
Date/Time: March 21, 2pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: No
Queering Collage
Location: Room 223, Rideau Building, 207 Stuart St
Date/Time: March 23, 1–4 pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: Yes
The Studio x Open Secret: Tatreez and Stories with Baraa Abuzayed
Learn traditional Palestinian embroidery.
Location: Room 221, 207 Stuart St
Date/Time: March 26, 5–7 pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: Yes
These free workshops are open to everyone, with no experience required. They are designed to help you learn a new skill, connect with others, and get creative. Whether you are interested in printmaking, collage, zines, artist trading cards, or Palestinian embroidery, there is something for everyone. It is a perfect off-screen break to use your imagination and have fun.
- Indigenous Languages Celebration
Location: Kingston Community Health Centre, 262 Weller Avenue
Date/Time: March 29, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Price: Free
Registration Required: No
Ojibwe Language – Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Location: The Screening Room
Date/Time: March 29 & 30, afternoon and evening screenings available
Price: Regular Screening Room prices
Registration Required: Yes, ticketed event.
As a white settler, I am committed to learning about and addressing my deeply problematic colonial history and to recognizing, learning about, and celebrating Indigenous people, practices, language and traditions. The upcoming Indigenous Languages Celebration will include cooking demonstrations, songs, stories, language learning activities, games, crafts, and more. A highlight is special screenings of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) in Ojibwe. Experiencing this iconic film in Ojibwe will be a memorable and the first of many I hope. I can’t wait to attend!
Put a little spring in your step, try something new and have a little fun. You deserve it!