If you want to get a sense of how welcoming and inclusive a small Canadian city can be, drop by Kingston’s The Spire Arts and Community Hub (82 Sydenham St., Kingston). Located in a 19th-century church, it hosts everything from opera nights to improv camps and even Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley tributes.
“When you walk in, it is very hard to not understand that this is a friendly and welcoming space,” says Sam MacLeod, general manager of The Spire, which is located inside Sydenham Street United Church. “The signs are all over the place.”
MacLeod says that about 12 years ago, the congregation was down to about 60 parishioners—about 1,000 people would attend Sunday mass in its heyday. To keep it alive, they decided to open the church’s doors to community events and concerts.
“Twenty-four years ago, the congregation became affirming, and they went at it really hard. They painted the stairs like a rainbow, they put up flags, they started to participate in a lot of the LGBTQ2S+ events around the city—they really declared themselves,” he says.
“That has really brought a lot of programmers and event organizers into the space, ones who might not feel comfortable in other faith-based spaces. It gives them the opportunity to develop the events and programming that they want to see in the city,” says MacLeod.
The Spire represents how progressive and welcoming Kingston has become. With a population of 130,000, the Kingston magic is not something a visitor might expect from a destination with close military ties. Located at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, right where it connects to the Great Lakes, this harbour city has been militarily strategic going back a couple of centuries. Several defensive fortifications are now popular tourist attractions, as is the waterfront. Kingston’s short time as the first capital of the United Province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec), from 1841 to 1844, perhaps gives it a sense of seriousness and dignity—and many nice buildings.
Yet Kingston, located about halfway between Toronto and Montreal, is hipper than it first appears. Home to Queen’s, one of Canada’s most prestigious universities, 31,000 students show up each year, making the city feel like a young, energetic place. The population of students and professors also ensures that the city has excellent shopping, dining and drinking options. Although the city hasn’t had a gay bar for a few years, most places are very welcoming and there are regular queer events throughout the year (see listings below). Kingston is also close to Thousand Islands, a group of more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence, which makes it a great base for outdoor activities. Indie music fans also know it as the birthplace of the much-beloved Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which formed in 1984, ending its run in 2017 after its lead singer died.
“It is a very friendly city that really has the feel of a small town. Everybody knows everybody in a weird way,” says MacLeod.
For a city break with history, excellent architecture, outdoor activities and a welcoming LGBTQ2S+ community, Kingston is hard to beat. Here’s our quick guide to the “Limestone City.”
Celebrating queerness
Kingston Pride (early June; TBD in 2026). The 10-day festival usually includes a drag queen–hosted boat cruise, drag storytime, a community fair and a parade, as well as various official and unofficial parties.
ReelOut Film Festival (late January/early February; TBD in 2026). This 10-day festival, founded in 1999, showcases the best in independent and international LGBTQ2S+ movies, shorts and documentaries. The organization also hosts events throughout the year including screenings and concerts.
What to see and do
Fort Henry National Historic Site (1 Fort Henry Dr., Kingston). Located across the mouth of the harbour from downtown Kingston, this museum sits inside a 19th-century British fortress. Built between 1832 and 1836 to protect the entrance of the Rideau Canal, the fortification is now a UNESCO Designated World Heritage Site. Inside its gates, visitors in the summer and fall are transported back to 1800s military life, with reenactors wearing traditional clothing to play the parts of red-coated British soldiers. There are also regular military parades, marches and performances between May and September.
Kingston Penitentiary (560 King St. W., Kingston). This maximum security prison, which opened in 1835, housed some of Canada’s most dangerous and notorious prisoners until it ceased operation in September 2013. These days, in summer and fall, you can enter without so much as being charged with a crime. You just need to book a tour. There are express, standard and extended variations. Visitors can explore the living and working areas, hear stories from former staff and learn about the history of the institution, including prisoner escapes and riots. The extended tour includes the history of areas like the hospital, gymnasium and school. The subject matter of the tour is geared toward a mature audience. The tours are Rainbow Registered, meaning that they’ve been certified as being welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ2S+ visitors.
Kingston Trolly Tours (248 Ontario St., Kingston; trolleys depart from 209 Ontario St., opposite City Hall). From May to October, these hop-on-hop-off trolleys give visitors a quick overview of (and transportation to) the city’s main attractions, including Fort Henry and Kingston Penitentiary. They also offer ghost and mystery tours, and an off-season Christmas lights tour.
Queen’s University. Though most guided tours of the campus are aimed at potential students, it’s worth walking the picturesque grounds to see the mix of modern and historic buildings. The Old Medical Building (Arch St., Kingston), completed in 1958, was the first permanent building built by the university. Summerhill, the oldest building on campus, built in 1839, was originally a private home.
Thousand Islands. Kingston’s location on the St. Lawrence makes it a perfect spot for exploring the nature and history of the region. From April to October, 1000 Islands Cruises (248 Ontario St., Kingston; departures from 1 Brock St., Kingston) operates several types of cruises—some themed (ghosts and mysteries, local shipwrecks, etc.), some including meals—as well as a sunset cocktail cruise.
Where to stay
Kingston is home to several hotels that are Rainbow Registered, meaning they are accredited
as being LGBTQ2S+ welcoming.
The Courtyard Marriott Kingston (103 Dalton Ave., Kingston). Conveniently located next to the King’s Crossing Fashion Outlet (95 Dalton Ave., Kingston), they offer special-stay packages during Pride that include a $5 donation to local organization Trellis HIV Community Care.
Also Rainbow Registered are The Smith Hotel (221 Queen St., Kingston), a boutique
Property, formerly a 19th century limestone church, with 10 individually decorated lofts with kitchens; the Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront by IHG (2 Princess St., Kingston), which has several different types of accommodations and an indoor pool; and the Kingston Marriott (285 King St. E., Kingston), which has a restaurant and fitness centre.
Where to eat and drink
Beers for Queers. Although Kingston has no permanent LGBTQ2s+ bar, these social conveners organize events pretty much weekly at various establishments. Check the Facebook page to see what’s on during your visit; Saturdays at Monte’s (200 Ontario St., Kingston) are pretty reliable.
Kingston LGBTQ on Reddit. Check out this local subreddit for events and discussions for and about Kingston’s queer community.
The Everly Restaurant & Lounge (Unit 103, 171 Wellington St., Kingston). Amid splendid mid-century décor, the kitchen serves a rotating menu of classic dishes made using locally sourced ingredients. Nice for cocktails and wine, too.
Pan Chancho Bakery & Café (44 Princess St., Kingston). Their European-style baked goods and treats, like the vanilla crème brûlée and the chocolate chip gingerbread, have earned them a devoted following. Their deli and café offers fresh sandwiches and boxed lunches. You can also visit the online store to order artisanal breads and cheeses from local producers.
Something in the Water Brewing Co. (275 Princess St., Kingston). This Kingston outpost of a Toronto brewery, founded in 2020, has the same playful spirit. Live music, trivia and game nights. (The Toronto location hosts drag bingo—perhaps it’ll happen here, too.)
Riverhead Brewing Company (Unit 10, 631 Fortune Cr., Kingston). This locally owned brewery makes seasonal brews that are both traditional and adventurous.
Skeleton Park Brewery (675 Development Dr., Kingston). Founded in 2017, this brewery is dedicated to reimagining long-lost brews from Kingston’s past. The taste is old-school, but the attitude is open and modern.
