This year’s festival includes a diverse range of artists such as local singer-songwriter, Piner and Hannah Georgas, Raging Asian Women (RAW) Taiko Drummers, Ethiopian/Eritrean R&B Soul artist Witch Prophet, alternative rock band Forty Seven Teeth, Voices Rock Medicine Kingston (a choir made up entirely of Kingston area women physicians who find joy, connection, and inspiration through singing), Birdbone Theatre, Carlo, Miranda Ceara, Callia Silverton, Abby Nowakowski, among many others, and emceed by Mariah (Mo) Horner and Miss Tyffanie Morgan. 

 

Events in the park will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m to dusk. The kick off of the festival is the Open Mic “Walks of Life", hosted by Abbie Louise (Friday, June 19, 7 pm at Next Church). On Saturday and Sunday mornings Birdbone Theatre will perform just north of the Skeleton Park Main Stage, accompanied by Sistema Kingston. At 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday InterComplementary Journeys will perform just off Balaclava St., led by Erin Ball (ze/zir) and Maxime Beauregard (they/them) who are advocating for disability-led art, challenging industry norms, and striving to create more accessible/welcoming spaces. Additionally, an  ongoing exhibition located at the Southeast corner of Skeleton Park will feature “Circus of Dreams”  | Studio Artists from H'art Centre: Inclusive Arts for All Abilities”. 

 

Sounds on Sydenham Street is a great way to wrap up Saturday’s activities. On this side stage (at the corner of Sydenham and Princess Streets) we are welcoming Piner (Claya Way Brackenbury), Anna Robertson and Dee Prescott (from Forty Seven Teeth), Hannah Georgas and Witch Prophet. Emceed by Moira Demorest with moderated discussion. The event is from 9pm - 11pm co-presented by Downtown Kingston and Kingston Music Office.

 

On Sunday, join the 11 am Porch Jazz Parade, a fun traverse through the neighborhood streets, with concerts on front porches along the way.

 

At 4pm the Cree singer-songwriter Wyatt C. Louis takes the Main Stage followed by local artist Piner.

There will be local food vendors, kid’s activities by the Department of Illumination, booths with information about community organizations, over 40 artisans, fine art exhibitions and summer solstice family games. The festival is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and enjoy the talented performers in the Skeleton Park community. McBurney Park (also known as Skeleton Park) is located at Ordnance Street and Alma Street.

 

To help SPAF continue with the year-round programming, including the wildly popular free community newspaper, The Skeleton Press , please consider making a charitable donation (tax receipts auto-generated via Canada Helps) by visiting  skeletonparkartsfest.ca.

 

All SPAF programming is FREE ADMISSION.

 

Festival Artwork, designed by Abby Nowakowski.