FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, February 5, 2020

IT’S HOCKEY WEEK IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON!

The 16th annual downtown winter celebration, Feb Fest is taking over downtown for the entire month of February and is stocked full of winter fun for the entire family. The major components of the festival are being held on different weeks of the month – this week it’s everything hockey!

Hockey Week begins tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 6th with the 34th Carr-Harris Cup – the annual rivalry between Queen’s and RMC. Puck drop is 7:30pm at The Leon’s Centre. Get your tickets at the Leon’s Centre box office and don’t miss it!

Saturday February 8th will be one of Feb Fest’s busiest days ever with hockey events from 8:30am to 6pm in and around Springer Market Square. Minor hockey teams take to the rink from 8:30am to 12:30pm – come down and support the stars of the future. Maple Leafs Fan Zone arrives at Feb Fest for the very first time at 10am on Saturday. Try skating for the first time on an artificially surfaced Pop-Up Rink! – no skates required, just bring a helmet. You’ll be able to see what the Leafs dressing room looks like in their mobile trailer, meet members of the Maple Leafs Hockey Development Staff and win Leafs Merchandise! Maple Leafs Fan Zone will run until 6pm on Saturday and then return on Sunday from 10am – 5pm.

In the tent at Springer Market Square, you will be able to meet our Hockey Legend, former Leaf and Stanley Cup winner, Gary Leeman. He’ll be signing autographs from 11am – 12pm and again from 1:30pm – 2:30pm. Saturday continues with the 52nd playing of the Historic Hockey Series – Queen’s, RMC and CFB Petawawa play for the trophy from 1pm – 3:15pm on the ice at Springer Market Square. This is something to see – original hockey uniforms and equipment make for an exciting afternoon of old-style hockey. Then join your favourite Kingston Frontenacs on the ice from 4pm – 5pm and take some selfies to post.

Come back for a full day of events on Sunday, February 9th! Maple Leafs Fan Zone continues from 10am – 5pm with former Leaf Jay McClement on site from 11am – 12pm. An Easter Seal Skate takes place from 12pm – 1pm and see what Sledge Hockey is all about from 2pm – 3pm.

Our winter park continues (if Mother Nature cooperates and the vandalism in the park ceases!) in Boucher Park with ice slides for all to enjoy!

Feb Fest will be an entire month of fun, fantastic, flurry-filled (fingers crossed) activities for the entire family. Events (weather permitting) will continue through the 2020 Tim Horton’s Brier and end with it on Sunday, March 8th.

To keep up with the latest additions, check out www.downtownkingston.ca/events and follow us on social media.

And don’t forget Toast to Tapas – cheese week ends on Saturday and whiskey week begins on Sunday!

Our generous sponsors this year include City of Kingston, Tourism Kingston, Gabriel Pizza, Taylor AutoMall and MacKinnon Development.

Feb Fest is produced by the Downtown Kingston! BIA, an association comprised of, and funded by 700+ downtown businesses. The association is dedicated to the maintenance and promotion of a vibrant and health downtown.

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For more information please contact:

Jan MacDonald Senior Projects Manager Marketing 613-542-8677 [email protected] or

Michèle Langlois General Manager and Director of Marketing 613-542-8677 [email protected] or

Marilyn Doherty Projects Manager Marketing 613-542-8677 [email protected]

All month long: Winter Park Boucher Park (Clarence Street) and Market Square – ice slides and ice sculptures (weather permitting) Toast to Tapas Every week different restaurants and different themes – 3pm – 6pm daily Chews Fun food in downtown restaurants for the week of the Brier! Every Tuesday Theme Skate Nights – 6pm – 9pm – Today’s Hits/Jersey Night(Feb 4th), Disney(Feb 11th), Through the Decades(Feb 18th), Movie Soundtracks(Feb 25th), Rock’n the Rink(March 3rd) Every Friday and Saturday (beginning Saturday February 1st ) Live DJ at Springer Market Square from 6pm – 9pm beginning on February 1st Warming Stations Look for Muskoka chairs and fire pits in Springer Market Square Selfie Wall Share a photo from Feb Fest – Springer Market Square Every Saturday & Family Day Horse-drawn wagon rides 11am – 2pm Feb 29, March 5, 6, & 7 Horse-drawn wagon rides 6-9pm Every Sunday Learn to Skate (16 years +) 10am – 11am January 30 – February 8 ReelOut Queer Film & Video Festival

Saturday February 1 Toast to Tapas – Cheese Week! 9am – 10am Rink closed for Imagination on Ice practice 1pm Imagination on Ice starring Kaetlyn Osmond! 6pm – 9pm 2020 Bridal Show at Symphony Spa with a rooftop Ice Bar all month long! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/symphony-spa-2020-bridal-show-tickets-88014875863

Sunday February 2 11am Polar Plunge at Crawford Dock in support of Special Olympics 2pm Kingston Canadian Film Festival Launch Party – Tango Nuevo 4pm Special Screening of Groundhog Day at The Screening Room

Thursday February 6 7:30pm Carr-Harris Cup at Leon’s Centre

Saturday February 8 8:30am – 12:30pm Hockey Day in Kingston 10am – 6pm Maple Leafs Fan Zone 1pm – 3:15pm Annual Historic Hockey Series 11am – 12pm & 1:30-2:30pm Autograph signing with Hockey Legend Gary Leeman at Springer Market Square 4pm – 5pm Skate with the Fronts

Sunday February 9 Toast to Tapas – Whiskey Week! 10am – 5pm Maple Leafs Fan Zone 12pm – 1pm Easter Seal Skate 2pm – 3pm Sledge Hockey at Springer Market Square

Thursday February 13 6pm – 8pm Curling Demo at Springer Market Square

Friday February 14 6pm – 10pm Valentine’s Day Skate Night Date Night

Saturday February 15 1pm – 2:30pm Come try ! 6pm – 8pm Curling Demonstration at Springer Market Square

Sunday February 16 Toast to Tapas – Beer Week! 1pm – 4pm An Artsy Afternoon in participating downtown businesses 6pm – 8pm Curling Demonstration at Springer Market Square

Monday February 17 10am – 2pm Family Fun Day Activities 11am – 2pm Horse-drawn Wagon Rides at Springer Market Square

Wednesday February 19 3pm Kingston Food Tours – Beer Tour

Saturday February 22 2pm – 4pm Ice Stock Demo 4:30pm – 5:30pm Come Play Shinny (16+) – helmets required

Sunday February 23 Toast to Tapas – Bacon Week 1:30 pm – 2:30pm Come Play Shinny (10-13 yrs) – helmets required 3pm Kingston Food Tours – Bacon Tour 4pm Special Screening of Men with Brooms at The Screening Room 4:30pm – 5:30pm Come Play Shinny (16+) – helmets required

Thursday February 27 7pm Great Gatsby Gala at BluMartini Fundraising gala in aid of CNIB https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-great-gatsby-gala-tickets-85846578427

Saturday February 29 New Ice sculptures at Springer Market Square 1pm – 2pm Speed Skating Demo with Kingston Striders Speed Skating Club 2pm opens at The Leon’s Centre