Kingston, ON – Buckle Up! The Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA) is taking you on a RoadTrip. RoadTrip Music Festival is an all-new, multi-genre festival designed to take you on an unforgettable journey of discovery, community and music in the heart of the city. Launching Saturday, September 12, 2026, RoadTrip will debut as a one-day event in its first year, with plans to expand to a multi-day festival in the coming years.
“When we said goodbye to the Limestone City Blues Festival in 2023,” says Sandi Griffiths, Events Manager with the BIA, “we knew that wasn’t the end of our music festival journey. The goal all along was to introduce a new, multi-genre festival that celebrates Kingston as a music hub, showcases our vibrant downtown community, and nurtures discovery through careful curation and support of emerging artists.”
To help with the curation, the BIA enlisted music industry professionals Virginia Clark of Flying V Productions and Steve Jordan, former head of CBC Music and founder of the Polaris Prize. Clark, who also co-founded the Wolfe Island Music Festival, promises a well-intentioned festival.
“We’ve invited artists we deeply believe are exceptional,” says Clark, “musicians we’re genuinely excited to share with audiences. RoadTrip is about welcoming people to Kingston to spend the day with us — to walk our streets, discover new music, and celebrate together. It’s incredibly meaningful to create something like this in my hometown.”
Festival Highlights
The Scenic Route
During the day, RoadTrip will take over a one-kilometre stretch of downtown's vibrant Princess Street—offering festivalgoers their own personal scenic route through the heart of the city. From 10am to 5:30pm, the street will transform as local shops, eateries, artisan vendors, and community groups spill onto the pavement for a full day of discovery. There's no rush to get anywhere, no GPS directing your path. You're free to wander at your own pace, stopping wherever curiosity leads.
The Scenic Route Stages
While you shop, eat and play along Princess Street, you’ll be treated to unforgettable performances by local and regional talent on 3 separate stages along the route.
The Destination
As day turns to night, the party moves to Springer Market Square where attendees will be treated to four main stage performances, including the festival headliner. The full festival line-up is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. For all the latest RoadTrip news, including ticket information and more, visit
roadtripkingston.ca.
So, why the name RoadTrip?
“For those living in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal,” says Griffiths, “Kingston is the perfect road trip destination. Grab your friends, hop in the car, cue up one of our curated RoadTrip playlists (coming soon!) and in a few short hours, you can be part of something truly special.”
RoadTrip is produced by the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area, representing over 700 business and property owners in the downtown core.
RoadTrip is proudly sponsored by TD, Rogers Sports & Media, K-Rock 105.7, Country 93.5, Kingston Marriott, Queen's AMS, and Kingston Accommodations Partners.