Festivals & Events

Sometimes the best way to experience a destination is through the festivals and events inspired by the heritage and natural surroundings of the area. Quinte West hosts a number of events year-round that distinctly celebrate our community.

Volunteers

The City of Quinte West is very grateful for the continuing support of the many volunteers it takes to make our events such a success. If you would like to volunteer your time or talents for any of our community-sponsored events or festivals, please check out our Volunteer Opportunities.

Volunteer Excellence Awards

When: Presented annually in March 
(March 6, 2017)

Where: City Hall Council Chambers  

What: These awards were established to recognize deserving volunteers for their dedication and community service, and cover categories such as Arts & Literature, Community Service, Education, Volunteerism and Humanitarian Activities.  

Click here for nomination/program details.

City Events

Below is just a sampling of City organized events planned for this year:

2016 Events Photo Collage | 2017 Events Photo Collage - Coming Soon!

Frostfest

When: February 11th, 2017   10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Batawa Community Centre
What:   Come out and enjoy a day of family fun.  Free entertainment all day!  Lunch and skating on the outdoor ice surface with the Trenton Golden Hawks, marshmallow roasting, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, outdoor petting zoo,  and many more fun and exciting things to do.  Enjoy a horse and carriage ride sponsored by the Batawa Development Corporation.

Frostfest Poster

Front Street Farmers' Market

When:   Wednesdays & Saturdays May through October  8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where:  67 Front Street
What:    Buy In-Season Produce, Baked Goods, VQA Wines & Ciders, Artwork, Crafts, Maple Syrup, Honey, Preserves and so much more!  Live Music from 10:00am-1:00pm (June - September)

Quinte West Hops on the Water

When: April 22, 2017
Where: Quinte West Farmers Market - 67 Front St.
What:   Dive into spring with samplings from craft breweries, cideries and wineries in the Bay of Quinte region, all while enjoying live, family-friendly entertainment, buskers, local business offerings, food vendors & special restaurant menus in the heart of downtown Trenton!

Click this link to get your ticket: http://hopsonthewater.ca/

Hops on the Water Poster

Frankford Riverfest

When: May 19th - 21st,  2017
Where: Frankford Tourist Park, Frankford, Ontario
What: Join us for a day of family fun at the Frankford Riverfest. Saturday features rides/games, cardboard boat races, petting zoo, live & interactive entertainment, antique car show, vendors and spectacular fireworks display!

Event poster 

Barks By The Bay Canine Festival & Trade Show

When: May 27th, 2017
Where: Centennial Park, Trenton, Ontario
What:  This annual canine festival is held the last Saturday in May and showcases many unique vendors, breeds & breeders, canine accessories, training aids & techniques, pet hospitals, pet food stores and groomers. Bring the whole pack. Every dog has its day at Barks by the Bay! For information, call: (613) 392-2841 ext 4487 or visit the website www.barksbythebay.ca

Vendor Contract

Event poster 

 Canada Day 150th Celebrations & Fireworks | Ontario 150 Multicultural Festival

When: July 1st, 2017
Where: Centennial Park, Trenton, Ontario
What: Come and celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in Centennial Park, Trenton. All day entertainment, vendor village, displays & demonstrations, free cake (courtesy of Smylie's Your Independent Grocer), outdoor bingo (Knights of Columbus), activities for children and families, and a spectacular fireworks display. Be sure to join in the 'Canada Day Eh!' community parade taking place from arena to the headquarters stage, beginning at 11am. Prizes in Youth, Adult & Group categories for best expressed Canadian Spirit!

Celebrate Ontario's 150th with a multicultural festival on July 1st as part of our Canada Day celebrations!

www.firefit.com

Canada Day Poster 

Citizen of the Year Nomination Form

Vendor Package

Sports Wall of Fame

When: Saturday July 8, 2017
Where: YMCA Quinte West
What: Annual Sports Induction Ceremony held to honour the great athletes, builders and teams from and in Quinte West over the years. Deadline for 2017 nominations is March 3, 2017. Pick up nomination forms at City Hall or print them off here.

Nomination Package

Cascades Summer Concert Series

When: Every Thursday & Sunday Evening from July 2nd through to September 4th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Trenton
What: Free performances for the community. Music in the park, bring your blanket or lawn chair and come out to enjoy various local artists!

Concert Schedule

RiverFront Square Concert Series

When: Every Saturday Evening from June 17th through to September 2nd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: RiverFront Square, Trenton North of the Veterns' Skyway Gateway to the Trent Bridge
What: Free musical performances for the community. Music in the park, bring your lawn chair and come out to enjoy various local artists!

Concert Schedule 

DBIA Fraser Park Concert Series

When: Every Friday Evening from June 2nd through to September 1st from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Fraser Park Gazebo, Trenton
What: Free performances for the community. Music in the park, bring your blanket or lawn chair and come out to enjoy various local artists!

Concert Schedule

Trenton Big Band Festival

When: July 22nd & 23rd, 2017
Where: Centennial Park, Trenton, Ontario
What:  The Trenton Big Band Festival returns for another fabulous year! The festival boasts some of the best names in big band music! In addition to the music, swing dancers will be performing and festival goers will have the opportunity to dance the afternoon away.  Wild Card Brewery craft beer and food will also be available onsite.
Join us on Saturday, July 22 at Trenton's RiverFront Square with the exciting sounds of the Rythym & Truth Brass Band, 7:30-10:30 pm.   - free admission!
Sunday, July 23 at the Amphitheatre in Centennial Park with Freddy Vette and the Commodores' Orchestra
and the Toronto All-Star Big Band - 1:00-4:00 pm (gates open at 12:00 noon) - tickets $15 in advance or $20 at the gate
613-392-2841 Ext: 4487

Map of Riverfront Square

 Quinte West Road Race

When: August 20, 2017

CANCELLED

Sports Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony

When: Presented annually in July (July 8, 2017)
Where: YMCA (50 Monogram Pl, Trenton, ON K8V 5P8)
What: The YMCA of the City of Quinte West is also proud home to the City of Quinte West's Sports Wall of Fame. This wall is intended to honour athletes, builders, and teams from the Quinte West community and an annual induction ceremony is held at the YMCA annually in July.

Click here for inductee nomination details.

Trenton Scottish Irish Festival

When: September 9th & 10th, 2017
Where: Centennial Park (Map It)
What:  This annual festival celebrates the Celtic ancestry of the Bay of Quinte through traditional music, games, and fare.  Kick the festival off with a parade through the downtown, and take in the all day Heavy Events, Highland Dancing, Pipe & Drum Bands, vendor village, and live musical entertainment in the pavilion until the early morning hours! For information, call: (613) 392-2841 or 1-866-485-2841 or visit the website at www.trentonscottishirish.com.

Tartan Terrors - 7:20 p.m. - Centennial Park Amphitheatre

Heather Rankin - 9:00 p.m. -  Centennial Park Amphitheatre

Buy your tickets here

https://forms.quintewest.ca/eStore/Scottish-Irish-Ticket-Information

VENDOR LETTER - CLOSED

VENDOR APPLICATION- CLOSED

2017 Sponsorship Opportunities Coming Soon!

 Doors Open Quinte West

When:    September 16, 2017   10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where:   Various Sites
What:      Every April to October, Ontario's heritage treasures are open to the public with free events across the province.  This event will see various sites participating thoughout Quinte West.

BOOFEST - Halloween Party!

When: October 31st, 2017 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Arena, Trenton, Ontario
What: Inviting all ghosts and goblins of Quinte West to the Annual BOOFEST Halloween Party! Tons of candy, ghost stories, colouring, toys and games. Free Admission.

Frankford Christmas Fantasy of Lights

When: Saturday, November 25th, through to January 1, 2018
Where: Frankford Tourist Park                                                                                    
What: Join us as we light up the park for the annual festive lighting display. Live music & hot chocolate starting at 4:30 p.m. Lighting approx. 5:00 p.m.

Doug Whitney Christmas Fantasy of Lights

When: Last Saturday in November 2017 to January 1, 2018
Where: Fraser Park Trenton 
What: Join us for hotdogs and hot chocolate starting at 3:30 p.m. at Fraser Park.Tour these magical waterfront light displays while listening to favourite holiday carols.  Lighting takes place immediately following the parade.  For information, call: (613) 392-2841 or 1-866-485-2841

Community Events

Below is just a sampling of Community organized events planned for this year:

OUR TMH Street Dance

When: June 10, 2017
Where: City Hall, Parking Lot
What: Presented by: OUR TMH

Show n' Shine Car Show

When: September 17, 2017, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Trenton (Dundas Street West)
What:   Attention all car enthusiasts!

Make sure you come out this Sunday, September 17th, for our year end Show 'n Shine.

We are holding this in downtown Trenton, rescheduled from our Father's Day event, which was rained out. So come by to view all the wonderful vehicles on display and enjoy entertainment by The Reasons, who play from 12:30pm to 3:00pm.  

* $5.00 per vehicle

* Prizes for registered car owners

* 50/50 Draw

* Dash plaques for the first 125 vehicles! (plaques sponsored by Gary Mansfield)

All proceeds go to Quinte Access transportation after hours, weekend, and holiday services.

Hope to see everyone there!

Downtown Trenton's Festival on the Bay

When: July 13, 14, 15
Where: Downtown Trenton
What: Presented by: Trenton DBIA

Join downtown Trenton's annual three-day festival with sidewalk sales, art in the park, live entertainment, boat cruises, and the Trenton Dragon Boat Festival.

 http://www.downtowntrenton.ca/en/entertainment-and-shopping/attractions.asp

Festival on the Bay Poster

Quinte Ribfest

When: August 11-13, 2017                                          
Where: Centennial Park                   
Presented by: Big Brothers Big Sisters of HPEC
What:

Get ready for sticky fingers, big smiles, and delicious fall-off-the-bone ribs Bay of Quinte!

Every August, Quinte Ribfest serves up thousands of mouth-watering ribs with 5 internationally acclaimed ribbers. Proceeds raised stay the Hastings and Prince Edward communities. The money raised throughout this 3 day saucy event are a part of our BIG plan of providing every little in our communities with a positive role-model.  We believe that changing the course of young lives can in turn change our community's future.

Event Website

Click here for Parking Map and Shuttle Service Details 

Downtown Trenton's 1st Annual Fall Marketfest

When: Saturday, September 16th, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.                                                
Where: Trenton Farmers' Market parking lot                          
What: Marketfest features the Front Street Farmers' Market, with in-season produce, flowers, baked goods, ciders, artwork, crafts, maple syrup, honey, preserves and more PLUS live music from Mark McGreevy, a pancake breakfast, scarecrow making, Quinte Antique Tractor Club, and a Market scavenger hunt with the chance to win a Front Street Farmers' Market gift basket!

Fall Marketfest Poster

Ladies' Night Out in Downtown Trenton

When:  Thursday, October 5^th from 5pm to 8pm
Where:  Location: Downtown Trenton - participating businesses on Dundas, Front, Quinte, and King Street
What: Ladies' Night Out in Downtown Trenton will be a memorable night on the town where all ladies paying a visit to downtown Trenton on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 5pm to 8pm will get to experience great deals and sales on ladies wear and accessories, formal dresses, movie tickets, books, jewellery, and food and drink specials from downtown Trenton businesses. There will also be the chance to win gift baskets, gift certificates, and prizes from in-store draws.

Ladies' Night Out attendees can also receive free hair curling and flat ironing, spa services, yoga and fitness demonstration classes, ukulele sessions, wine tastings and more!

The Quinte West Bellydance Collective will be in downtown Trenton and they will have audience participation activities for Ladies' Night Out.

Ladies, bring your friends and family out for a fun and memorable night out on the town you won't want to miss!

Ladies Night Out Poster

Frankford Santa Claus Parade

When: Saturday, November 25th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.                                               
Where: Downtown Frankford (starts from the Frankford Arena)                           
What: Celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Frankford Santa Claus Parade with bands, community floats and costume characters leading up to the Jolly Old Elf!  Following the parade, join us at the Legion. Inside the legion, kids will be treated to hotdogs, hot chocolate and S'mores and a visit from Santa. For more information, call Kathy Rupert at 613 398-7447.

Frankford Santa Claus Parade

When: Saturday, November 25th, 2017at 2:00 p.m.                                              
Where: Downtown Frankford (starts from the Frankford Arena)                          
What: Celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Frankford Santa Claus Parade with bands, community floats and costume characters leading up to the Jolly Old Elf!  Following the parade, join us at the Legion. Inside the legion, kids will be treated to hotdogs, hot chocolate and S'mores and a visit from Santa. For more information, call Kathy Rupert at 613 398-7447.

Trenton Santa Claus Parade

When: Sunday, November 26th, 2017  starting at 4:30 p.m.                                                           
Where: Starting promptly at 4:30 p.m. from Centennial Park the parade, heads up Bay St to Campbell St., up Campbell to Dundas, West on Dundas over the bridge and through the Downtown.                                                                                                   
What: Enjoy a festive lighted Christmas Parade with lots of music and community floats. For more information, call the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce at 613 392-7635