Putting a spring in our step: 40 April events in South Eastern Ontario

April showers bring… loads of spring events! This is your sign to get out of the house and enjoy spring in South Eastern Ontario in meaningful ways. Whether it’s tasting fresh maple syrup, listening to live music, exploring jail haunts, digging into garden learning, or watching some fierce disc golf competition, this vibrant month is ready to welcome the warm weather. Read on for 40 events to make a splash this April in South Eastern Ontario!

1. Until April 13: The Wayside Motor Inn at Pinnacle Playhouse

The Belleville Theatre Guild presents this unusual and exciting production, with a unique theatrical experience. Set in a suburban motel in the 1970s, The Wayside Motor Inn dives into five separate stories taking place simultaneously on stage. This is sure to entertain!

2. Until April 26: Connecting Currents at Cline House Gallery, Cornwall
Centering on the interconnected human and non-human relations of Kaniatarowanenneh (the St. Lawrence River), this show features works by Christine Fitzgerald, Victoria Ransom, and Stephany Hildebrand. Connect with river stories and river science.
 

3. April 4-5, 11-12, and 25 to 26: Belleville Jazzilicious
Three free weekends of jazz in Belleville! Happy spring, indeed. Various venues around the city will feature live jazz music throughout April. Get your toes tapping and your fingers snapping in Belleville this April!

4. April 5: Greater Napanee Garden Expo
A show, sale and speakers! The annual Great Napanee Communities in Bloom garden and nature event will see plants, seeds, fresh flowers, art and workshops covering topics like invasive plants and how to eradicate them. The 1000 Islands Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer questions and the Greater Napanee and area Art Association will have stunning displays. Welcome spring!

5. April 5: The Uncertainty Festival
This unique artist-led initiative is dedicated to the support of uncertainty. Artists explore the in-between, through art installations, a shorts screening and animations workshop. Taking place at the County Arts Lab in Picton, The Uncertainty Festival offers artists and audience members an opportunity to find solace and community.

6. April 5 and 6: Ontario Maple Weekend 

Experience maple demonstrations, taste syrup samples, enjoy pancake breakfasts and taffy on snow while learning about the process of making maple syrup during this sweet season at Ontario Maple Weekend! Taste why pure Ontario maple syrup is a fav spring treat. Participating producers from across South Eastern Ontario are ready to welcome you, from Mallorytown to Crysler and from Wendover to Lancaster. Find the full map and plan your route! 

7. April 5 to 27: Art Threads - Kingston Fibre Artist Exhibition
Immerse yourself in a visual feast of colour, texture and forming fibre at this unique show at the Tett Centre throughout April. Sixteen artists exhibit their work of varying techniques like machine and hand stitching, knitting, dyeing cloth, weaving and printing. Meet the artists on April 6 or view artist demos on April 20 and 24, as well as walking tours April 13 and 25.

8. April 6 and 20: Sunday Live at the Bakery in Alexandria
Tom’s Pantry is the place to get your hands clapping on a few Sundays in April as live music is back! Swing by for Live at the Bakery from noon until 2 p.m. On April 6, Sidekick with Craig and Alain will be performing, while on April 20, Rachel Campbell is playing. Enjoy lunch and drinks with family and friends while enjoying local talent in a sweet space!

9. April 10: Easter Wreath Workshop at Wild Little Roses Brockville
Celebrate spring with this Easter Wreath Workshop where you’ll create a nature-inspired and beautiful wreath with dried florals, greenery and charming decorative eggs. Perfect for beginners and seasoned wreath makers. Invite a friend or loved one and spend the evening creating together!

10. April 11 and 26: Tribute shows at the Port Theatre
First up on April 11, Elton Songs will perform in the likeness of Elton John, complete with all the hits you know and love. And then there’s the Alan Jackson Experiences, a tribute set for April 26. Ring in your spring with some great live music!

11. April 11: Glow & Gogh A Neon Party in Trenton

Join in the fun at this immersive glow-in-the-dark adult paint party, set to the best throwback songs of the 1980s. Choose your design from pre-templated canvases, choose your neon paint colours and socialize, bop to music and create! Step into the glow at These 4 Walls Gallery for a night under blacklight magic - all materials provided and no experience necessary!

12. April 11: Cirque Kalabanté - Afrique en Cirque at the Grand Theatre Kingston 

Picture it: daring acrobats, musicians, pulsating rhythm and original choreography! That’s the Cirque Kalabante, illuminating African arts and melding it with modern North American circus performances. A must see!

13. April 11, and 13: Live music at the Aultsville Theatre
Performing hits like Take a Chance, SOS, Super Trooper and Dancing Queen, ABBAMANIA Canada is set to hit the stage in Cornwall and get you singing and dancing along! Special guests include tribute artists to the Bee Gees and to Cher. Then on April 13, award-winning and critically acclaimed pianist Charles Richard Hamelin and violinist Andrew Wan will perform three Brahms sonatas. Get your tickets!

14. April 11 and 12: SDG Historic Jail Paranormal Investigations, Phantoms of Yore
Built in 1833 and active until 2002, this former maximum-security prison is known for its haunted history and eerie encounters—making it a must-visit for ghost hunters. Join Phantoms of Yore for a 3.5-hour paranormal investigation that’s unforgettable!

15. April 12: Kingston Botanical Market
Are you a plant lover? This event is for you! Explore houseplants and other nature inspired goods - featuring rare and common plants, garden decor, art, soils fertilizers and more! Organized by Stone City Tropicals, this show is taking place at the Tett Centre and admission is by donation to the Kingston Humane Society.

16. April 12: Spring into Treasure
Hop on over to Downtown Belleville for a spring scavenger hunt that promises fun for the whole family! From noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, grab your bingo card and visit participating locations to collect stamps and win prizes - available for the first 300 kids!

17. April 12: John Muirhead at Base31
This must-see Canadian performer is creating big-hearted indie-folk music and earning accolades for it. See him live for finer-picked folk confessionals to full-band singalongs!

18. April 12: Stone’s Throw Disc Golf Spring Open
Enterprise is the place to be April 12 as some of the top disc golfers in Ontario vye for a bid to the Ontario provincial championships, as part of the 2025 ODSA Ontario Tour. Be there to watch the action!

19. April 12: Loyalist Township Spring Egg Hunt

Hop over to meet the Spring Bunny during a fun-filled morning of family activities! Grab your basket and take photos with the bunny, find the hidden eggs and explore music and activities in the library. 

20. April 12: Raisin River Canoe Race
One of the longest canoe races in Eastern Ontario! On the water Saturday, April 12, it runs 30 km from St. Andrews to Williamstown and started in 1973. Now in its 52nd year, the Raisin River Canoe Race is always held during the spring freshet when water levels are high and flows are favourable for paddlers. With rapids, a dam, portage and Devil’s chute to navigate, this event is exciting to participate in – or watch!

21. April 12 to 27: Workshops at Wintergreen Studios
Interested in learning how to build a basic bench, a little library, a festival chair or even explore the trails at Wintergreen? April is chock full of workshops and opportunities to explore and appreciate this special natural place in meaningful ways.

22. April 12: Rockin’ the Rink - A Night of Music and Community Giving
Mark your calendar as this event at the Lou Jeffries Arena features Nice On, Jordy Jackson, Sweetleaf plus more music by DJ PBZ. The night is always young at this epic live music show and proceeds support the JumpStart! Program as well as The Trellis Society and Gananoque Pride Alliance.

23. April 12: Seed Starting Workshop at Maple Ridge Farm
Go green this April and learn how to grow plants from seed! This hands-on workshop at Maple Ridge Farm near Sydenham offers expert guidance and a step-by-step approach to growing strong and healthy seedlings. Whether it’s flower, food or rare varieties, you’ll leave with a confident green thumb!

24. Until April 13: Countylicious in Prince Edward County
Indulge, discover and enjoy! Countylicious runs until April 13 and is all about immersion in the rich flavours of Prince Edward County with prix-fixe menus by local chefs and farmers. Savour your local fav restos or try something new!

25. Throughout April: Live Music at Hotel Wolfe Island
The restaurant may be closed until mid-spring, but the tunes are still going in full force! Swing by the hotel for culture, a cocktail and some bar snacks and share a live music experience like Clear Breeze on April 3; Jeremy Young and Nick Kuepfer on April 4; The Human Rights on April 5; Jazz Standards@7 on April 19; Kentucky on April 12; Open Season on April 17, Run Coyote on April 26 and the beloved open mic sessions each Wednesday.

26. April 13: BAILA Quartet Malamatina - BIGLAKE 
Be wowed by the guitar quartet Melamatina, celebrated for engaging audiences. Their live music programme BAILA means dance and celebrates global rhythms. Taking place at the Welling Heritage Museum; be sure to get tickets in advance!

27. Starting April 15: Dinosaurs Among Us at the PumpHouse Museum in Kingston
Learn about fossils found in the Kingston area, see large-scale vibrant illustrations and explore the evolutionary journey connecting ancient dinosaurs and modern birds! Touch artifacts on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum including real dinosaur fossils, a prehistoric ostrich skull and full raptor casts.

28. April 15 to May: Daffodil Days in Rideau Lakes
Daffodil Days in Rideau Lakes runs from mid-April to mid-May, 2025 – an idea that has blossomed into something to look forward to each spring. Every fall for the last two decades, residents of Rideau Lakes plant daffodil bulbs and come spring, tens of thousands of bright, yellow flowers adorn local roadsides, fences, public spaces, and private gardens. 

29. April 17: Back Home Again in Gananoque
Hear the music of Jimmy Buffet and John Denver as Cliff Edward, Jeff Callery, Ken Hall, Zak Colbert and Scott Burns come together to perform some of the greatest hits at Grace United Church. Hear the music you know and love live!

30. April 19 and 20: The Delta Maple Syrup Festival
Celebrate liquid gold! The Delta Maple Syrup Festival paying tribute to the first harvest of the season – maple syrup. This has been a spring event in Delta for 58 years, held on the third weekend in April, featuring pancakes with local maple syrup, wagon rides, sales of maple products and crafts, as well as a huge book sale and children’s activities! The Delta Mill Society also opens the Old Stone Mill National Historic Site for special demonstrations, exhibits and tours. It’s the sweetest time of the year.
 

31. April 19 to 20: Waterfall Tour Prince Edward County

Witness unforgettable nature in action during the annual waterfall tour where visitors can see the spring runoff on waterfalls normally inaccessible to the public. Two different locations can be viewed on the same day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. No registration is required and the tour is a fundraiser for water projects in the world with donations being accepted on site.

32. April 23 through to May: The Highwaymen at the Upper Canada Playhouse

This memorable live concert showcases the sound of the country music supergroup featuring Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, performed by a dynamic live nine-piece band. Revel in the music at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg.

33. April 25 to 27: Bay of Quinte Home Show

Dreaming of making your home your castle? The Bay of Quinte Home Show is a fantastic event for homeowners, renovators and those looking for inspiration. Set for Trenton at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens in Centennial Park look for great deals and exciting prizes.

34. April 26: Ghost Walk with the Paranormal Seekers
Join Ameliasburgh Heritage Village Church Gallery to see the Paranormal Seekers investigating hauntings in the heritage village! The Seekers team will lead participants through the buildings with special equipment to uncover paranormal secrets.

35. April 25 and 26: Laser Guided Stargazing Tour
Get a laser-guided tour of the night sky at the Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area! These popular stargazing nights are on the calendar the Friday and Saturday nights near a new moon, weather permitting. The tours are a great way for novice stargazers to get to know the night sky.

Looking for a spring activity? See a waterfall in L&A County! Here are seven places to watch the water flow. Better yet, warm up with a hot drink along the way from a few of these stops on the L&A coffee shop tour.

36. April 25: Nicholas Campbell with special guest Emilie Steele at the Broon Factory
Join in the fun and get rocking for a night of music at the Broom Factory in Kingston! Nicholas Campbell with guest Emilie Steele will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. for rock-a-billy and crooning honky tonk. 

37. April 25: Menopause The Musical at the Brockville Arts Centre
See the hysterical worldwide hit! Staged to 25 classic hits of the 1960s to 1980s, this hilarious musical pokes fun at hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and more! Share and laugh together on April 25 starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Brockville Arts Centre. One show only.

38. April 25, 26 and 27: Murder on the Orient Express

Presented by the Dundas County Players at the Old Town Hall in Winchester is Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express! This intriguing mystery is directed by Amanda Burger and sees a train stopped by a blizzard, a murder, a train full of suspects and an impossible case.

39. April 26: St. Lawrence Marathon in Cornwall
This event is a certified qualifier for the Boston Marathon! It’s set to return on Saturday, April 26, with a route that follows the St. Lawrence River from Crysler Park Marina near Morrisburg to the finish line at St. Lawrence College in Cornwall. The event also offers half-marathon (21.1 km), 10 km and 5 km distances along the scenic Waterfront Trail.
 

40. April 26: Cornwall and Area Pop Event (CAPE)

Get your CAPE on as this vibrant event returns Saturday, April 26 at The Benson Centre! It’s a comic/pop culture convention hosted annually in Cornwall featuring celebrity guests, cosplayers, artists, exhibitors, panels and more.

A big spring welcome back to:

Kingston Trolley Tours, running on weekends and starting daily April 18.
Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, starting daily on April 18.

Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market in Kingston, continuing on Sundays throughout April.

City Cruises Gananoque: Opening for the season on April 18.

Hop into spring in South Eastern Ontario!