Come and spend a night at the museum with Murney Fest

Second annual Murney Fest has something fun planned for everyone

Image by: Allie Moustakis
Kingston is often referred to as Canada’s museum capitol.

Yogis, dancers, painters, and party animals are all invited to Murney Fest.

The Murney Tower Museum (MTM) will be celebrating its 99th anniversary as Kingston’s oldest operating museum on Aug. 3 during their second annual Murney Fest. The festival will take place at the surrounding grounds of MacDonald Park, featuring a variety of activities throughout the day and an evening to commemorate the occasion.

Many residents may recognize the tower as the squat museum—built of stone with a red roof—but it comes with a rich history. The tower was built in 1846 by the Imperial government as a response to the Oregon Crisis. Due to Kingston’s strategic position on the St. Lawrence River, the British government built the Murney Tower to defend the City.

As a student or a member of the broader Kingston community, visiting museums can be educational by providing insights into structural and cultural history and its significance. It offers the opportunity to learn about the lives and stories of those who have come before us. The MTM symbolizes Canada’s relationship with the British government, as it was one of the last defences to be constructed in the Canadian interior.

“From dance lessons to heritage tours, painting classes to a yoga session, and night karaoke, the Murney Fest uses a broad range of social activities and artistic mediums to offer an alternative museum experience that is fun, memorable, and engaging,” MTM Manager and Curator Simge Erdogan-O’Connor said in an interview with The Journal.

Murney Fest will showcase the MTM’s commitment to public engagement. It’s the perfect opportunity to get involved with the Kingston heritage sector and to engage with Kingston’s history.

The day will start on a relaxing note with a morning yoga run by Studio 330 on the grass surrounding the MTM. The activities will ramp up with adult-only swing dance lessons led by the Queen’s Swing Dance Club and the chance to create an acrylic painting of the MTM. For children, there will be various yard games running all day, a Muster Parade, a Make Your Own Spacecraft activity, face painting, and a treasure hunt.

Food from the Soup Chef food truck will be available on-site all day, and Mio Gelato will be on site for those who are craving something sweet.

Have you ever sang karaoke on the gun platform of a defence tower? If the answer’s no, now is your chance as the festival will end with an adult only night party after the sunset.

The night party will consist of karaoke, singing, and a dance party inside the museum with Daft Brewing selling beverages.

Kingston is home to many different museums such as the Museum of Healthcare, the Great Lakes Museum, and many more. Many different museums and art centres will have booths at Murney Fest. Collaborations are significant to the MTM and help attendees of the festival engage with local history.

While students temporarily live in Kingston, working hard for their degrees, taking advantage of Kingston’s rich history and interacting with the community around  is essential. Murney Fest is the perfect place to explore Kingston’s built heritage with guaranteed fun for all ages.

Tags

Festival, History, Murney

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