Sock Burner: Boats & Bivalves

Building Maritime Traditions: First Annual Family Friendly “Sock Burner” Event to Kick Off Sailing Season at Kingston Yacht Club

Proceeds go to support youth access to Kingston’s Tall Ship the St. Lawrence II

Tall Ship Expeditions Canada (Brigantine St. Lawrence II) and Kingston Yacht Club have joined forces to host Kingston’s first annual Kingston Harbour "Sock Burner": Boats & Bivalves on May 10th 2025. A sock burner is a traditional Chesapeake Bay event for sailors celebrating the beginning of the sailing season by burning a symbol of the past winter- socks! 

This event kicks off at 2:30 with the traditional burning of the socks (we're only burning a single pair - we encourage everyone to bring a fresh pair to donate to charity) before we head out onto the water for the "Slow Poker Run” Sailing Rally - a fun "race" around a short course collecting raffle chips for a prize draw. Two wooden runabouts and the hobby tug "Little Toot" from the Thousand Islands Boat Museum in Gananoque will be out in the harbour with the St. Lawrence II handing out the poker run chips. If you don’t have a boat but want to participate in the sailing rally apply to Volunteer to Crew. If the weather permits there will be boat rides available on a classic mahogany runabout!

The main event will begin after the Sailing Rally at 5:00pm. Like any good Sock Burner this includes nautical music performance by Dave & Sue a sea shanty sing-along a bonfire fresh PEI oysters from Whalesbone Ottawa prizes games as well as snacks & refreshments provided by Kingston Yacht Club. 

All proceeds will go to funding Tall Ship Expeditions Canada’s programming for youth aboard the Brigantine St. Lawrence II. Tickets are available at https://tallshipexpeditions.com/sock-burner-secret-link/p/sock-burner-2025-boats-bivalves

$20 for adults (which includes oysters & snacks)

$10 for youth 12-18

Kids are free!

$50 to Register Your Boat for the Slow Poker Run

For more information visit https://tallshipexpeditions.com/sock-burner-2025

Also check out other Food & Drink events in Kingston, Nonprofit events in Kingston.