Fort Henry National Historic Site — Attraction in Ontario

We attended Craft Beer Fest this year and are extremely disapointed with the event. We purchased the Upgraded- Hopped Up ticked offering a better experience, indoor access, and a souvenir drinking cup. Not worth it in the SLIGHTEST. We have attended the event before and purchased the upgraded ticket last year. The ticket was extremely expensive but offered access to indoor washrooms as well as the indoor venue space which had games set up, tons of nice seating and bar access. This year we purchased the upgraded tickets (and encouraged all of our friends to purchase them) and were SHOCKED at the higher price and worse quality of the event. We paid $65 per person and could access the indoor space but this year there were just a few haphazard tables scattered about an almost empty space. Last year there were decorations, music, games and it was fun, this year it was almost empty and depressing. We watched as staff allowed large groups of people without upgraded writstbands into the VIP space and allowed them access to the bar and indoor washrooms (the ONLY perk to our ticket this year). The washrooms were filthy and a mess, and the VIP space was a mess that we avoided for the majority of the event as it is so far away from the Hill and the vendors anyway. Last year it was a fun space to be and we were there all day. This year we only used it for the washrooms, which people were seemingly using for free anyways as the staff were letting them in. Our "upgraded" souvenir drinking cup was the same cheap plastic one as everyone at the event and broke a few hours in. Last year we had thick plastic ones which we were able to keep, this year they were cheap and we saw hundreds thrown out in garbages throughout the day. We saw one other "VIP" space at the whole event, seeing four picnic tables blocked off by the food trucks. They were messy and full anyways so we ended up eating on the hill with everyone else who didn't get scammed for special upgraded tickets.

We are long-time Kingstonians and have attended many Fort Henry events over the years and all we can say is: "never again." SAVE YOUR MONEY! The Fort Events team historically will host a great event once or twice and slowly let the quality of the event get worse and worse while raising ticket price astronomically every year. This used to be the place where we would take visiting family and friends (Fort Fright, Lumina Borealis, Chill on the Hill, US Marine Visit, etc.) and now we would never because the lack of quality has gotten so embarrassing. We've paid for upgraded Sunset Ceremony tickets only to be sat on a balcony with a pillar blocking our view of more than half of the show.

The Fort Henry events team needs to seriously consider how they can improve the quality of their events if they are going to keep jacking up prices and adding "Upgrade" options to every event and in every gift store without considering any ways to make it worth it. If they host an event for more than a year they usually lower the quality of the event, raise the price and hike up gift store prices until people stop attending and they eventually stop hosting the event. I understand money is the name of the game in the tourism industry but they make it PAINFULLY obvious that it's all they care about, and we won't be supporting...

Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is a captivating historical gem that immerses visitors in a journey through time. The well-preserved fortifications, dating back to the 19th century, offer a glimpse into Canada's military past. The knowledgeable staff, dressed in period uniforms, provide informative and engaging guided tours, sharing tales of the fort's strategic significance during various conflicts.

Perched high above the scenic Kingston waterfront, the fort offers breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the surrounding area. The meticulous restoration work and authentic period details make it easy to envision life within the fort's walls during its active years.

One of the highlights is the daily ceremonial firing of the cannon, which adds a touch of excitement and realism to the experience. The interactive demonstrations, including musket firings and drills, give visitors a hands-on understanding of the soldiers' lives and duties.

However, some visitors might find the admission fees a bit steep, especially for larger families. Additionally, the fort can get quite crowded during peak tourist seasons, which could detract from the overall experience.

All in all, Fort Henry stands as a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, offering an educational and immersive journey into Canada's military heritage against the backdrop of stunning natural beauty.

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one of the best spots for a stop along the Kings highway/ #401. I've been to the fort twice, both en route a road trip to Montreal. And both were in the afternoon or at sun set, which the warm sun made them very enjoyable and unforgettable.

As an army enthusiast, yet lived and grew in the last British colony, stories in the royal army history are always fascinating to learn. The well planned heritage site in the UNESCO heritage list made an amazing first impression when we first stepped into the main patrol ground. It overlooked the St Lawrence river and major vantage points for its defense.

Fort Henry was a very strategic and important place to Canadian history with an aggressive neighbor at that time. Almost 200 years on, the invisible border still divide the two nations in many ways as well as joining them for the force of world freedom. The technical details of the fort design were at its best in human defense history, which made it a never fallen fort until it was decommissioned as a military facility.

Twenty years later, I visited the coastal fort in Helsinki as the interest in Fort Henry roams around in my head. lol Having similar strategic location on the coast, I would recommend you to visit both, along with the 3rd: the coastal defense museum in Hong Kong island where a wired torpedo/ sea missile kind of tech...