B31 Blog
Shakura S’Aida has been making waves with her powerhouse vocals for more than two decades, and she’s not slowing down. Her latest album, Hold on to Love, released in 2022, was nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the 2023 JUNO Awards. S’Aida has performed at Base31 twice before and we are…
If you walked into the Sergeants Mess Hall last Thursday, you were instantly met with the smell of fresh, buttery popcorn and sweet hot chocolate. Your eyes feasted on the beautifully decorated tree and foyer while being serenaded by some of the talented theatre enthusiasts. This was the feeling last week when our very own…
November 8 marks Indigenous Veterans Day, a day established in 1994 to commemorate the contributions Indigenous people have made to different branches of Canada’s military. In Canada, the term Indigenous encompasses First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. More than 12,000 Indigenous people have served since 1914, including over 4,000 people during the First World War…
Celebrating a Successful Summer and Community Partnership with Base31It was a jam-packed summer at Base31! With four stages, three festivals, 15 Drill Hall shows, and a full lineup at the Sergeants Mess Hall featuring returning favourites, cabaret brunches, award-winning performers, PLUS the reveal of the Avro Lancaster KB 882 Bomber in Hangar 1, Base31 was…
PEC Community Partners Inc. is pleased to announce that CaraCo Group of Companies, Fieldgate Homes and Paradise Developments have joined its ownership group on the development of Prince Edward County’s vibrant Base31 cultural destination and multi-year 750-acre Neighbourhood Plan. CaraCo Group, a highly respected developer based in Kingston, Ontario, will bring their significant expertise in…
UPDATE:August 27, 2024 This past week, Base31 received the results of additional soil testing that it conducted within the Sensory Garden proper, which included the interior spaces of the garden. The results revealed that there were no exceedances to acceptable levels of lead in the soil and that the source of the issue is contained…
Courage and Community: Base31 Breast Cancer Survivors Fundraiser with Amy Armstrong + Mark HartmanJoin Us for a Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Base31! Base31 is hosting an important breast cancer fundraiser this Sunday, July 21, in the Sergeants Mess Hall. Featuring the renowned Amy Armstrong + Mark Hartman with a live musical performance and brunch. We…
Your Base31 Family-Friendly Guide for SummerCalling all friends and family! We have a variety of free and ticketed experiences running all summer long that are perfect for all ages. Here’s your Base31 Family-Friendly Summer Guide. THE COMMISSARY Photo Credit: Logan Somers The Commissary is Base31’s new outdoor food + drink market. Outdoor concerts take place…
July At A Glance Welcome to summer at Base31. We have a variety of exciting performances taking place in July across three venues. DRILL HALL Bahamas bring their indie-rock sound to Base31 this Saturday, July 6. Lead singer, Afie Jurvanen, isn’t from the Bahamas, though – he’s a Finnish Canadian from Barrie, Ontario. Since 2009,…
The Pretty Excellent Country Music Festival at Base31Festival season is upon us! If you’re still looking for Canada Day weekend plans, then come hangout with High Valley and The Reklaws at the Pretty Excellent Country Music Festival presented by RBC. Plus – don’t forget we have special $49 anniversary pricing on General Admission tickets to…
WELCOME TO THE COMMISSARY OPENING THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 1 Introducing Prince Edward County’s latest culinary haven: The Commissary. Base31’s vibrant open-air food and drink market and your go-to spot for breakfast eats, après beach cocktails and dinner, and late night post-concert drinks and snacks. The Commissary features five shipping container kitchens with otherworldly menus,…
WELCOME TO THE COMMISSARYIntroducing Prince Edward County’s latest culinary haven: The Commissary. Base31’s vibrant open-air food and drink market and your go-to spot for breakfast eats, après beach cocktails and dinner, and late night post-concert drinks and snacks. The Commissary features five shipping container kitchens with otherworldly menus, plenty of seating, and the Commissary Bar…
Shawnee Kish, Carole Pope, Ron Sexsmith, Jackie Richardson, Ria Mae, iskwē, David Francey, Hawksley Workman, Jane Siberry and Miss Emily join the likes of previously-announced Drill Hall headliners The Glorious Sons, The Reklaws, TALK, Tokyo Police Club, Tom Cochrane, Trooper + Honeymoon Suite and more Hot on the heels of Base31’s announcement last week of…
Prince Edward County’s Hot New Cultural Destination Will Feature Two Star-Studded Music Festivals, 14 Major Canadian Musical Acts, The Commissary Food and Drink Venue, Pride Celebrations and the Return of the Night Watch Illuminated Experience Base31 is thrilled to announce its third summer season bringing over 14 major Canadian musicians to Prince Edward County, including…
National Air Force Museum of Canada and Base31 Partner on Restoring and Showcasing Nationally Significant Aircraft March 18, 2024 (National Air Force Museum of Canada (NAFMC) / 8 Wing / CFB Trenton, ON) TRENTON – The National Air Force Museum of Canada and Base31 are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership celebrating Lancaster KB 882.…
Request for Expressions of InterestCulinary Entrepreneurs and Food & Beverage Creators Join Base31 in the Summer and Fall of 2024Base31 warmly invites culinary entrepreneurs and food & beverage creators from Prince Edward County, the Bay of Quinte and beyond to express their interest in being part of our flourishing cultural destination and vibrant community during…
Shakura S’Aida has made waves with her powerhouse vocals for more than two decades, and she’s not slowing down. Her latest album, Hold on to Love, was released in 2022 and nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the 2023 JUNO Awards. S’Aida first performed at Base31 — Prince Edward County’s newest cultural…
November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day.In honour of this day, we are highlighting the stories of some Indigenous individuals who lived in Prince Edward County and the surrounding region, and who served in World Wars I and II. Many thanks to the researchers of The Mohawks of Bay of Quinte for sharing their records and…
This Remembrance Day, we remember the generations of brave Canadians who have put their lives on the line in the cause of peace and freedom.Base31 will pay tribute to those who served by sharing stories of personal connection to our site, a former World War II air training base known as the No. 31 Bombing…
September 30 is a nationally recognized date that encourages the settlers in Canada to personally reflect on the history of colonialism and genocide: but one day of the year isn’t enough. We acknowledge that Truth and Reconciliation is an ongoing practice that requires work, having difficult conversations, and engaging with our Indigenous neighbours who are…
Summer isn’t the only time when you can enjoy a multitude of activity at Base31. As we evolve into a thriving and active year-round destination, Base31 is thrilled to bring fall programming to Prince Edward County. Enjoy nighttime and daytime activities, a new ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Base31, a major new dinosaur exhibit, family-friendly…
What You Need To KnowConcert Details BIGLAKE Festival closes out its festival with a premiere epic event in The Drill Hall as Sarah Slean pays tribute to one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our age, Joni Mitchell. Accompanied by BIGLAKE 48-piece Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Debus, featuring musicians from the best orchestras across Ontario.…
CHARLOTTE CARDIN SUR LA SCÈNE DU DRILL HALL LE 19 AOÛTVersion française à suivre Montreal-based artist, Charlotte Cardin, brings her seismic voice to Prince Edward County with her personal anthems about life and love without filter. The bilingual artist will grace the Drill Hall Stage at Base31 August 19, 2023. The licensed patio opens at…
CONCERT DETAILSRising country super-star Josh Ross takes a slight detour from his Nickelback tour, to perform to a sold out crowd at Base31 in Prince Edward County Saturday, August 12, 2023. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm where you can enjoy local food and beverage. The doors to The Drill Hall open at 7…
CONCERT DETAILSRock out like it’s 1994 to the seminal sounds of Vancouver’s alt-rock quartet 54•40 live in The Drill Hall at Base31. The long-anticipated show opens up with The Cory James Mitchell Band this Saturday, August 5, 2023. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm where you can enjoy local food and beverage. The doors…
ABOUT FLOATThe Drill Hall shines a little brighter at Base31 with the addition of ‘Float’, designed and installed in partnership with Shelter Bay. Shelter Bay is a Canadian design studio co-founded by Rob Southcott and Sarah Cooper. The installation of ‘Float’ weaves together the rich history of Base31 and the promise of its vibrant future.…
CONCERT DETAILSJoin Base31 in Prince Edward County for a night of live music in The Drill Hall with The Sheepdogs and show opener The Redhill Valleys this Saturday, July 29, 2023. Grab your tickets here. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm where you can enjoy local food and beverage. The doors to The Drill…
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWConcert Details LAST MIN TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE Base31 in Prince Edward Country is thrilled to welcome you to the debut of their Parade Grounds at Base31 outdoor concert venue with 9X JUNO Award winners, Arkells. The Parade Grounds at Base31 will come alive with Arkells’ special CAMPFIRE NIGHTS outdoor show on…
CONCERT DETAILSRevel in the warm honey sounds of award-winning Serena Ryder at Base31’s historic Drill Hall, Saturday, July 8. The Drill Hall is located at the south end of the property. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm where you can enjoy local food and beverage. The doors to The Drill Hall will open at…
CONCERT DETAILSJoin Base31 in Prince Edward County for a night of live music. Colin James Trio plays Saturday, June 24 for the second concert in this venue as part of the 2023 Drill Hall concert series. The Drill Hall is located at the south end of the property. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm…
Concert DetailsJoin Base31 in Prince Edward County for a night of live music to kick off The Drill Hall concert series. Sam Roberts Band performs Saturday, June 17. The Drill Hall is located at the south end of the property. The licensed patio opens at 6 pm where you can enjoy local food and beverage.…
NIGHT WATCH: A 2-KILOMETRE NIGHTTIME ILLUMINATED ART WALK LAUNCHES AT BASE31 TICKETS ON SALE NOW – NIGHT WATCH STARTING JUNE 22TICKETS ON SALE NOW – NIGHT WATCH STARTING JUNE 22 Picton, ON June 5, 2023 – Base31, in partnership with The Department of Illumination, is thrilled to announce the launch of Night Watch, a nighttime…
We are thrilled to announce Base31 is officially Rainbow Registered We are proud to be among several County organizations who provide an inclusive space in the community. The Base31 team and site partners will continue to make meaningful connections with like-minded people, community groups and organizations to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies. Base31 is 50%…
ARKELLS BRING THEIR SPECIAL CAMPFIRE NIGHTS SET TO THE PARADE GROUNDS AT BASE31 ON SATURDAY, JULY 15TH Fan Pre-Sale Starts Tomorrow at 10AM, Tickets On-Sale This Friday at 10AM EDT May 24th, Picton, ON – Base31 is thrilled to announce the debut of their Parade Grounds at Base31 outdoor concert venue with 9X JUNO Award…
Illumin and Base31 Announce Dusk Dance and Drone Shows in Prince Edward County Picton, ON – Illumin and Base31 are excited to announce its latest outdoor event series: Dusk Dance and Drone Shows. Held on Friday nights throughout the summer, this event promises to be a unique experience for all ages. The Dusk Dance…
Base31 Announces new concerts: Amy Armstrong and Jackie Richardson Coming to Prince Edward County Historic Sergeants Mess Hall building to host first gala May 13 Picton, ON — Two more exciting concerts in the historic Sergeants Mess Hall venue are added to the list of over 40 live performances to take place at Base31…
Base31 Launches Experience Marketplace, Not Your Traditional Market From Fitness to Food to Family Fun PEC Community Craft Beer Festival, Art in The County, and the PEC Studio Tour also land at this cultural destination in the making Picton, ON — Base31 is excited to announce the launch of their new Experience Marketplace offering a…
Base31 Announces Star-Studded Concert Lineup Featuring Multiple Juno and Grammy Award Winning Artists Picton, ON – Base31 is thrilled to announce over 40 performances at its historic Drill Hall and Sergeants Mess Hall venues. The concerts will showcase a diverse lineup of musical genres, including rock, folk, jazz, and blues, as well as comedy from…
Calling all Musicians, Performers, Food + Beverage Entrepreneurs and Hosts: Base31 Needs You! PICTON, ON, FEB. 7, 2023 – Base31 is pleased to invite three groups of collaborators to join us for the 2023 season: musicians and performers, food and beverage entrepreneurs and individuals looking to host unique ticketed experiences on site. Base31 is a…
After the beginnings of a long-term creative placemaking journey, Base31 will continue the efforts through unique art partnerships, offerings and installations on site. Base31 and County Arts have partnered together to co-present a unique learning opportunity to ensure local artists have the skills and confidence to apply for mural and public art call for proposals.…
The team at Base31 is taking time to thank you for a history-breaking first year at Base31.Over the past year, so many incredible moments, happenings and learnings have happened at Base31. We have had four seasons of concerts, renovations, connection, art, and most of all a growing community of people who care about what we’re…
Base31 is working diligently to revitalize over 70 acres of land and the 46 buildings that are on the site.As part of this important work, Base31 engaged a structural engineer who determined that Building 8 cannot be saved. Demolition of Building 8 will begin in December. Base31 will be salvaging materials from the building where…
This Remembrance Day, we remember the generations of brave Canadians who have put their lives on the line in the cause of peace and freedom.Base31 will pay tribute to those who served by sharing stories of personal connection to our site, a former World War II air training base known as the No. 31 Bombing…
Base31 on the big screenDid you know the site at Base31 was featured in several films? Step back in time to explore the moments on film that took place here, when Base31 was operating as a WWII airbase known as Camp Picton. Several producers have used the complex of hangars and barracks to film features,…
Across Canada, people come together September 30 to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.This day is meant to honour survivors of the Canadian residential school system, and to mourn the loss of Indigenous children who never returned home and the survivors who did come home. In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, Base31…
The CallBase31 has been collecting archival photographs and stories from the community, who have a connection to the site. We put out this call in June, and continue to ask for more. More stories, more faces, more people, more community. Do you have a photo of a relative who was stationed at Base31? We would…
What You Need to KnowJoin Base31 for a meaningful night in honour of Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Mohawk Language and Cultural Centre, a celebration of Indigenous artists.Concert DetailsBase31 is thrilled to host a benefit concert in support of Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Mohawk Language and Cultural Centre. David R. Maracle and Friends Presents Digging Roots comes to…
Creative Placemaking is the practice of engaging arts and culture to catalyze the transformation of places.It involves processes and strategies to re-imagine places, change their look and feel, inject new energy, create new narratives and in the process create new experiences. Creative placemaking done well is respectful of the past while engaging creative minds and…
What You Need to KnowSLOAN is coming to Base31 on Saturday, August 27 to play The Drill Hall.Concert DetailsJoin Base31 for a night of live music – the third concert to take place at Base31. The Drill Hall is located at the south end of the property. Doors Open – 6:30 p.m. Featured Opener: Enrights…
What You Need to KnowCome join us at Base31 this Labour Day weekend for We’re Funny That Way Queer Comedy Cabaret and Music Festival. Ticket Pricing and BreakdownWe’re Funny That Way festival makes its covid comeback Labour Day Weekend – Sept 2, 3, and 4, 2022 at Base31. You can purchase several ticket options. Individual show…
A 14-foot tall sculptural artwork is now at Base31 in Picton, Prince Edward CountyThis public art sculpture was unveiled Saturday, July 30th beside Melt Gallery at Base31. Renowned Montreal artist Laurence Vallières and local artist Krista Dalby from the Department of Illumination created this piece from the cardboard collected from the community and both said…
Your guide to what’s operating and open to the public at Base31Base31 – previously known as Loch Sloy Business Park and Camp Picton – inherited a number of existing business on site. Some of those businesses and tenants use the site for storage, others are open for business and open to the public. Base31 is…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21 to August 21, 2022 Media Contact: Krista Dalby, (613) 919-5640, krista@deptofillumination.org Facebook & Instagram: @deptofillumination www.deptofillumination.org When: Saturday, August 20 + Sunday, August 21 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sneak Peak Fundraiser: Friday, August 19 | 6 – 8 p.m. Where: Base31 | 343 County Rd 22, Picton ONEvent Details…
What You Need to KnowPrince Edward County is about to get rocked as we host our first major concert event at the Drill Hall. Sarah Harmer is our first major act opening up this iconic space. The Drill Hall (Building 20) is located at the south end of the property – look for the signs…
What You Should KnowEverything you need to know about Base31 Historical Walking Tours. Delve into the history and stories of Base31 with resident expert Jacqui Burley, the former Property Manager of the site when it was known as Loch Sloy. With over 22 years of experience in managing the day-to-day business and hosting events onsite,…
The unveiling plus a look at the first archival community photo selected to be installed on a Base31 building It’s official – Base31 has installed the seven pieces of art that were chosen to explore the theme of Natures Aviators. Photo Credit: Ophelia Spinosa Base31 commissioned a series of artworks that meaningfully explore the theme…
What To DoEverything you need to know about our Community Open House. Base31 is excited to welcome Prince Edward County to our Community Open House on Saturday, July 9 from 12pm to 6pm! Come explore the site, participate in one of our many free activities offered by local artists, enjoy some awesome food, take a…
The structural art pieces will be featured in the Aviators Garden pictured above. Photo credit: ZMIIMAGERY The Call After a highly competitive round of applications, the finalists have been chosen. We are deeply grateful for the tremendous effort and the unique perspectives each participating artist contributed through their application. We know it takes many hours…
Contribute to a large scale public art sculpture being installed this summerIn early May of this year we issued a call out for artists to submit their visions for sculptures in our soon to be completed ‘Aviators Garden’ – a public art garden for anyone and everyone to enjoy. The idea is you visit Base31…
Everyone has a story.Base31 has a rich and glorious history in both Prince Edward County and with people around the world.Base31Base31 was built in 1940 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This place helped train aircrews from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during World War II. We’ve outlined some…
The call Over the past century, Base31 played an important role in the nation’s aviation history, first as an air training base, and in the decades since as a hub for local flying clubs and aviation lovers. Yet Prince Edward County is home to over 300 bird species and reminds us that aviation is not…
