Making Sustainability Visible Through an Off‑the‑Grid Community Concert
Earth Hour “Unplugged” – City of Kingston
Role: Dan Hendry
Year: 2010–2016
For several years, I helped organize Kingston Unplugged, a sustainability‑focused community event held during International Earth Hour. While Earth Hour encourages people to turn off their lights for one hour, Kingston Unplugged extended the idea by hosting an off‑the‑grid concert behind City Hall as the downtown core went dark.
At the time, I was working with the City of Kingston as a Public Education and Promotions Coordinator, and I supported this initiative as one partner among many. My role focused on the coordination and logistical work required to make the event possible year after year.
Images Supplied By: Kingston Unplugged Video
I supported the event by helping organize permitting and security for the concert, coordinating logistics, and assisting with community participation and communications. One visible component of my role was ensuring that City Hall’s non‑essential lights were turned off for the hour, reinforcing the symbolism of Earth Hour while the event was underway.
What made Kingston Unplugged distinctive was how the concert itself was powered. Rather than connecting to the city’s electrical grid, the stage operated entirely on renewable energy, using a combination of batteries supported by solar and wind power. Surrounding the concert, community vendors and educational displays transformed the space into a lively gathering that combined music, learning, and sustainability.
Typically drawing hundreds of people, Kingston Unplugged demonstrated that environmental action does not need to be abstract or restrained. Seeing a crowd enjoy live music powered entirely by renewable energy, standing behind a darkened City Hall, remains one of my favourite examples of how communities can make sustainability visible, engaging, and celebratory.
Images Supplied By: Kingston Unplugged Video
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