Belleville–Quinte West: local rooms, events and more

Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Ontario · 111k people

Belleville–Quinte West

Locals say Quinte · “The Friendly City”

A friendly harbour on the Bay of Quinte.

Senators RedBlack

Welcome to Quinte! Whether you're here for the beaches, the wine, or the hockey, you'll find a friendly community by the bay. Grab a coffee in Belleville or a glass of local wine in the County and settle in.

Clubs for Belleville–Quinte West

No clubs for Belleville–Quinte West yet.

The room

Belleville–Quinte West Quiet now A friendly harbour on the Bay of Quinte.

One room for everyone around Belleville–Quinte West. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Belleville–Quinte West. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Sandbanks Provincial Park Famous for its massive sand dunes and beaches.
National Air Force Museum of Canada Showcases Canada's military aviation history.
Bay of Quinte A long bay known for fishing, sailing and waterfront trails.
CAA Arena Home of the Belleville Senators (AHL).
Glanmore National Historic Site A Victorian-era house museum in Belleville.
Belleville Downtown Historic main street with shops, cafes and live music.

Outdoors Swim and hike at Sandbanks Provincial Park
Outdoors Fish for pickerel on the Bay of Quinte
With kids Visit the National Air Force Museum of Canada
With kids Spend a day at Sandbanks beach
Evenings Catch live music at the Empire Theatre
Evenings Wine tasting and patio hopping in Picton
Locals love Wineries
Locals love Farmers markets

Through the year

Prince Edward County Wine Festival June Wine tastings and vineyard events
Prince Edward County Jazz Festival September Jazz performances across the county
Belleville Waterfront Festival July Live music, food and family activities
Quinte Exhibition August Agricultural fair with midway and exhibits
Bay of Quinte Regatta Summer Sailing races and waterfront events

Four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Best: June to September for beaches and wineries.

Talk like a local

“The County”: Prince Edward County
“The Bay”: Bay of Quinte
“Quinte”: The region as a whole
“PEC”: Prince Edward County abbreviation

Getaways

Kingston Historic city with waterfront and museums
Cobourg Lake Ontario beach town
Peterborough Trent-Severn Waterway and lift locks
Port Hope Charming downtown and Ganaraska River

Local flavour

Teams

Belleville Senators AHL
Trenton Golden Hawks OJHL

Eat and drink

Bay of Quinte pickerel Fresh walleye from the bay, often fried or grilled, a local staple.
Prince Edward County cheese Artisanal cheeses from local creameries like Black River Cheese.
Prince Edward County wine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the region's celebrated vineyards.

Where people go

Wineries Prince Edward County is a designated wine region with over 40 wineries.
Sandbanks Provincial Park Famous for its sand dunes and beaches on Lake Ontario.
National Air Force Museum of Canada Located in Trenton, celebrating Canada's military aviation history.
Bay of Quinte waterfront A hub for boating, fishing, and scenic walks.
Farmland and orchards Rolling fields and apple orchards define the rural character.

Heritage and traditions

Belleville–Quinte West is proud of its Loyalist heritage, its role as a gateway to the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County's wine country, and its strong military connection through CFB Trenton.

This time of year in Belleville–Quinte West

Wine harvest and grape stomping Fall Fall is harvest time in the County, with festivals and grape stomps.
Fall colour tours Autumn Driving through the County to see autumn leaves is a local tradition.

Say it like a local: “Kwin-tee” — The pronunciation of Quinte (kwin-tee)

Festivals

Belleville Downtown DocFest November A documentary film festival that brings filmmakers to the Hub City.
Art in the Park August An annual outdoor art show in Belleville's Victoria Park.
Picton Harbourfest July A summer festival with live music, food, and family activities on the Picton waterfront.

Landmarks with a story

Empire Theatre A 1920s vaudeville and movie palace in Belleville, now a performing arts venue.
St. Thomas Anglican Church A historic church in Belleville with a cemetery dating to the 1820s.
Belleville City Hall A grand civic building from 1873, still in use.
Picton Courthouse A limestone courthouse in Prince Edward County, built in the 1820s.
Wellington Heritage District A charming main street in Prince Edward County with preserved 19th-century buildings.
Trent Port The historic harbour area of Quinte West, once a busy shipping point.

Food traditions

Maple syrup season In March, local sugar bushes open for pancake breakfasts and syrup tastings.
Apple cider and pies Orchards in the County and Belleville produce fresh cider and pies in the fall.
Pickerel fish fries Freshly caught Bay of Quinte pickerel is a summer staple at community events and home kitchens.
Wine and cheese pairing County wineries and cheese makers collaborate for tastings, a favourite local pastime.
Farm-to-table movement Restaurants in the County pride themselves on sourcing local ingredients, a tradition that supports farmers.

Music and arts

Prince Edward County arts community A vibrant network of galleries, studios, and artist residencies.
Quinte Ballet School A renowned ballet school in Belleville that trains dancers from across Canada.
Empire Theatre Hosts concerts, plays, and films, a cultural hub in Belleville.
Belleville Art Association Promotes local artists with exhibitions and workshops.

A little history

1780s United Empire Loyalist settlement
1789 Founding of Belleville
19th century Trent-Severn Waterway construction
1850s Railway arrival
1930s CFB Trenton establishment

Game day Hockey
Game day Pickerel fishing tournaments
Outdoors Cross-country skiing
Outdoors Snowshoeing on the Millennium Trail
With kids Visiting the Belleville Farmers' Market
With kids Picking berries at a local farm

Locals speak with a typical Ontario accent, but they often refer to Prince Edward County as 'the County' and pronounce 'Quinte' as 'kwin-tee'. You'll hear 'pop' for soda and 'eh' as a tag question.

Only here

Sandbanks Provincial Park has the world's largest freshwater sand dunes.
The Bay of Quinte is a premier pickerel (walleye) fishery.
The National Air Force Museum is the official museum of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Belleville is known as the 'Hub City' due to its central location.

New here? A few tips

Learn to say 'Quinte' as 'kwin-tee'.
Know that 'the County' means Prince Edward County, a separate area with its own vibe.
Be ready for cold winters and hot, humid summers; dress in layers.
Try the local pickerel and a glass of County wine.
If you're in Trenton, you'll hear planes from CFB Trenton; it's part of the community.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Nearby

Every area

Prince Edward CountyOntarioWhere the lake meets the vineyard.NapaneeOntarioWhere the lakes meet the maple groves Northumberland CountyOntarioWhere the Trent winds through quiet farmland.Peterborough CountyOntarioQuiet roads, rich soil, and the glow of a lakeside sunset.CobourgOntarioSmall-town charm on the big lake.KingstonOntarioA limestone city on the water.PeterboroughOntarioWhere every road leads to water Port HopeOntarioHistoric charm by the Ganaraska

Belleville - Quinte West. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.