In an effort to boost tourism and strengthen the local economy, 8 festivals and special events in the City of Kingston are getting an increase in funding.

According to John Gerretsen, Kingston’s MPP, the 8 city events will receive an increase in funding of $322,575 as part of the initiative: “Celebrate Ontario 2010”. Gerretsen recently announced plans to increase the budget at the Grand Theatre in front of posters inviting people to check out the events.

While these events may sound like good excuses to party, there’s a much more significant reason behind the special attention. The added money will be used to improve the events’ programs, which will in turn attract more tourists and visitors to Kingston, bringing in money and creating new jobs in the process.

Gerretsen said that it’s crucial for tourists not just to spend in Kingston, but to spread word of how great life is in the city.

Ontario alone hosts more than 3,000 festivities and special events each year, drawing in over 5 million visitors who bring in around $400 million to the province’s economy.

Since the program’s launching in 2007, Celebrate Ontario has pumped out more than $36 million to more than 500 different events in the entire province.