Over the course of the pandemic, a mass exodus took place as people left cities for less populated, more remote areas. Kingston, New York saw one of the largest influxes in the country. Soon after, local musician Connor Kennedy had the idea to start a weekly Honky Tonk – every Wednesday – as a form of community building, with his band as the regular headliner. What was meant to last a summer is now going on its third year. Honky Tonk Wednesdays has featured a rotating cast of renowned musicians – including Cindy Cashdollar, John Sebastian, Brian Mitchell and many others – and has become a wildly popular event, helping to unite the community.