What to do.

Tuesday, August 12

The Region of Waterloo Library has Drums Alive in partnership with Drums et al from 1:00-2:00 pm at the Bloomingdale Branch.

The Gaslight District has a free outdoor screening of "Paddington in Peru" at 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 13

PM (Product Manager) Waterloo is hosting “Trimming the Product Fat” with Alex McDonnell (Airtable), ​Diego von Söhsten (Evermore), and Sarah Kerr (Geotab) with host Kanwar Anand (Sunlife). 5:30 at Catalyst Commons.

Thursday, August 14

More from the Region of Waterloo Library, check out Let’s Explore: A Grand Fabrication with the TriSisters Art House from 2:00-3:30 pm in St. Jacobs. They also have Yoga in the Park in partnership with Beth Martin of Be Energized Fitness from 6:30-7:30 pm at Centennial Park in Ayr.

The Seagram Synth Ensemble are playing live on Roos Island from 7 to 8 pm.

Wave Maker Craft Brewery has its Trivia Night at 7 pm.

Friday, August 15

Grab your boots and your sweetheart and head to Bingemans on August 15 for Urban Cowboy Line Dancing. Whether you’re boogeying to the Cupid Shuffle or the Wobble, the pros at Urban Cowboy will guide you through boot-scooting fun on the Event Square at Bingemans.

Adam Christie headlines Rusty Nail Comedy at TWH Social at 7:30 pm. He’s back on Saturday, same time, same place.

The Sunset Session concert series presented by The Downtown Kitchener BIA and produced by Good Co. Productions is at Vogelsang Green starting at 7 pm. After party is at the Yeti.

Over at The Union, check out Greber, Vaste, Ischmic, and Backbone live at 7 pm.

St. Louis Bar in Cambridge has the Burns Howff Reunion ft. The Andy Parker Band at 8:30 pm.

Saturday, August 16

Hespeler Needs a Skatepark is hosting the Hespeler Street Jam from 12 to 5 pm. Come out and show your support to help advocate for a space to skate in Hespeler. Helmets required.

Join KWAG’s Gardener-in-Residence, Stephanie Florence, for the second part of their 50/50 Garden of Resilience workshops. This event features an artist talk by Stephanie and an invitation to respond through creative action. Artists, musicians, poets, gardeners, dancers, and the community at large will be invited to join together in a creative response to Stephanie's recordings of the garden. 12 to 2 pm.

Explore Cambridge’s craft beer scene with HopOn South Loop! Sponsored by The Steele Group, this ticketed event includes 10 sample tokens, an exclusive HopOn bag, and shuttle service connecting breweries like Four Fathers, Jackass, Sparrow, Wave Maker, and Farm League. Enjoy food and drink discounts, special hotel rates, free GRT access, and friendly guides to make your brewery-hopping adventure seamless. A perfect summer day to sip, explore, and discover local flavour!

Moparfest in New Hamburg is Canada’s largest all Mopar car show. It kicks off with a cruise night in downtown New Hamburg on Friday night from 4:30pm until dusk. Saturday and Sunday the showgrounds will be packed with more than 1,500 vehicles from the 1930s to today. There will also be live entertainment, Power Wheel drag races for kids, food tents and a beer garden, silent auction, prizes, and awards.

Cole and Shine play the Rabbid Fox at 7:30 pm.

Maxwell’s has Tallboys & Tunes – Live Country Music Featuring 8 Second Ride at 7:30 pm.

Sunday, August 17

Bring the whole family to Victoria Park for KidsPark, Kitchener’s largest family festival, featuring music, entertainment, learning activities, and more! This festival has something for all ages, so plan to spend the day!

The Far East Asian Night Market is back in Downtown Kitchener with a celebration of Asian culture, cuisine, and creativity. Check out over 50 vendors on King Street in the East End (Cedar to Frederick), Eby Street (Market Lane to Halls Lane), and the Kitchener Market, offering an exciting mix of food, retail, services, and cultural experiences. Brought to you by the Downtown Kitchener BIA and the businesses of Downtown Kitchener.

The Little Prince Micro Cinema in the Gaslight District has a screening of “Sinners” at 6:30 pm.

It’s the last Kitchener Panthers game before the post-season begins. Catch the action at Jack Couch Park at 2 pm.

Monday, August 18

sloth broth plays the Roos Island Music Series from 7 to 8 pm.

Ways to get involved.

The U17 Waterloo County Boys and Girls Rugby teams are fundraising for a trip to play in Scotland and England in March 2026. We’re sure your car is dirty (ours is), so come out to get your car washed while supporting these amazing athletes. There’ll be a BBQ, face painting, local vendors, and more. 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, August 16 at the OK Tire in Baden.

What to read.

None of this is real and it doesn't matter (Johnathan and Melissa Nightingale, Raw Signal Group)

New book captures 100 years of Galt Arena Gardens history (Prabhnoor Kaur, The Record)

Retired urban planner watches his work get ‘wiped out’ across Waterloo Region (Terry Pender, The Record)

25 Years Gone: Remembering Lulu’s Roadhouse (Fiona McAlister, The Community Edition)

Zip, Paddle, Chill: Your Grand Adventure Starts Here! (Curated KW, Explore Waterloo)