What to do.

Tuesday, September 29

Onion Honey is playing The House of Miracles (Cambrdige) with special guests Talise and The Deer Flies at 7:30 pm.

Container Gardening is hosting an artist talk, participatory performance, and outdoor projection conceived by artist-curator @colintuckerstudio, considering the histories embedded in the settler colonial lawn and the practices through which land is surveyed, named, enclosed, levelled, planted, and transformed.

The Waterloo Historical Society will explore the rich history of North Dumfries at its next meeting at 7:15 pm at the Detweiler Meetinghouse, 3445 Roseville Rd., Ayr. The meeting will begin with a brief history of the restorations of the 1855 stone Mennonite meetinghouse and includes a virtual tour of the township through old photos and stories.

Wednesday, September 30

The Little Mushroom Dining Lounge has a Vegan Tapas Night from 5 to 9 pm.

The Six Nations of the Grand River own Logan Staats (Juno award nominated, TD SOCAN Indigenous Songwriter Award) is playing Emmanuel United Church at 7:30 pm.

Thursday, October 1

BYOS — bring your own stein to this year’s Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. The Canadian Clay & Glass Museum has two workshops in October (1 and 7) to create and decorate your personal stein to enjoy whatever beverage you love. It’s food-safe, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe and will be ready before you can say “zicke zacke”.

The David Johnston R+T Park is going Bavarian with Parktoberfest from 2 to 5:30 pm. They'll have a Fo'Cheezy food truck on site along with the crew from Block 3 Brewing.

Québec author and Canada Reads winner Catherine Leroux visits KPL to discuss her latest novel, Republic of Glass, in conversation with Anuja Varghese. 7 pm at the Central Library.

The Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada has author and professor Cody Groat at 7 pm. In this talk, Groat will discuss his new book Always a Part of the Land: the Federal Commemoration of Indigenous Histories, which calls for a critical reinterpretation not only of the nation’s history but also of how we think about the past and how this shapes ongoing relationships between Indigenous peoples and the state. In person or zoom.

Centre in the Square and Unwrapped Theatre present Mixed(er) in the Studio Theatre from October 1 to 3. This funny and heartfelt show tells the story of Sam, a biracial woman discovering her parents are throwing her a surprise birthday party, complete with her White friends and her only Black friend. As the night unfolds, family wounds surface, cultural tensions flare, and a jerk chicken casserole becomes the final straw in Sam’s fractured sense of identity.

Friday, October 2

Make your way to Ayr for Farmtoberfest at Willibald’s on October 2. The farm is the place to be for great pizza, awesome beer, and Willibald’s cocktails. $29 per person includes event entry and a commemorative stein.

Socratica x Ramp are hosting the Making Dough buildathon at Communitech. In groups of four, you'll create software, apps, automations or systems to help save time and money for 'your grandparent's bakery'. The time and money you 'save' will be given back to you to use to purchase ingredients from their in-house grocery store to make actual parfaits.

Pinch presents SHOW & TELL, an anything goes monthly open mic at the Waterloo Visitor Info Centre (10 Father David Bauer Dr). Comedy, Music, Burlesque, Poetry, Drag, Performance Art, Lectures, Rants, etc! 5 min spots, performers sign up at 7 pm, show at 7:30 pm.

The Registry Theatre has Mundo del Gipsy Kings at 8 pm. Experience the fiery spirit and irresistible rhythms of one of Canada’s premier nuevo flamenco bands performing favourites inspired by the legendary Gipsy Kings alongside music from Juneyt’s award-winning albums and new original compositions.

The one and only Ashwyn Singh is back in KW for two shows at Rusty Nail Comedy! Catch him on Friday or Saturday night at TWH Social at 8 pm.

Saturday, October 3

Goat Fest is back with another day of music, drinks, and so much heat! Goat Fest is the brainchild of local hot sauce maker Kris Ronan of Ginger Goat Hot Sauces. Get your ticket and experience the heat from more than 30 different hot sauce makers and 15 vendors with craft beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks from across Canada as you listen to awesome live music.

The Fox Bros. Mini Market has its Fall Fair from 11 to 5 with vendors, free comic books, and an awesome music lineup. They're fundraising for Sanguen Health Centre.

Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and meet the makers who bring them to life at the Wonderfully Made Fall Market at Steckle Heritage Farm! It’s an unforgettable day filled with cozy vibes, local charm, and community spirit with over 60 talented local makers offering handmade goods, seasonal treats, home décor, fashion, art, and more.

Find a new favourite book and support local authors at Booktoberfest on Gaukel from 1 to 6 pm.

KPL has Tales from the Motherland with Aunty Didi, part of Culture Days, at 10 am. Tales from the Motherland uses storytelling, family interaction, and colouring sheets to inspire all young minds.

Dirty Work Studio is hosting a Fall Market from 1 to 4 pm featuring vintage clothing, mags, stickers, posts, and music from the legendary Evan Yew.

Explore the macabre and mystical at the Homer Watson Spirit Market at Homer Watson House & Gallery! Shop vendors with unique candles, crystals, readings, thematic artworks and books, and take in some local performing talent while you look for all the ghosts hiding on the house grounds.

After a ten-year hiatus, Uberhaus returns to Maxwell’s for one night only. Dust off your lederhosen and dirndls and join Maxwell's for an unforgettable evening celebrating the sights, sounds and spirit of Oktoberfest. Enjoy food from Siggi’s Food Truck and a special appearance from Onkel Hans and the KW Oktoberfest crew!

Matthew Holtby is driving three hours to play Emmanuel Concerts on October 3r and he would love to have some music lovers in the room. He'll be joined by Daniel Raymond and Sydney Jones. Show starts at at 7:30 pm.

The Centre for Mutual Wellbeing (formerly the Coalition of Muslim Women)'s Radiant Ladies Night Gala on October 3 is a ladies-only fundraiser dinner that brings diverse music and cuisine to a diverse audience. All women are invited to attend! Funds raised will support CMW's core services - Housing, Anti-Hate, and Gender-Based Violence services. All which provide innovative and culturally responsive programs for members of racialized communities - including Muslim women - that address barriers to social and economic inclusion

Sunday, October 4

Intuned Collective has a gong-led yogic sound & rest circle from 2 to 3 pm at the Lavender Lane Wellness Center in Waterloo.

Container Gardening has another artist talk, this time with Swiss-Canadian sculptor and visual artist @ernestdaetwyler at 4:30 pm.

Celebrate 20 years of memories, milestones, and wonderful guests at Puddicombe House with an afternoon of drink samples, passed appetizers, and live music. VIP tickets include early access to the event at 1 p.m. with general admission at 2 p.m.

Monday, October 5

Join the Research Institute for Aging (RIA) for a special community screening of Silver Screamers, an inspiring documentary that proves creativity has no age limit. The film follows a group of older adults as they take on every aspect of making a horror movie—from set design and special-effects makeup to acting, production, and editing. 1 pm at the Princess Twin.

KPL has Adam Nayman: The Shining Revisited at 7 pm. Join the author and film critic for a special lecture on the influences and enduring appeal of Stanley Kubrick's horror masterpiece.

The Princess Cinema has a Rainbow Film Club screening of the A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge at 7 pm. Presented alongside the Rainbow Coalition of Waterloo and Spectrum Waterloo.

Ways to find stuff to do in town.

Friend of the newsletter Ryan Flanagan has launched Unwrapped, a new, easy-to-navigate list of upcoming concerts across Waterloo Region. No ads, nothing complicated, just live music at your fingertips. Bookmark this site!

What to read.

Rangers’ imports finding their footing — and voices — in Kitchener (Josh Brown, The Record)

Cafka Celebrates 25 Years of Art in Kitchener (Josh Milton-Bell, The Community Edition)