What to do.

Tuesday, July 7

KPL is hosting the QueerKPL Comedy Workshop at the Southwest Community Library at 6:30 pm.

Cool Aunt Creatives has a Needle Felting Workshop at Abe Erb DTK from 7 to 9 pm.

Waterloo Public Library has Fiction & Folktales: Black Writers & Stories in Conversation in partnership with Textile and Words Worth Books. Join award-winning transdisciplinary artist Myrtle Sodhi and chronicler of human stories, Carol B. Duncan for an evening of sharing their fiction and folktales that span the distance and memory of the African Diaspora. Sodhi's debut book titled We've Been Here Before will be featured and available for sale by Words Worth Books. Myrtle and Carol will join Teneile Warren, Textile’s Editorial Director, in conversation on the meaning of Black stories to the making of Black life in Canada. 

Wednesday, July 8

BeccaHosts is your guest host for Trivia on Tap at Kingpin Bowling Lounge this Wednesday at 7 pm.

AOK Craft Beer + Arcade and In For Question are bringing you a Taylor Swift Trivia night at 8 pm.

Princess Cinemas has Idiocracy at 9:15 pm.

Thursday, July 9

The Conestoga Gig Lab has an open house from 4 to 5 pm at the Doon Campus. ​Meet Gig Lab coaches, connect with program alumni, and explore whether this program is the right next step for your freelance journey.

Win a giant stuffed bear for your sweetie and call it a night well spent. The Midway returns to The Aud for four days of free-admission fun, with thrill rides, kiddie classics, and games of skill (and luck) waiting for ride tickets. Refuel with fresh-cut fries, hand-dipped corn dogs, and fresh-squeezed lemonade, then save room for candy apples, funnel cakes, and candy floss.

Movies in the Park is screening Zooptia 2 at the Hilltop Picnic Area inside Waterloo Park. Movie starts at sundown. Bring a donation for the FoodBank of Waterloo Region.

The Kitchener Panthers take on the Brantford Red Rox at Jack Couch Park at 7:05 pm.

The Rabbid Fox has 90s Music Bingo at 8 pm.

Friday, July 10

Good Co. Productions and the Downtown Kitchener BIA have a Sunset Session with a surprise live band. Show happens at Vogelsang Green.

The Great Hespeler Reunion Festival is rolling out three days of small-town heart: parades, live music, sporting events, a washer toss tournament, dancing in the park, and more. Whether you grew up here or are just discovering the village, bring the family and reconnect over hometown pride and plenty of good company.

Catch live music from Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, India, Peru, Sweden, Chile, across Canada, and right here in our own backyard at the Kultrun World Music Festival. Wander the market, hit up interactive workshops and the Kids Zone, and graze your way through international food trucks and arts-and-crafts vendors. Free to attend because great music and global flavours should be open to everyone.  

Emmanuel Concerts features Arielle Soucy with special guest Justin Orok at 7:30 pm.

Farm League Brewing has Eric Mills playing live at 7 pm.

Downtown Cambridge is hosting a Night Market at the Main Street Promenade from 7 till late.

Stockyards Brewing has live music with Janice and Steve from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Short Finger Brewing's Live in a Dive features Marcus! the legend from Sherwood Music and many other cool things in KW. 6 to 8 pm.

Saturday, July 11

Pink Crow Cafe has an art market coming from 11-2

The world’s biggest tournament is coming to Canada, and Waterloo Region’s got a front-row seat. Carl Zehr Square hosts an official FIFA fan activation as part of a first-of-its-kind countrywide celebration. It’s a free, family-friendly day of live match viewing, football-themed activities, cultural programming, music, food, and shared national pride.  

FMP & Momma’s Cookout Presents: The Block Party. It’s a high-energy night of hip-hop, R&B, afrobeats, and party favourites, with live DJs keeping the floor moving until late. Expect great food, cold drinks, and even better company. Whether you’re rolling in with your crew or coming solo to meet new people, this is where music, culture, and community link up for one of the region’s hottest summer nights. 

Few bands have shaped Canadian rock like The Tea Party. The multi-platinum, multi-JUNO-nominated trio of Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatwood, and Jeff Burrows return with Sunshower at Centre in the Square, a luminous new collection showcasing the light-and-shade dynamics they’ve spent 30+ years perfecting.  

Rusty Nail Comedy brings you headliner Shannon Laverty (Just for Laughs Canada, Winnipeg Comedy Fest, Sudbury LOL). Show starts at 8 pm at TWH Social.

Sunday, July 12

Odd Whale Events is hosting The Odd Faire on Main St. between Ainslie and Water from 12 to 6 pm. There's a market with over 15 vendors, games of chance, and more.

Monday, July 13

The Roos Island Music series features Rebekah Stevens with special guest J.K. Gulley at 7 pm.

Ways to get involved.

Clean out your closet and give your old denim a second life with Basadi Sewing’s Denim Drive. Every piece will be creatively upcycled into new products, directly supporting a local social enterprise that employs newcomer women through the art of sewing. Drop off your donations now through July at St. Jacobs Market or their Waterloo headquarters to make a sustainable community impact.

What to read.

No Right Turn on Red Pilot Project Approved (Alex Kinsella, Community Edition)

New Indigenous Gathering Space Created at Willow River Park (Safina Jennah, Community Edition)

New Food for All Model (Rachael MacIntosh, Community Edition)

Region's first stainless steel pools come to Kitchener (Lauren Kuivenhoven, CBC KW)