What to do.

Tuesday, October 21

Author and Russia scholar Len Friesen takes a Third Age Learning Kitchener-Waterloo audience through Vladimir Putin’s rise to power. At 1:30 p.m. in RIM Park.

🎃 The Princess Twin has “Good Boy” at 9:15 pm.

Join author Ann McDougall at Homer Watson House as she shares a short reading and Q&A for her brand new book A Ghost in the Room: Supernatural Adventures in Historic Houses (7:00 - 7:30pm), then bring out your best crew of trivia hounds for an evening built around the “Spirit” of the season hosted by local event hero Papa Razzi (7:30 - 9:30pm)!

Midnight Run Cafe has an open mic poetry night at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, October 22

Awesome comedy for $5? You bet! Check out Rusty Nail Comedy’s PRO AM night at TWH Social starting at 7:30 pm.

In4Questioning Trivia is bringing back its Disney Trivia Night at AOK Craft Beer + Arcade at 8 pm.

Community Healthcaring KW (CHCKW) and Doin’ It have Love Out Loud Bingo at KPL Central at 6 pm. It’s an educational and inclusive twist on bingo centred around 2SLGBTQIA+ sexual health education.

🎃 Also at KPL Central, check out the 90s Horror Revival screening of “Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight” at 7 pm.

The City of Cambridge invites you to experience the world of The Handmaid’s Tale with an exhibition and self-guided tour of the city streets, buildings, and businesses where the Emmy Award-winning series was filmed. Oct. 22 to Nov. 6.

The Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics’s Astronomy on Tap is happening at The Crazy Canuck Kitchener from 8 to 10 pm. This month: Michael Gammon will give a tour of the stellar graveyard, talking about the different types of remnants stars can leave behind and Shokoufe Faraji will speak about the most bizarre of all astronomical beasts.

Three time, Juno award winning singer songwriter Ron Sexsmith plays Maxwell’s at 7 pm.

Thursday, October 23

The Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery’s FORM: A Sustainable Fashion Fundraiser is happening from 7 to 10. FORM combines environmental consciousness with artistic expression, all in support of accessible arts education programs at the Gallery. The evening includes a silent auction display, artisan alley, fashion show, and after-party with a professional DJ.

Whoopsie Daisy Drinks’s Cozy Club is on from 6 to 8 pm. Bring your crafts, grab a pumpkin spice latte, and watch a couple episodes of the Gilmore Girls.

Paul Haywood headlines a special Rusty Nail Comedy night at The Underwing in the Gaslight District at 8 pm.

The Rabbid Fox has music bingo with Jolene at 8 pm.

VOC Silent Film Harmonic VOC kicks off a new season with “Nosferatu (1922)”, the original vampire movie by renowned director F. W. Murnau. 8 pm at The Registry Theatre.

Friday, October 24

The first ever Southwestern Ontario Drupal Camp 2025 is happening at Kitchener Public Library this Saturday. Whether you’re an existing Drupal user, developer, designer, site builder, or are maybe just a little Drupal-curious, you won’t want to miss out on this unique event. Brought to you by the Waterloo Region Drupal Users Group.

There’s a Town Hall with Federal NDP Leadership Candidate Tanille Johnston at the 10C Shared Space (42 Carden Street, Guelph) at 7 pm. Admission is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their spot by emailing info@guelphndp.ca.

Downtown Kitchener’s food scene is culturally diverse and super delicious! Discover hidden gems with Stroll Walking Tour’s Kitchener Food Tour. This 3-hour food tasting tour will introduce you to unique restaurants, gourmet food shops, hidden gems, sweet treats and eateries of Downtown Kitchener.

The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College is hosting the Combatting Hate Action Table (CHAT)’s GRT bus in the Conrad Grebel parking lot (140 Westmount Rd. N.) as part of its anti-hate campaign. There’ll be cookies and activities on and around the bus from 1-5pm and brief remarks at the beginning.

Discover dazzling gems, fossils and jewellery at the University of Waterloo’s annual Gem and Mineral Show, October 24–25 in the EIT building. Admission is free, with door prizes and two floors of exhibits to explore. Don’t miss Saturday’s Kids Science Open House in EIT and STC, featuring free hands-on activities for the whole family.

Local favourite Rob Bebenek headlines Rusty Nail Comedy at TWH Social at 7:30 pm.

🎃 The Princess Cinema’s annual “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screenings are back from Friday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Oct. 31. It’s the film’s 50th anniversary and props are welcome (just don’t throw them at the screen!).

🎃 Homer Watson House has a live audience psychic medium reading with Gada Jane from 7 to 9 pm.

KW GameDev has a meetup at 165 King St W (above AOK or Budd’s Department Store if you’ve lived here for a while). It’s a night of casual demos and networking for local game devs.

Maxwell’s has IllScarlett live on stage! Doors at 7, music at 8!

Saturday, October 25

🎃 St. Jacobs Market District has its Halloween Kids Day with crafts, trick-or-treating, and more!

🎃 Downtown Cambridge has its Halloween Hunt from 11 to 2 pm on Main St.! Pick up your Downtown Cambridge Halloween Map at Retro Rocket Comics (35 Main Street) and explore 20-participating businesses.

Bring the kids to Castle Kilbride for a magical Halloween adventure with Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother! Young guests can explore the castle for enchanted supplies, paint their own pumpkin coach, and meet Cinderella herself, all while helping the Fairy Godmother prepare for the Halloween Ball. Advance tickets required, so be sure to reserve your spot early.

KW Creators has a K-Pop Demon Hunters’ cup sleeve event at Sweet Dreams Tea Shop from 11 to 5. Attendees can collect limited-edition cupsleeves featuring stunning artwork of their favorite KDH characters while enjoying themed drinks!

🎃 Schneider Haus National Historic Site has its 6th Annual Halloween Kids Party. There are multiple sessions starting at 2 pm.

🎃 Wave Maker Craft Brewery has its Kids Halloween Party from 2 to 5 pm. They’ll have Kreepy Karaoke with Emma, a glow stick dance party, and more. Probably craft beer, too. But that’s for the adults.

The Kids’ Science Open House is happening from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Science Teaching Complex (STC) and Earth Sciences Museum (EIT) at the University of Waterloo. This free event is hosted by the Faculty of Science at UW and is filled with hands-on activities created just for kids to explore the exciting world of Science! The much-loved chemistry show will be at noon and 3 p.m.

Cycle WR will take you on a leisurely and memorable cycling Galleries & Gears tour of four local galleries with exhibition themes of displacement, housing, cultural heritage, and environmental sustainability. Saturday, 25 October, 11:00 am - 3:00 p.m. starting at Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

🎃 Celebrate Halloween in the Village of St. Jacobs at PUMPKINPALOOZA! from 3–6 p.m., followed by the King Street Pumpkin Parade and Trick-or-Treat from 6–8 p.m. Come in costume, enter the pumpkin and costume contests, and enjoy late-night shopping at select stores.

🎃 Enjoy a fun Halloween experience while exploring Uptown Waterloo businesses at Treats in the Streets! Participating locations will be handing out candy, and there will be live music and fun characters in costume. There will also be fun activities for all in Waterloo Public Square. The first 100 people to visit the Uptown Waterloo BIA tent at the Heart of Uptown (corner of King and William) will also get a free tote to help them trick or treat!

🎃 Bluebird is hosting a Halloween skate meet at the Doon Skatepark at 5 pm. Everyone is welcome, wear a costume and come out and skate!

October is Circular Economy Month and the Region of Waterloo Waste Management team are celebrating with Garage Glow-Up. Declutter household items and glow up your garage while supporting local organizations at the Waterloo Waste Management Site. Bring your excess clothing, bikes, electronics, and batteries and drop off for free from 9 to 12.

🎃 The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum has a Teen Trick-or-Treat Bash from 7 to 10 pm.

Join the Kitchener-Waterloo Dixieland Jazz Club for live jazz on Saturdays from 1-4 at Ouroboros Sports Lounge, 101 Hazelglen Drive in Kitchener! This Saturday features The Potluck Dixieland Band. Admission only $5 for first timers!

Lucas Stagg is playing the Rabbid Fox at 7:30 pm.

Toronto-based folk trio North Atlantic Drift are playing in Cambridge at Wesley United Church, part of the Wesley PRESENTS - Mill Race Folk Traditions Folk Club series. The music of this dynamic group follows a centuries long tradition of trading music and styles between Ireland, Scotland and Canada’s east coast. The result is a multi-instrumental, multi-Celtic sound that is truly Canadian in its diversity.

KW’s favourite variety show, the Pinch Cabaret, is coming in hot and tangy this month with an unexpected mix of sketch comedy, lofi R’n’B, burlesque, storytelling, drag, country-blues-rock & who knows what else!!! Sat Oct 25 - 8pm | Hepcat Swing Studio - 42 Erb St, Waterloo. Sliding scale tix $5-$30

Fat Scheid & Pink Lemonade Records present the second annual Tri-Cities Goth Punk Prom at The Union KW. Music from Mean Bikini, Quit It!, and Blue Freezie!

The Hub has Odd Whales Birthday and Halloween Bash with Vultures, Falls for the Elderly, Mortrem, I Can’t Remember and Backbone live at 7.

Sunday, October 26

The Union KW has an all-ages show at 2 pm. Check out The Fakesies play Doolittle, costumes encouraged!

Monday, October 27

The Boathouse has trivia hosted by That’s What She Said from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.

Ways to get involved.

The 12th Annual Hockey Helps the Homeless Waterloo Region tournament hits the ice on October 24, giving local players the chance to skate alongside NHL alumni and female pros while raising funds to fight homelessness in our community. Proceeds from the tournament go directly to local partners including House of Friendship, oneROOF Youth Services, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, Starling Community Services, the Cambridge Shelter Corporation, and The Working Centre. I’m donating to my buddy Mike Kirkup, so if you’re looking for someone to donate to, he’s a good choice.

The Big House Party is back in person this year! Join Habitat for Humanity on October 29 at THEMUSEUM for a fun night of drinks, activities, live music by Something’s Always Flying and delicious food! The theme this year is Halloween. Come in costume to be entered in our Best Costume contest for the chance to win a prize, or just come as you are for a great night out! Limited tickets are now available at $60 per person; including dinner, entertainment, a drink ticket, and access to THEMUSEUM exhibits. This fundraising event directly supports Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region’s mission to build safe and affordable homes for families in our community.

What to read.

Metrolinx extending weekend GO Trains to Kitchener (Shelby Knox, CTV Kitchener)

Sweet, savoury snacks big part of Diwali celebrations (Jasmine Mangalaseril, CBC KW)