What to do.

Tuesday, July 28

King Street in front of Kitchener’s City Hall is transforming into a pedestrian block for a week, filled with free activities, live entertainment, games, workshops, music, and more with King Street Unplugged. Wander, discover, support local businesses, and sit and stay awhile… and yes, it’s FREE to enjoy through Friday, July 31! Activities begin daily at 11 a.m. Check the website for a list of daily activities.

The Princess Twin has Hadestown: The Musical at 1:15 pm.

KPL has a screening of Obsession at 6:15 pm.

Wednesday, July 29

KYnamics Dance & Fitness Studio x The Gaslight District have free line dancing in the District Square from 4 to 6 pm.

August is Emancipation History Month in Canada so it's a good time to learn some local Black history! Stroll Walking Tour's Black history walking tour in Downtown Kitchener might expand your perspective on this city’s early history – which is the point of a good walking tour! Learn the stories and names of early Black settlers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, domestic workers and the Queen's Bush Settlements.

​CivicTechWR is a community group that brings together people from different sectors and backgrounds to actively solve civic challenges in our local community using design and technology. Check out their Hacknight from 5:30 to 8 pm to see how you can get involved.

The Perimeter Institute has a Black Hole Trivia Night at 5 pm. Come early, grab a bite, and get ready to put your knowledge of the universe to the test. Whether you're a science enthusiast or simply curious, everyone is welcome.

What if the best learning didn’t happen in a classroom? Brains on Tap (The Non-Lecture Series) is on Wednesday with Sean Geobey exploring the topic “The Limits of Lectures.” This will be an interactive conversation about why dialogue, curiosity, community and learning together matter today more than ever before.

Rusty Nail Comedy has its PRO AM night for only $5 bucks. 7:30 pm at TWH Social.

Thursday, July 30

The whole region becomes a stadium as the 2026 Ontario Summer Games bring 23 sports and thousands of young athletes to Waterloo Region. Across four days and 23 sports, venues in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the surrounding townships will showcase the talent and sportsmanship of the province's next generation of champions. Cheer on the competitors, support local athletes, or just soak up the energy of one of Ontario's premier multi-sport events — the action kicks off with the Opening Ceremony at University Stadium at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Join pianist Sam Domzella and violinist Sierra Olsthoorn for the fifth concert of the Savon Summer Music 2026 series! This concert will feature works for violin and piano by Dietrich, Schumann, Brahms, Joachim, and Strauss. Admission is free/pay what you can. Knox Presbyterian Church at 7:30 pm.

Runners' Choice Waterloo is teaming up with New Balance and Tailwind Nutrition for this a Demo Night! Choose from our three staggered run groups and get moving! After the run, head over to Kentucky Bourbon & BBQ for food, drinks, and draw prizes!

CAFKA has Big Ideas in Arts and Culture talk with Montreal-based artist, Aman Sandhu at Queen Street Commons. In this lecture, Aman Sandhu moves through anecdotes, music, philosophical texts, images, and encounters drawn from his artistic practice, tracing the associations that continue to shape his work.

Lost Vessel (6 Princess St. - back entrance) has Poetry of Torch (Japan), Gros Enfant Mort (France), and Apple of Basilisk (Toronto) live starting at 7:30 pm. PWYC or $20.

Head to the Boathouse for Beats, Bites & Pints, a laid back evening of great music, good eats, craft beer, cocktails, and waterfront vibes featuring Mike Gatto with Uncle Doobie, Maddie G, and Lord Cheddar from A Crate Night Out spinning Reggae, Hip-Hop and R&B!
 7PM – 10PM.

Farm League Brewing has Name That Tune. 15 seconds of a song, you tell Rell which song it is. Easy enough — or so you’d think. 7 pm!

BeccaHosts has International Artist music bingo at The Rabbid Fox starting at 8 pm.

Friday, July 31

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission. And the lone drifter is Rowdy Roddy Piper. They Live screens at 9:30 pm at the Princess Cinema.

The UW Theatre Student Club presents Next to Normal. Winner of three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Next to Normal is a powerful and deeply moving contemporary musical that explores the realities of family, loss, love, and mental health. 7 pm at the Theatre of the Art at UW.

Ernie Vicente (Comedy Cellar, Comedy Nest) headlines Rusty Nail Comedy starting at 8 pm.

TWB Brewing's Patio Music Series features Play it Forward at 7 pm.

Saturday, August 1

Celebrate Stationary Store Day at Phidon Pens from 10-4 pm. They'll have special paper products designed by Karen Schipper and Arcasian creator Ann Alonso in store!

Kick off the long weekend with a picnic in the park! Join Mind Club for Graze on Saturday from 12 to 1:30 at Waterloo Park. ​Mind Club is a mental exercise club in KW. A small group. A set of exercises. No phones. No AI. Just pen, paper, and your mind.

Yeah baby. The Princess Cinema has a screening of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery at 9:15 pm.

Sunday, August 2

The summer Timeless Vintage Market has 20 awesome vintage vendors from across Ontario, plus a live DJ! 1 to 7 pm in Waterloo Town Square.

Deathproof Fight Club presents DEATHPROOF: 25 to Life at The Union KW. It's live wrestling featuring all your favourite Deathproof crew plus some surprises return to Kitchener. Hosted and roasting by local stand up comedian Emanuel Melo!

Sasha Tease and TWB Brewing invite you to Dogs & Drag, an unforgettable evening of dazzling drag performances, great drinks, and an amazing community, all while supporting two incredible local organizations — The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth and Dog Friendly KW.

22 bands. 6 stages. 1 ticket. That’s right folks, the Long Weekend Band Crawl is back for another massive live music experience in Uptown Waterloo. Every ticket is an all-access pass to see bands like Local Goblin, Girls Against World Domination, One Hundred Moons, and more live! Venues include Revive Karaoke, the Princess Cinema, and Prohibition Warehouse.

Ways to get involved.

Got a passion for live entertainment and creating scroll-stopping content? Centre in the Square wants to collaborate with you for its upcoming season. They're looking for

• Creators of all styles (Reels, TikToks, carousels, photography)
• Storytellers in lifestyle, family, travel, arts & culture, and beyond
• Unique voices eager to share behind-the-scenes moments and show highlights

The application deadline is Friday, August 21, 2026.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest's Sticks & Steins is coming back for another weekend of ball hockey action in downtown Kitchener on October 10 and 11. Assemble your crew and get ready to claim your spot for a weekend of ball hockey and Oktoberfest festivities. Registration now open!

Celebrate International Coworking Day at Catalyst Commons with a free hot desk day pass! Join morning tours, a pop-up lunch with Roux Bakery, and snacks and a social to meet members. If you're a remote worker or business owner looking for a new environment to work from and build your network, this is for you.

What to read.

CELEBRATING THE REGION - And my hat is getting heavier (Alex Bielak, Food for Thought)

khttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/millbank-bakery-google-mistake-9.7281070 (Ieva Lucs, CBC KW)

From ice cream to pumpkins, how Waterloo Region MPPs spend their allowances (Jeff Outhit, The Record)