What's your favorite scary event?

Your TL;WR for October 27 to November 2

Spent an impromptu Friday afternoon at The Humble Lotus in Downtown Kitchener. Just chatting sushi, small business, commercial real estate, and the importance of community.

What to do.

Tuesday, October 27

Public conversations about fairness and belonging today often feature new language, though these conversations were started during the Civil Rights era. In a lecture titled Looking Back to Understand the Present: Black Freedom Struggles and the Long Arc of History, responsibility and learning across generations will be explored. This event will be held at RIM Park October 27 2026 1:30 - 3:00pm and is $10 at the door. This lecture will be delivered by Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor, an associate history professor from the University of Waterloo.

Join the audience at Homer Watson House & Gallery for a chance to receive a live reading from medium Rose DeGiorgio! Rose has dedicated her life to helping others find healing, clarity, and comfort through meaningful connections with Spirit.

Kitchener Public Library has Jessica Hamilton: The Woods at 7 pm. The Woods is a haunting novel about Alice, a frustrated wife and grieving mother whose life is turned upside down when she moves her family into a secluded house sheltered by ancient woods.

Wednesday, October 28

Check out Teen Studio: Ceramic Freestyle Workshop at the Region of Waterloo Library's Elmira Branch from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Presented with the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, your teen can make and paint a small project of your choice. An instructor from the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery will demonstrate basic hand building techniques and show you how to combine simple forms with sculptural elements to create a unique and functional piece of art!

The Region of Waterloo Library in partnership with Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington presents Supporting Brain Health Together at the Bloomingdale Branch from 6:30 to 8 pm. Janine Wilson of The Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington, who will share evidence-based strategies for maintaining brain health.

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

Rusty Nail Comedy has its Pro/Am night at TWH Social starting at 7:30. Only $5!

Mariza is back at Centre in the Square following sold-out shows across Europe and Canada. The Mozambique-born, Lisbon-raised sensation has quickly become one of the most acclaimed Portuguese artists in the world. Experience her unique blend of tradition and modernity in the region’s premier entertainment destination.

Thursday, October 29

The KW Library of Things has an Introduction to Bystander Intervention Workshop from 6 to 8:30 pm. The workshop will provide participants with concrete tools, including the 5 D’s of bystander intervention, to use if you see someone causing harm.

This workshop will be led by an expert who has facilitated hundreds of bystander intervention and allyship workshops with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region.

Catch a screening I Am the Magpie River at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery. The documentary explores the historic 2021 milestone as the river became the first ecosystem in Canada to be granted legal personhood and inherent rights. The Magpie River in Québec’s Côte-Nord region is one of the last great rivers to flow freely in this part of the world.

The Region of Waterloo Library has World Wildlife Photography with Paul Gains at the Ayr Branch starting at 7 pm. Paul Gains has been a full-time freelance journalist for more than 30 years. In that time his work has appeared in Time, the New York Times, Outside Magazine, Canadian Geographic, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, The Narwhal and hundreds of other periodicals around the world.

Renowned illustrator Jackie Morris visits KPL to discuss her latest collaboration with author Robert Macfarlane, The Book of Birds. 7 pm.

Imagine independent reading time in 2nd grade–but with ambient techno, communal archiving, and an exhibit of Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks and inventions to reflect on your personal duty to genius. That's the Reading Rave, a literary salon meets underground rave, a place to read in public with strangers under soft lights, and beautiful sounds. Bring a book, sip a mocktail, and discover aleph one reading and research software. 7 pm at THEMUSEUM.

Wave Maker Craft Brewing has music bingo at 7:30 pm.

The Rabbid Fox has Halloween music bingo from 8 to 10 pm.

Fever Dream Comedy is bringing Girl-o-Ween to Whoopsie Daisy Drinks from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. They'll have stand-up, tarot readings, a costume contest and live music from the band Final Girl.

Friday, October 30

It's planning season, and you're being asked to commit to next year's headcount and budget while this quarter's plan has already changed twice. The KW chapter of the Engineering Leadership Community has its KW Roundtable: Planning for 2027 from 8 am to 10 am at Holly's Cafe.

Queer and trans youth (13-18) across the region are invited to the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery for a free, casual drop-in creative space on the fourth Friday of every month at the Queer Youth Art Club. This initiative is led by queer and trans facilitators, offering a brave space for teens to connect with their queer peers over creative interests and refreshments. Bring your own project or use our supplies to create artworks of your own

Grand River Opera Presents: Operatic Spooktacular at the Registry Theatre on October 30, 31, and November 1. Host Ben Gorodetsky (Pinch Cabaret) will guide you through some of the most haunting tales in the operatic canon this Halloween season. Come hear our soloists' soaring voices through the intimate space of The Registry Theatre. Accompanied by Charmaine Fopoussi, musical director from the piano; staged by Bridget Ramzy; and featuring the Grand River Opera Community Chorus.

The night before Halloween is made for mischief! Join friends and neighbours in your costumes at Homer Watson House & Gallery, doing free crafts then parading into the neighbourhood on a grand rumpus to pave the way for Halloween! 5 to 7 pm.

Good Co. Productions presents A Halloween Special: Volume 2 featuring the one and only Disco Daddies of Funk—The Free Label, alongside Guelph's fan-favourite funk group Royal City Rhythm, the incredible DJ SUMMERR, and a special opening set from local group Better Than Nothing. Conrad Centre in Downtown Kitchener at 7 pm.

The KW Famous Creative Cafe presents Famous Fridays! This week, check out Ayesha Ahad, KW’s rising R&B voice. Her ballads are soft, sultry and built on real stories of heartbreak and healing. $10 or free for members. Pizza from Blondies, too.

BeccaHosts has a Halloween Games Night at Rural Roots Brewing at 7:30 pm. Halloween-themed trivia and music bingo!!

Grand Surf has a 30th anniversary of Scream celebration with themed drinks, costumes, and music.

Saturday, October 31

The businesses of Downtown Kitchener and the DTK BIA invite you to experience Día de los Muertos. Back for its fourth year, Dia de Los Muertos features music, food, culture, and dance as we welcome those we loved and lost back for one evening. Light a candle on an ofrenda, enjoy live mariachi music, and experience DTK like never before.

The Downtown Cambridge Halloween Hunt is happening from 11 am to 2 pm! Start your trick-or-treat adventure at The Mule (60 Main Street) to pick up your map, and make a stop at the Cambridge Farmers Market for even more Halloween activities. Once you’ve finished trick-or-treating, come visit the team in The Gaslight District across the river for their free outdoor Halloween Movie Marathon from 12:30 pm to 11 pm, including Halloweentown at 12:30, Casper at 2, Ghostbusters at 4, Hocus Pocus at 7:30 and Beetlejuice at 9:15.

Kevin Christopher (The Most Dreaded Comedy Show, The Man from Philadelphia, Tim Simms Second City Award nominee) hosts a Halloween night Rusty Nail Comedy show at TWH Social starting at 7:30 pm.

The Princess Twin has Ken Russell's The Devils (1971) at 9:45 pm. "In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier's protection of the city of Loudun from the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu is undermined by a sexually repressed nun's accusation of witchcraft."

Over at the Princess Original, check out The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 7 and 9:30 pm.

Back at Wave Maker, they're having a Halloween party with The Flying Dutchmen playing live. Prize for best costume, name that tune, special Halloween playlist between sets.

Tapestry Hall in Cambridge has the ghost hosts with the most this Halloween for a devilish good time of an evening at the Monster Bash. Step through the looking glass into a ghostly setting filled with eerie décor, chilling beats, and frightful fun.

Rock out with your fiendish friends at Maxwell’s Concerts & Events in Waterloo as they host Heavy Metal Halloween on Oct. 31. They’ll have Shadoeccult, Nepenthe and Faulty Rivals live on stage with a special celebration of Faulty Rival’s brand new album.

Block 3 Brewing has a Halloween Dance Party with DJ Palmer from 6 to 10 pm. No cover!

Jane Bond has its Halloween Party with Blood Libel and Sylent Syd starting at 9 pm.

Sunday, November 1

Have you ever dreamed of making art you can wear? Now’s your chance to let your creativity shine and bring your ideas to life by designing a button of your own! Create a piece of art using a variety of shapes, colours and materials at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery's Family Sunday workshop.

Birdie-thon, a men’s health fundraiser is Sunday, November 1. They're taking over Badlands Golf Company from 9 am to 8 pm to raise funds for Movember. This endurance golf challenge will result in thousands of holes walked and played to raise awareness and funds. The funds raised help with not only vital research but programs aimed to break down stigma in the male community that lead to men dying too young. Come out anytime sun up to sun down and support by playing, cheering on, or even caddying

Direct from Prague, the Zemlinsky Quartet plays the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall at Laurier at 7 pm.

Monday, November 2

The Margins Club has a quiet reading night at Midnight Run Cafe from 6 to 8 pm.

The Princess Cinema and Spectrum bring you a Rainbow Film Club screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar at 6:45 pm.

Since she stepped down from CBC's As It Happens, Carol Off has been on the road talking to Canadians about their country and listening to their questions about its future. Off visits KPL to discuss her latest book, True Patriot Love, at 7 pm.

Ways to get involved.

Trevor Clare Art has taken over the Square Peg retail space at Carl Zehr Square in Downtown Kitchener. From now through November 14, check out Trevor's art and apparel with something for your KW-loving friends and family on your Christmas list!

The Keep Your Head Up Foundation is hosting a local to Waterloo Region fundraiser in collaboration with Stratford's very own Rhéo Thompson Candies to sell their holiday exclusive hand crafted sweet treats. 100% of the proceeds will be used to support KYHF's Waterloo Region Community Concussion Education Program teaching youth to young adults about the holistic effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries, specifically concussions to young students and athletes, and their local in-person recreational support programs for young adults in the Waterloo Region as well their our virtual national support program!

Learn more and order some chocolate

Friend of the newsletter Evan sent this last week. We all know we don't talk about mental health enough, and this group is working to change that, especially for men who never talk about mental health. Check out Men Who Walk & Talk, it's a no agenda, no cameras, no pressure walk through some of the area's most beautiful trails.