Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: June 20 to 22
1st weekend of summer is a busy one with festivals, art and celebrations
Summer officially arrives at 10:42 p.m. Friday night which means this is the first weekend of summer and there are many events to enjoy.
Put Up Your Tuques is an all-weekend roller derby event hosted by Tri-City Roller Derby and it will feature teams from Michigan, Montreal, Ottawa and more. Bouts run Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon. Don't forget to bring a chair if you want to sit track-side.
Friday evening, prepare for summer with an evening forest bathing walk at the Huron Natural Area in Kitchener. This is a drop-in and free event and registration is not required, although the instructor will ask people to sign in. The walk will guide people through gentle and mindful strolls and tips on how to take in the natural wonders and absorb the benefits of being in nature.
You can also dance the night away at The Gaslight District in Cambridge Friday night. Momma's Kitchen will feature the band The Underwing. This event, in collaboration with the Freedom Marching Project, is free and there will be other performances throughout the evening.
There's a village-wide sidewalk and garage sale in St. Jacobs on Saturday starting at 6 a.m. Businesses will also have special deals.
There's the Great Parking Lot Market at Centennial Collegiate in Guelph Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be a Big Little Concert Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. The concerts are by the National Youth Orchestra and are free to attend, although donations will be accepted. The concerts also continue next week.
Wellington County Museum and Archives will also host a Strawberry Festival on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will include craft and food vendors, live music, activities like learning about the science of strawberries. The Teddy Bear Caper will also be there so bring along your best stuffie for potential prizes.
It's a busy weekend for the Kitchener Panthers. Friday the team heads to Hamilton to take on the Cardinals, then the Cardinals will be in Kitchener at Jack Couch Park Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday afternoon, the Panthers will host the Guelph Royals.
Before they head to Kitchener on Sunday, the Royals will host the Brantford Red Sox on Saturday evening.
If you need to drive this weekend, here are some local gas prices:
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Saturday
Saturday marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, which coincides with the summer solstice and is a day to celebrate the cultures, languages and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
There are several events happening in Waterloo region and Guelph including sunrise ceremonies, events at the K-W Multicultural Festival, a sharing circle and a powwow.
Neighbours Day
Saturday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Across Kitchener
It's porch parties galore across the city on Saturday for Neighbours Day. There will be free live music at more than 100 pop-up concerts, plus street parties and lots of activities.
This includes the Gruhn Street Porch Party which has live music, art, games and food including a community picnic.
K-W Multicultural Festival
Saturday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Victoria Park, Kitchener
Two days of dancing, music, food and vendor booths will pack the park with various community groups highlighting their cultures. Be sure to bring an appetite (and maybe some takeout containers just in case). This is a free event that has something for everyone.
Art on the Street
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Guelph
Stroll Quebec Street in downtown Guelph and take in the various artists who are part of this juried event. There is everything, from paintings to comics, jewelry to photography, items for children and teacher's gifts.
There are also side events including crafts at the Guelph Public Library downtown branch, Play with Clay will have a hands-on activity in front of their space in St. George's Square and a Mini Maker Market will be held by Children's Art Factory at the Shops At Paisley plaza (in front of Simply Wonderful Toys and Market Fresh).
There is also the Guelph Mural Festival, which will be taking place in the parking lot of the Royal Bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where five artists will transform blank canvases into public art. Once completed, the murals will be installed in locations around downtown Guelph.
Pride Crafternoons
Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Schneider Haus, Kitchener
Celebrate summer and Pride with a rainbow of flowers. Use yarn and cardboard to make colourful flowers. The activity is included in admission to the museum.
Other Pride events this weekend include: A witchy themed festival Friday evening and Saturday afternoon on Gaukel Block in downtown Kitchener, a family Pride breakfast at the Southwest branch of the Kitchener Public Library, a pottery night, board games, comedy show, a Summer Solstice Shindig in Guelph, a drag open stage and more.
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