Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: July 18 to 20
Several festivals, free concerts, baseball games and outdoor theatre makes this a very busy weekend
This is one of the busiest weekends of the summer so far when it comes to events happening in this area.
The Kitchener Ribfest and Craft Beer Show starts at noon Friday and runs afternoons and evenings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event in Kitchener's Victoria Park is free, but donations are accepted for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Elora Community Theatre will present Shakespeare in the Park starting Friday night with The Merry Wives of Windsor. Performances are in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts.
In Guelph at McCrae House, it's Backyard Theatre season. We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow is the title of the performance by Mike Ford, who is described by the museum as a solo troubadour opera. The piece was commissioned by Guelph Museums to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation in Europe. If you can't make it this weekend, the show also runs July 24 to 26 with afternoon and evening performances.
Sunset Sessions in Vogelsang Green is a free concert in downtown Kitchener. Music starts at 7 p.m. and you won't know who is performing until they step up to the mic.
The Scotland Yard Hockey Classic to support kids cancer care will be held at The Boardwalk in Waterloo with 96 teams taking part. People can show up and cheer on their favourite teams and just enjoy a day of street hockey. The day benefits the Waterloo Region Health Network Foundation.
Latin Music on Main happens in Galt on Saturday evening. Beginner dance lessons are at 6 p.m. with dancing from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Kitchener Panthers are on the road this weekend. They're in Welland Friday and Barrie on Saturday.
The Guelph Royals are home Saturday night and host the Brantford Red Sox.
If you need to drive, here are some local gas prices:
Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival
Friday 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Uptown Waterloo
This free, outdoor festival in uptown Waterloo has everything a jazz music lover would want, plus community vendors and food.
Headlining Friday night is Monkey House and on Saturday it's Travis Knights. Plus check out the youth ensemble, Freddie's Freeloaders, the Christine Jensen Quartet and much more.
Bonus: Hillside Festival
Friday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Guelph Lake Conservation Area
This annual festival is back and along with a very long list of musicians on three different stages, there are workshops, vendors, food, children's area and activity areas.
LISTEN | Hillside's artistic director Sam Baijal offers a preview of this year's festival:
Amanda Keeles
Sunday at 7 p.m.
Forbes Park, 16 Kribs St., Cambridge
Cambridge is holding a number of Summer Live events and this weekend, it's a free concert from London, Ont., country singer-songwriter Amanda Keeles.
Bring a lawn chair, some snacks and be prepared to enjoy an evening of music.
AfroVibes Festival
Friday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m and 10 p.m. to late
Deb 1880 in Waterloo, Carl Zehr Square in front of Kitchener's city hall, Rare Nightclub in Waterloo
This festival kicks off Friday night with a panel discussion talking about business and the creative economy locally.
On Saturday, the festival takes over the space in front of Kitchener's city hall with a free day of music, workshops, food, fashion, games and lots of interactive activities for people of all ages. There's also an after party with DJ Neptune later in the evening, which requires tickets.
WATCH | Sights and sounds from AfroVibes Festival in Kitchener in 2024:
Cambridge Scottish Festival
Friday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Churchill Park, Cambridge
The festival gets underway with the Celtic sip and shop Friday night, which has vendors set up, there's live music and watch swords clash in a battle performance.
Saturday will see various pipe, drum, band and dancing competitions and performances, a children's glen, the heritage area and live music in the beer tent.
Fitness in the Forest
Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Stanley Park Conservation Area, Kitchener
This is a resident-led project that is supported through the City of Kitchener's Love My Hood program. The trail through the park now has signs that offer some additional suggestions on exercises that can be done to get even more out of an evening stroll.
A grand opening celebration takes place Saturday with some refreshments and giveaways, but the trail is now open to anyone who wants to use it.
LISTEN | New fitness trail opens up in Kitchener:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
