Access to great park and trails, delicious restaurants, the BEST farmers’ market, and innovative businesses. These are only some of the great aspects of Waterloo Region. On top of everything, the region is home to some amazing events and festivals. We sat down to talk about how lucky we are to live here and the conversation led to our the best events in Waterloo Region. Here’s what we had to say about our favourite local events:
Kitchener Blues Festival
When it is: August 4-7, 2016
Why we love it: First of all it’s a convergence of great music and great people. So you can’t go wrong with that! The Kitchener Blues Festival attracts musicians from all over and brings smooth tunes for people of all ages. The festival is perfect for the whole family because it’s free plus it offers a children’s stage with performances catered to the kids (contributions are accepted, of course, if you’d like to support the festival). It kicks off this week, so we’ll see you there!
Elmira Maple Syrup Festival
When it is: April 2017
Why we love it: Just when the snow has melted, and spring is about to bloom, the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival will set up for fun events, delicious food and a great place for the community to be. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out! Think about sweet syrup and the smell of maple in the air. We love this event because not only can we snack on yummy treats, but there are lots of unique events. One of the newer events is the Pancake Mile (eat a pancake, run a quarter mile, repeat 4 times). It’s a delicious way for the family to get out and experience our community. To learn more about the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, visit the website.
Oktoberfest
When it is: October 7-15, 2016
Why we love it: Outside of Munich, Kitchener is home to the largest Oktoberfest. Canada’s greatest Bavarian festival is a celebration of culture, food, drink and community. Venues set up all over the region and host Oktoberfest experiences for those in Waterloo Region and everyone who travels to participate in the festivities. We love experience the traditions, tasting German cuisine and maybe even putting on a lederhosen or a drindl. Plus it’s great to see the community come together and volunteer to put on such a great event year after year. Fun, food, games, beer and our friends is the perfect formula to a great Oktoberfest outing.
Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival
When it is: July 15-17, 2016
Why we love it: Incredible talent comes to Waterloo Region for the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival. It’s amazing to have so many talented performers right in our city. Having accessible jazz music is a great way to broaden the cultural experiences available to Waterloo Region. We also love this festival because it gets people out and about visiting local business in Uptown Waterloo.
Waterloo Busker Carnival
When it is: August 25-28, 2016
Why we love it: Talk about talent! Buskers from all over the globe come to Waterloo to show off their unique talents. If you haven’t been, this is a great event to take the kids. Watch as performers entertain crowds of people with their many talents including stunts, acrobatics, juggling, devil sticks, swords, fire, comedy, art and so so so much more. Visit the Waterloo Busker Carnival website to find out who this year’s performers will be and where they’re travelling from.
What are your favourite events in Waterloo Region. Visit our Facebook page and let us know!
