Kitchener Blues Festival Recap

The Kitchener Blues Festival brought incredible energy to downtown this year and I loved every moment of it. The weekend was packed with live music, community spirit and those little surprises that make this festival such a favourite in Kitchener Waterloo.

The festivities started with the annual Fundraising Concert which helps keep the weekend portion of the festival free for everyone. This event is powered by the support of 250 volunteers and it truly shows. The evening featured Bill Durst, Sass Jordan and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. At one point I noticed a random balloon floating the crowd and it instantly put a smile on my face. It was the perfect reminder of how joyful this festival always feels.

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Throughout the weekend I became your unofficial tour guide to all three stages. I spent time highlighting the talented performers from Grand River Blues Camp which is part of the Grand River Blues Society. Their presence at the festival is always inspiring and it is wonderful to see young musicians getting real stage experience.

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Saturday kicked off with a standout performance by Isy Aboagye. She took the stage with Caleb Khuu and the audience loved every minute. Isy is a graduate of Grand River Blues Camp and watching her shine at the festival felt like a full circle moment.

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Later in the day I headed over to Carl Zehr Square where King Snakes featuring Logan Staley were performing. It was a great reminder of how many artists bring their best to this festival every year.

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Sunday morning began with one of my favourite traditions. The Gospel Breakfast. Only at the Kitchener Blues Festival can you enjoy breakfast served by Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and then listen to award winning artists including Gavin Hope who has performed in The Lion King. This annual event is always a highlight and it is absolutely not to be missed.

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The entire weekend was filled with music, community and those unforgettable moments that make the Kitchener Blues Festival such a beloved tradition in our region. I am already looking forward to next year’s event.

Please check all the links listed as info tends to change without our knowledge. We also suggest you go through the full list as some activities require you to pre-register and many have limited spaces. Dates/Times and Prices Vary.

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The top part of our list is for ONGOING EVENTS (daily/weekly events) and further down you can see the MONTH SPECIFIC EVENTS

ONGOING Events

Attractions ONTARIO coupons for https://attractionsontario.ca/coupons

Bingemans https://bingemans.com/entertainment_home.php

Skyzone Kitchener https://www.skyzone.com/ca-kitchener

Funvilla https://funvilla.ca

THEMUSEUM https://themuseum.ca/families-kids/

Early Years https://earlyyearsinfo.ca

KPL Calendar https://kplca.evanced.info/signup/

WPL Calendar http://calendar.wpl.ca/eventcalendar.asp?lib=all

Region of Waterloo Library Calendar https://www.rwlibrary.ca/en/programs-events/virtual-programs.aspx

Cambridge Libraries Calendar https://ideaexchange.org/programs-events

City of Waterloo Museum Activities https://www.waterloo.ca/en/things-to-do/city-of-waterloo-museum.?_mid_=1764

Region of Waterloo Museum (DOON) events https://www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/en/index.aspx#

Joseph Schneider Haus events https://www.schneiderhaus.ca/en/index.aspx

Woodside National Historic Site Self Guided Tours Thursday and Fridays https://www.facebook.com/WoodsideNHS/photos/a.797717783604573/4705277552848557

Castle Kilbride in Baden https://www.wilmot.ca/en/living-here/Events-and-Exhibits.aspx

Wilmot Family Resource Centre https://wilmotfamilyresourcecentre.wordpress.com/events/calendar

Kitchener Market Events Calendar https://calendar.kitchenermarket.ca/default/Month

Breastfeeding Buddies Events Calendar https://www.breastfeedingbuddies.com/neve-home/about-services/news-events/

Grand River Conservation Areas https://www.grandriver.ca/en/outdoor-recreation/Things-to-do.aspx

Infant and Child Studies group is a group of researchers interested in better understanding child cognition: so how kids learn! All our studies are designed as games for children to play while we observe how they respond to various toys, videos or sounds. The activities are fun for the kids, and help us to understand concepts like how children learn new words, when children can begin to understand math, or what learning strategies kids use to understand new concepts. We deliver studies in person, as well as online and in take home formats.

Lab Website: http://uwaterloo.ca/infant-and-child-studies-group/

Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/infantstudiesgroup/

Have a new child? Sign them up too: https://uwaterloo.ca/infant-and-child-studies-group/sign

Early Childhood Music @ WLU - FREE
https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-music/laurier-academy-of-music-and-arts/group-programs-and-camps/early-childhood-music.html

University of Guelph. part of the Child Emotion and Mental Health Lab, where we research ways to support families of children experiencing mental health challenges.

The Child Emotion and Mental Health Lab at the University of Guelph is currently running an Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) caregiver group (so children don't attend the group itself).

This group is aimed at supporting caregivers with children aged 7 to 15 who are experiencing anxiety, depression, or behavioural difficulties, with our next group starting at the beginning of March. Fees for therapy are on sliding scale starting at $0 depending on financial need.

If interested in learning more, please fill out this brief, secure survey with your name, email, and phone number, and we will be in touch!

https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/.../SV_bjQ1DUN4knvg3oq

Parent and Tot Drop in on Fridays at Bridgeport Community Centre 10am-11am

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2369595749/posts/10161329086425750

Dog Friendly Events https://www.dogfriendlykw.com/events

University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum info https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/

University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Walking Tours - Various locations https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/walking-tours

CANADA STRONG PASS INFO

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-pass.html

FREE Art Cart Saturday and Sundays 1-4pm @ Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery

https://www.facebook.com/theclayandglass/posts/pfbid025DGcr5GRrL3deFLqWZX7kbvXfs8dfYTht2Tao5hKcyT35Tdmcqda49xDRVa4sdgl

OMG Food Trucks https://www.facebook.com/omgfoodtrucks

SUNDAY FAMILY MOVIES @ KPL Downtown Kitchener

https://kpl.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=276124

Guided Nature Walks in Kitchener - scroll down at link for various days/locations https://www.kitchener.ca/en/parks-and-trails/kitchener-natural-areas-program.aspx

Kitchener Panthers Home Games

https://www.cbl.ca/schedule?team=kitchener-panthers&view=calendar&filter=home

Summer Play Days @ Indigo

https://www.indigo.ca/collections/summer-play-days

Sundays - Footy Friends Soccer

https://www.footyfriends.org/upcoming-events

Sundays Cambridge Summer Live

https://www.cambridge.ca/recreation-culture/events-festivals/cambridge-summer-live

Sundays Walk Queen Events Hespeler Village Cambridge

https://www.hespelervillagebia.ca/walkqueen

Sunday afternoon Family Karaoke @ Zaz Bistro Cambridge by Gemstone Entertainment

https://www.facebook.com/groups/55218356526/posts/10161051734576527/

Sundays - Donkey Sanctuary of Canada Open Days

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedonkeysanctuaryofcanada/1994644

Sunday Night Car Shows @ Stratford Mall starting May 17

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10236802685061875&set=g.133422695575629

Mondays - Roller Skating at Kitchener City Hall https://www.instagram.com/p/DY8nC1onFq_/?hl=en&img_index=1

Tuesdays - Family Splash Jam at Kitchener City Hall h3 ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DY8nC1onFq_/?hl=en&img_index=1

Toonie Tuesdays @ Bingemans Funworx https://www.facebook.com/2031872177359092/photos/p.2031872200692423/2031872200692423/?type=

Tuesday Night Car Shows @ Country Pizza Stratford

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10236802636140652&set=gm.1268014952116392&idorvanity=133422695575629

Wednesdays Cambridge Summer Live

https://www.cambridge.ca/recreation-culture/events-festivals/cambridge-summer-live

Thursdays in July and August Kid Friendly Yoga with StayLocalKW

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kid-friendly-yoga-tickets-1991408086193

Thursday Movies in the Park

https://www.waterloo.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-events/movies-in-the-park

Thursday Castle Concert Series @ Castle Kilbride Baden starting June 25 https://www.wilmot.ca/recreation-and-culture/castle-kilbride/events-and-exhibit

Thursday Car Shows @ Grand River Raceway

https://www.facebook.com/groups/707324797953222/posts/1214549533897410

Thursdays Hot Summer Nights Guelph

https://guelph.ca/2026/06/hot-summer-nights-returns-for-the-2026-season

Fridays Walk Queen Events Hespeler Village Cambridge

https://www.hespelervillagebia.ca/walkqueen

Various Weekends each month - The JAM Club

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1141410471327889&set=g.2369595749

Ventures Wintergard https://www.facebook.com/reel/1973129533312150

Kids Bowl Free @ Bingemans Kingpin

https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_id=6911&fbclid=IwY2xjawRs80lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFFRGFCVE9QYkkyekRhZ05xc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhnToirG_wFN_JriY9QXzSO8pfhCNo1nvoSQbT-_uZ3W0m-DmCPk683X3tvw_aem_Bm5YltrJDVw2nSAvZwRYCg

ONGOING AUGUST 2026

Something Rotten! Stratford Festival

https://stufftodowithyourkidsinkw.blogspot.com/2026/06/welcome-to-renaissance-of-something.html

GUYS AND DOLLS Stratford Festival

https://stufftodowithyourkidsinkw.blogspot.com/2026/06/lady-luck-has-rolled-into-stratford.html

Kids Bowl Free

https://www.kidsbowlfree.com

Sorry... I'm Not Sorry Drayton Entertainment (until August 22)

https://stufftodowithyourkidsinkw.blogspot.com/2026/07/neil-aitchison-returns-as-rcmp.html

Magical Doonie Day Video info

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 - 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝖺 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖧𝖠𝖬𝖣𝖣 𝗆𝖺𝗀𝗂𝖼, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗆𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝖳𝖵! 𝖫𝖾𝗍’𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗀𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗀𝖾𝗍 (𝖼𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗎𝗆𝖾𝗌, 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗉𝗌, 𝗌𝗂𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌) 𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝗈𝖿 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾 - 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆!