As always please
check all links provided as times, dates, venues and registration information
often changes without our knowledge.
WE ALSO SUGGEST
GOING THROUGH THE FULL LIST BECAUSE SOME EVENTS MAY REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION.
First is list of ongoing
events followed by our Monthly Blast
Make sure you are
following us!
Ongoing Events
University of Waterloo
Research Studies
Research Studies
@ UofW Contact Lens Research
Currently the top
contact lens research centre in the world is continuing to accomplish great
things through research done right here at UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO. The studies
are non-invasive and all of our participants are compensated at $20/hr for
their time and often get free contact lenses or glasses. Right they are
recruiting 7-11 year olds to participate in a 3yr study cclr.uwaterloo.ca
Centre for Ocular
Research and Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo and is recruiting for a new scientific study
(ID: CYPRESS) that examines how to treat nearsightedness in children aged 6-9.
Participants will receive up to $690 for 9 visits over 3 years, and also
receive a free pair of spectacle frames to keep.
If you are
interested in participating, please call for more details or to book your
appointment at 519-888-4742. Please
provide the study ID “CYPRESS” when you call. You will be provided with
all relevant study information prior to study enrollment and you are under no
obligation to participate.
Infant Studies
Group
If you’re looking
for something new and fun to do with your child, we would love to have you
participate in one of our studies! Help us discover how children learn about
language and the world around them. Typical studies involve a one time, half
hour visit. You stay with your child the entire time and receive a small gift
for participating as well! Please contact us or visit our website for more
information. We hope to see you soon!
Social
Development Lab
Our lab is currently looking for children
to help with our research! Our lab looks at personality and the social world
for young children. Our study involves parents and their children coming into
our lab and answering a few questions. Kids get to play some fun computer games
as well! The typical sessions take around 2 hours and parents are always able
to observe their child during the social interaction tasks. In appreciation of
your time, children get a small gift. To learn more about our lab and what we
do, check out our website! Follow us on Facebook and twitter to keep up to date
with our fun!
Twitter: SDLab_UW
Facebook: Social Development Lab
Waterloo
Website:
uwaterloo.ca/social-development-lab
TEL: 519-888-4567 ext.38775
Email: sdl@uwaterloo.ca
Youth Drum and
Bugle Corps
Great program for
youths in the KWC area. Our participants come not only from Cambridge, but
Waterloo, Kitchener, Brantford, and surrounding areas as well. We are not the
Scouts. We are not the Army, Navy or Sea Cadets. We are the only Youth Drum and
Bugle Corps in the area!
No experience
required and we have a modest membership fee ($20 per year). We provide a
unique musical education program that not only teaches kids to play music or
perform colour guard, we instruct them how to march, perform and basically just
have fun! Check us out on our website: www.scouthouseband.com/cadets
FULL MONTH EVENT
CALENDARS
These places have
so many events each month, it is better to just look at them individually
Daily
The Creekside
Playground is open on Sundays and is available to the general public Monday
through Thursday 9:30am-11:30am at various seasons throughout the year. You do not need to be a Creekside attender to
enjoy the use of the playground.
Admission is
free! Aside from regular play, special
events/classes are offered throughout the week.
This is a great place for your children to play and for you to meet new
friends.
Choose
from 2 locations. Begins Mid September see link for info
660 Conservation Drive,
Waterloo.
1356 Weber St East,
Kitchener.
Calvary Church
Cambridge Indoor Playground
What: We are an indoor
playground located directly in the church building which opens its doors to our
community to allow a safe and friendly environment.
Ages: Suited to infant/crawlers,
toddlers and pre-school children.
Cost: $1.00 minimum per head. This
helps reduce the cost of regular cleaning and new toys.
Hours: Monday – Thursdays 9:30
– 11:30 am.
Closed: Fridays all season and
Holiday Mondays
Schedule: September to June
(closed for the summer months)
Special
Activities:
Twice a week there will be different activities offered, from Play-doh Play to
arts and crafts, the activities are geared toward preschool aged children.
Daycare
Workers: We
will be opening the playground every Tuesday for any caregiver that operates a
daycare. If you are not a daycare worker, you are still MORE than welcome to
attend on Tuesday! Every day we have coffee, tea, juice and snacks available
for purchase.
Sleep And Your
New Baby Waterloo Region Sessions
(various dates
and times)
Session Details:
The purpose of
the session is help families understand and respond to their baby’s sleep
patterns and language, which will in turn strengthen family relationships and
contribute to achieving optimal child health.
The 1.5 hour
session will be offered weekly at all three Ontario Early Years Main sites with
a mix of daytime, evening and weekend timings
Earth Sciences
Museum @ University Of Waterloo
Conestoga Rovers
Learning Centre (the “Dino pit”) open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
The museum’s main
atrium, mining tunnel, Great Lakes fountain and stunning mineral exhibits open
evenings Monday to Friday and weekends from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Mondays
Parent
and Tot Art for Babies 18 mo and younger 1-2pm at Downtown Community Centre
FREE EVENT
Tots
at Play (Mondays and Fridays)
Unleash
the kids with toys galore! Unrestricted floor space allows for tons of creative
play and action games.
For
newborn - 6Y. Caregivers must supervise children at all times.
Mondays and Fridays, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Manulife
Financial Soccer & Sports Centre in Bechtel Park, 185 Bridge Street,
Waterloo
Tuesdays
·
Parent & tot
drop in at the Carmel New Church and School gym will be running Tuesday
mornings. There will be ride-on toys, balls, slides and lots of space to run
around.
Our gym opens into our nursery room
where babies and little ones can play with toys or do a craft.
Tuesdays from 10-11:45 @ 40 Chapel
Hill Dr. Kitchener
Ages 0-5
Free to attend
Join us and bring a friend!
We request that parents bring their
own children to in order to maintain a balanced program https://www.facebook.com/events/2969967333020159
Colour Our
Community @ KPL Central (Downtown) every 1st and 3rd
Tuesday of the month from 2pm-4pm
Art
can be a tool for increasing social connections and fostering community
inclusion and integration. Colour Our Community aims to make connections
between those who are often marginalized and members of the community at large
in a comfortable, accessible venue where all are welcome to explore their
creativity and experience connection through art. Colour Our Community is a
partnership with Kitchener Public Library and Circle of Friends.
Nature Play @
Kingsdale Park 3pm-6pm
Wednesdays
Nature Play @
Gzowski Park 3pm-6pm
Thursdays
A FREE art program every Thursday! -
Thursday from 11 a.m. - noon, ARTSHINE will be hosting a parent and tot
program at the Kitchener Market - a program for children and their parents.
Participate in a fun, unique, hands-on creative art experience!
AFTER the program, be sure to stop by one of our market vendors for a healthy, kid-friendly lunch
with lots of options for adults too.
Space is limited! Reserve a spot now for the ARTSHINE programs on Thursday by
calling 226-647-2777, or emailing ARTSHINE.
Free Community Music Jam Session (ages 16+)
Fridays
Tots
at Play (Mondays and Fridays)
Unleash
the kids with toys galore! Unrestricted floor space allows for tons of creative
play and action games.
For
newborn - 6Y. Caregivers must supervise children at all times.
Mondays and Fridays, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Manulife
Financial Soccer and Sports Centre in Bechtel Park, 185 Bridge Street, Waterloo
Saturdays
Family Favourites
$2.99 Films @ Cineplex
Home Depot
Workshops 2nd Saturday of Each Month
Best Places to Toboggan
in Kitchener Waterloo
Where To Skate
DECEMBER E-BLAST
Always check the provided links for updated info, as
events may change without our knowledge
Begins Nov 28 (various dates and times until Jan 4)
Glow Toronto (about an hour from Kitchener Waterloo)
Begins Nov 29 (various dates and times until Dec 8)
Walk of Lights this Christmas at
K-W Christian Fellowship. During this FREE 20 minute tour, view the tallest
Christmas tree in the city and walk through the 6000 light dome that opens unto
various live scenes of Christmas. Have your children talk to the shepherds and
pet the sheep. The Walk of Lights ends by opening unto a live Nativity Scene
with an angelic choir.
Various weekends in December
Santa Trains from Waterloo Central Railway
Now until Dec 11
Letters to Santa at Kitchener
Market
We are happy to be a drop off location for letters to Santa. Use
our special Santa mailbox and your child will get to see their name on Santa's
nice list (only first names will be used, for privacy). The mailbox can be
found at the Market's office window (near The Caribbean Kitchen) and the 'Nice
List' will be located near the Marketplace. Letters will be accepted until
Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Wonders of Winter
Opening night
OPENING NIGHT: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 30th, 5:30PM!!!
Wonders of Winter kicks off its 2019 season on Saturday, 30
November at 5:30pm, with fireworks and trolley rides. Join us for the “throwing
of the switch”!
Parking is tight, so consider taking the ION right to our entrance
gates off Seagram Drive; there is a station in Waterloo Park. Wander up to the
Park Inn, where the festivities will be happening. Info at https://www.wondersofwinter.ca/ Wonders
of Winter continues until New Year’s Eve at Waterloo Park.
Dec 4
Join the YW
Art Factory at Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre at 7:30 PM for the big
reveal of the mural we've created! There will be free food and some art
activities to try out!
Contact:
Kaylin Epp
Phone:
519-998-2537
Contact
Email:
Dec 5
Tree of Hope Radiothon @ the Family Centre
The Noteworthy Singers performance and Toy Drive
Skate with Santa @ Cambridge Centre Arena
Jolly old St. Nick will join us again for our annual Skate With
Santa. Santa will strap on his skates and hop on the ice from
6:10pm-7:30pm on Thursday December 5, 2019.
*Regular rules and rates apply
*Maximulm capacity of 200 skaters, arrive early to avoid
disappointment.
Dec 5 to 8
Christkindl Market at Kitchener City Hall
Dec 6
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Friday, December 6, 2019 | 7:30 – 8:30pm
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A dramatic reading of Charles
Dickens' A Christmas Carol, featuring Hon. Karen Redman Regional Chair,
Region of Waterloo, Police Chief Bryan Larkin Waterloo Region Police
Service, Eugenia Schatz Chair St. Peter's Church Council, Bishop Michael
Pryse Eastern Synod,Hon. Daiene Vernile CTV Province Wide Host, Retired.
Music by Brad Moggach and Tim Moher.
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7:30 – 8:30pm
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There is also an audience
Christmas singalongs.
The cost is $10 dollars at the door plus refreshments.
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Dec 6 to 8
Uptown Holiday Hop ‘N Shop
December 6-8, 2019
Start your holiday shopping in Uptown Waterloo! Come on up for the
2nd annual Official Christmas Tree Lighting, Mistletoe Lane, visits with Santa,
Santa Paws, special promotions at uptown businesses and more
Dec 7
Cineplex Community Day FREE Holiday Movies beginning at 9am
Cambridge Seniors’ Choir @ David Duward Centre
Cambridge at 1pm
Suzuki
Waterloo Holiday Concert @ Kitchener Market
Sing
along to holiday music with the Suzuki Talent Education of Waterloo group
happening just outside the Marketplace. Accepting donations to the Food Bank of
Waterloo Region.
Intensely
Irish Dancers @ Kitchener Market
Sure
to delight and entertain everyone with traditional Irish dancing set to holiday
music. Performing on the upper level of the market, this group of local
dancers will get you in the festive spirit!
Mark
your calendar for Star’s Winter Open House on Saturday, December 7th.
Morning
classes will run normally, and open house attendees are welcome to join in for
free throughout the event.
Santa
will be in the studio from 9:45 to 11:45am.
There
will be minute-to-win-it style games and activities as well... AND A HOT
CHOCOLATE BAR‼️🍫🥛☕️
Any
questions, please call the studio 519-886-8600
Candyland in Cambridge
Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Central Park, 615 King Street East
Central Park transforms into a place of candy and
magic. Don’t miss this full day jam packed with live entertainment, interactive
games, a giant ice slide and enough photo opportunities to fill anyone's social
media pages. Candyland is a great holiday activity for families with young
children. The best part is admission is free!
What’s happening at Candyland
Horse Drawn Trolley Rides through Downtown Preston
Meet Santa and Mrs Claus - don't forget your camera!
Warm-Up Zone & Crafts in Knox Church with Idea
Exchange
RBC Christmas Truck
Face Painting
Interactive games and activities
Food trucks (Pit Stop Grill, Beavertails &
Kiltie Mini Donuts)
Schedule of live entertainment:
Schedule of live entertainment
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Entertainment
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Times
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10:00 to 10:20 am & 10:30 to 10:50 am
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11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 to 12:30 pm
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1:00 to 1:30 pm & 2:00 to 2:30 pm
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Sammy Duke: The One-Man-Band
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3:00 to 3:30 pm & 4:00 to 4:30 pm
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Festival Light Feature
Take a walk through the interactive light displays in
Central Park during the month of December.
Christmas Fantasy Opening Night in Victoria Park Kitchener
Bring the whole family out for
some holiday cheer! View the spectacular display of festive lights that adorn
Victoria Park’s buildings, trees and bridges.
5:30-8 p.m. - Activities on Roos
Island, Victoria Park
6 p.m. - Lights will be turned on
in Victoria Park
Enjoy music, crafts and
free hot chocolate, Santa, reindeer & more
Dec 7 and 8
Santa and his favourite reindeer at Meadow Acres Garden Centre
10am-4pm (Petersburg)
Live History Christmas @ Woodside Historic Site beginning at 1pm each day
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December 7, 2019 and December 8, 2019
various times between 6 to 7:30pm
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Join us at Elmira Pentecostal
Assembly for our Annual Live Outdoor Christmas Pageant. Come and
enjoy the Christmas story with live animals and a full cast.
Please dress appropriately for this outdoor event. Parking available
at Foodland and PIB across the street from the church. Shuttle bus run to
the church for each event.
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Dec 8
Christmas Open House @ McDougall Cottage Cambridge 1-4pm
It’s our chance to thank you for another
unforgettable year and wish you all the best for the holiday season. We’d love
it if you would stop in this afternoon to join us for a cup of cheer, a few
tasty treats, plenty of Scottish hospitality, and live music from 1 to 3:30p.m.
by PG Tips (aka Gwen Potter (fiddle) and Paul Morris (melodeon).
In addition to enjoying some holiday cheer, kids
will be having tons of fun crafting holiday decorations.
Dec 9
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Monday, December 9, 2019 | 7:30 – 8:30pm
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Concert with the Ceremonial
Band of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Free Will Offering to
Support Canadian Foodgrains Bank
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Dec 11
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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 |
7:30 – 8:30pm
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The Waterloo County Teachers’
Choir (WCTC) invites you to "Celebrate the Season", on Wednesday
December 11th at 7:30pm, at Benton Street Baptist Church.
Our 100-voice choir will present a captivating evening of choral music,
ranging from 15th century poems through to modern carols. WCTC is
directed by Jane Schultz-Janzen and accompanied by Michel Allard, and for
this special night will be joined by several guest instrumentalists.
Tickets are $15.00; free for children under 12. Available from choir
members or wctchoir@gmail.com.
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Dec 12
Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night in Cambridge
Thursday, Dec. 12, starting at 7 p.m.
Location: Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street
A modern twist on caroling, all ages can enjoy walking
through downtown Cambridge with thousands of participants. To add to the
event, download the music for free to your
phone and bring your portal speaker or borrow one of ours!
The walk starts in Civic Square at 7 p.m.
Santa Visits the Kitchener Market
Santa's schedule is pretty busy these days, but he's
still making time for his friends at the Kitchener Market. Please bring your
own camera or phone to take pictures.
Dates and times:
Dec. 14 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Dec 15
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Sunday, December 15, 2019 | 7 – 8pm
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The Woodland Christian High
School Choir along with Orchestra, Soloists, and Community Choristers
present Handel's Messiah. One performance only, just in time for Christmas.
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Dec 17
Kids Hop with Erick Traplin and Santa Claus @ Kitchener Market
11am-Noon
Dec 17-24
Elora Grinch Display
26th year of Sue and Gerald's
Grinch display. The Grinch this year will be out making trouble every night
from December 17th to December 24th from 6pm to 9pm. 🎅🤶
For those of us that are just joining this year
(I'm sure you've heard the stories and are super excited!), the Grinch display
is a heart warming collection of decorations, the original animated movie How
the Grinch Stole Christmas projected on the big screen, and the Grinch himself.
This display is put on by Sue and Gerald Benham, with the help of friends and
family. Are you looking for something to do to create some wonderful memories
with your family? Perhaps a cute Insta moment? This is it! ☃️
This year we are please asking people (if
possible) to make the environmentally friendly decision to park somewhere
close, bundle up, and walk over.🌲
This event is completely FREE for you to enjoy!
It is put on in true Christmas spirit that we hope you have a great time.
Please no donations - just be kind to each other ❤
The more the merrier - share the event with your
friends and family. We love to hear your stories and see your photos. Share
here or tag your post #BenhamGrinch on
FB. ❄
Dec 20 to 22 in Listowel
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Listowel Mennonite Church 465 Maitland Ave
S Listowel
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Take an indoor journey back to
the time when Christ was born. Come join the excitement and experience the
sights, sounds & drama as your journey unfolds. Tours take
approximately 45 minutes and are wheelchair accessible.
Donations are accepted.
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Dec 21
Santa's schedule is pretty busy these days, but he's
still making time for his friends at the Kitchener Market. Please bring your
own camera or phone to take pictures.
Dates and times:
Dec. 21 9am-11am
Intensely Irish Dancers @ Kitchener Market
Sure to delight and entertain everyone with
traditional Irish dancing set to holiday music. Performing on the upper
level of the market, this group of local dancers will get you in the festive
spirit!
Winter Solstice Shinrin-Yoku Guided Walk in Huron Natural Area
7pm-9pm
Free event!
Celebrate the
changing of the seasons on an evening Shinrin-Yoku walk led by a certified
Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. The roots of this program stem from the
Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, also known as “forest bathing”.
This will be a
gentle and mindful walk where we get to explore Huron Natural Area by twilight
or moonlight and observe the seasonal changes.
Registration
required via email at knap@kitchener.ca
More events at
Huron Natural Area: kitchener.ca/knap
Dec 27
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Friday, December 27, 2019 |
7:30 – 8:30pm
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Once upon a time in faraway Russia, the villagers
believed that every New Year the fairy Babushka would grant every worthy
person their special wish for the holiday season. A toymaker named
Dimitri and his wife Katya were sad, for they had no child of their own to
love. One night Dimitri made a wish to Babushka that he might find a
way to make Katya happy. Like magic, an idea came to him & he'd
form a child from the ice and snow surrounding their tiny cottage!
When Katya saw the girl, she was delighted and wished with all her heart
that her little snow child could be just like a real girl. That’s
when the real magic began. A gentle play filled with genuine warmth
and tenderness
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KW Titans HOME OPENER @ THE AUD at 2pm
For a chance to win tickets visit
Dec 29
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Sunday, December 29, 2019 |
10:30 – 11:30am
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Once upon a time in faraway Russia, the villagers
believed that every New Year the fairy Babushka would grant every worthy
person their special wish for the holiday season. A toymaker named
Dimitri and his wife Katya were sad, for they had no child of their own to
love. One night Dimitri made a wish to Babushka that he might find a
way to make Katya happy. Like magic, an idea came to him & he'd
form a child from the ice and snow surrounding their tiny cottage!
When Katya saw the girl, she was delighted and wished with all her heart
that her little snow child could be just like a real girl. That’s
when the real magic began. A gentle play filled with genuine warmth
and tenderness
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Dec 31
New Year’s Eve
Waterloo Public Library Noon Year’s Eve – Albert St. Branch
Ring in the Noon Year with your
famliy with a countdown to 12noon. Plus we've got music, crafts, balloons and
so much more happening at the Main Library. Drop-in. Everyone welcome.
Come join us this New Year's
Eve at one of two locations:
MANULIFE SPORTSPLEX &
HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE AT RIM PARK
2001 University Ave East
519-884-5363
·
4:00-5:50
p.m. Free public skate party, sponsored by Tim Hortons.
WATERLOO PUBLIC
SQUARE
75 King Street South
6-9 p.m.
·
Music, children's
activities and entertainment, and a special early New Year Celebration at 9
p.m.
New Year’s Eve @ Kitchener City Hall
Join us for the City of Kitchener’s annual countdown
to the New Year!
This
year we're celebrating with a prehistoric party!
Get
your picture taken with a replica of the Jurassic Park jeep or the iconic
Flintstones car and check out the larger than life dinosaurs.
Be
sure to fill your pockets with quarters and play vintage arcade games,
challenge your friends in the console gaming zone, shop the many toy/comic book
vendors, kids can make a fun craft (starting at 6 pm while supplies last), free
skating, stop by and see our friends at the Virgin Radio and KFUN booth, and
live music courtesy of STARPOWER on Zehr Square from 10 pm - midnight and join
the fun with members of council and Sarge from KFUN with our live countdown to
ring in 2020!
*Admission is free.
**Donations of non-perishable
food items are welcome in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
***Hot chocolate station hosted
by Rotary Club of Kitchener (while supplies last)
Program subject to change
New Year’s Eve @ Waterloo Public Square
Join us for a family-friendly New
Year’s Eve celebration in uptown Waterloo. Ring in the New Year each year from
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Waterloo Public Square.
Featuring:
• Music
• Skating on our
outdoor rink
• Free hot chocolate
• Get crafty with
Agnes from Mindful Makers
(https://www.mindfulmakers.ca/) and make your own
festive light-
up crown to
celebrate NYE in style
• Snap a family
photo in our Fire & Ice themed photo booth
• Explore Sam
Dougherty’s interactive light table and play with
splashes of colour
in motion
• Launch LED arrow
toys into the night sky
• And more!!!
New Year’s Eve Cambridge
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Tuesday, December 31, 2019 | 5 – 8pm
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This family friendly evening is of fun and
entertainment as we celebrate the New Year! The event includes; free
skating, crafts, games, bounce castle, live entertainment and an early
countdown to the New Year!
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