What to do.
Tuesday, May 3
Celebrate the launch of Kitchener Public Library’s Central Library's Vinyl Collection with a special listening party featuring Neil's Young's Harvest. Tuesday, May 3 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4
Kitchener Public Library and the Mel Brown Music Festival & Symposium present the Hip Hop Writing Workshop Series with Jon Corbin. This series of workshops is designed to guide students through the basics of hip hop writing. Students will learn about rhythm, rhyme and the structure of hip hop music. The workshop will help students unlock their creative voice, improve their language skills, and illuminate the artistic power of hip hop culture. Starts Wednesday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m.
The Global Engineer, hosted by Terminal, is a remote career summit for engineers. This event features global engineering leaders (like the very awesome Erin Rahnenfuehrer) who share key insights and takeaways to land high impact remote engineering roles at fast-growing companies. Virtual event, starts at 1 p.m.
Get your gold-pressed latinum ready for Star Wars Trivia at Descendants Beer & Beverage with BeccaHosts. Trivia starts at 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 5
The Community Players of New Hamburg’s production of Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express is a fast-paced steam train of a play that promises to be an exhilarating ride. Peppered with equal parts humour and intrigue, The Murder on the Orient Express is coming to our stage May 5–14.
Here’s an event where “Home For A Rest” and “Sweet Caroline” surely must be answers. BeccaHosts brings you “Drinking Songs” Music Bingo at Descendants Beer & Beverage at 8 p.m.
The Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery’s Culture Talk event features Sampson and Liz Wreford of Public City Architecture at the Walper Hotel sharing insights on creative placemaking and transformative projects that can inspire change in our own communities. Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m.
The Bicycle Film Festival returns to the Princess Twin for three nights of shorts, films, and documentaries about the best way to eliminate congestion, reduce CO2 emissions, and have fun while doing it—the bicycle. (You can read more about the film festival in The Community Edition.)
Black Girls Excellence and Rhythm and Blues Cambridge present Elements Of The Earth: Beneath The Book with the Author. Experience a book like never before as you get to share your impressions and reactions along the way, with fellow readers and author Ella Moore. Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m.
Tacofest is back on June 17 — and tickets go on sale Thursday, May 5. Proceeds go to support the mission of Community Support Connections.
Join Fat Sparrow Group on May 5 for their Cinco de Mayo Patio Party at The Big Tent in St. Jacobs Village. It’s a Mexican Street Festival-inspired event with festive foods, margaritas, and piñatas for the kids. Thursday, May 5 from 4 – 8 p.m.
Friday, May 6
Over in Elmira, check out “Greatest Hits” Music Bingo at Rural Roots with BeccaHosts at 7:30 p.m.
Join the Fashion History Museum for a Wearable Art sale featuring the work of Bonnie Glass, Annette Graydon, Pix Martin, Inna Zhereshchina, and Eve Farber. Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7.
Movies in the Park (Waterloo Park) is back with Jumanji at 8 p.m.
Inter Arts Matrix and X-Camera present When we speak at the same time, we speak the same language. It’s a multidisciplinary collaborative performance that explores the importance of shared language and speech style when it comes to identity and community building. Friday, May 6 at 1 p.m.
Did you ever wish you could have the Rocky Horror Picture Show experience, but with Shrek? Well, tonight’s your night. Head to the Apollo at 7 p.m. for Shrek:Interactive.
Saturday, May 7
Architect John MacDonald kicks off this year’s Jane Walks with a walk centred around the history of the the glass and concrete structures that are rapidly altering Kitchener's skyline, and the factors that govern their design. Saturday, May 7 1:30 – 3 p.m. Learn more about their walks on their website.
Wonderfully Made’s Mother's Day Market is at Catalyst 137 in Belmont Village (which is part of Midtown and there’s nothing you can do about it) from 11 – 4 p.m. There will be hundreds of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind locally grown products and unique gifts! Stock up on hostess gifts, tasty treats, teacher gifts, or buy a little something for yourself.
Learn the basics of belly dance, from thunderous shimmies to elegant movements, come get your groove on with this free class from Aranya Belly Dance & Movement. The class is followed by a pop-up bazaar featuring a curated collection of handcrafted eastern jewellery and belly dance hip scarves for sale. Class at 1 p.m., bazaar from 1:45 – 2:00 pm — all at the Underdog Dance Corp in Uptown.
My Son the Hurricane plays Maxwell’s Concerts & Events at 7:30 p.m.
The Kitchener Market invites you to celebrate mom, or the special person in your life, with Mother's Day Sip & Shop, a curated shopping experience, featuring handmade products from local artists and a licensed bar area, along with live entertainment and registered classes for kids. Saturday, May 7 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lost Lola Vintage presents the makers & thrifters market at The Sunday Studio from 11 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 8
Spring-it-on is going down in Waterloo Park. Crafts, treats, garden tips, music, lawn games and more from the folks at Friends of Waterloo Park. Starts at 1 p.m. near the Father David Bauer entrance.
TWH Social x Apollo Cinema have a Mother’s Day deal with brunch and a movie ticket. Details on their site.
Meals Without Madness has a Mother’s Day brunch at the Kitchener Market.
The Fashion History Museum have a Deco tea on Mother's Day. There are two seatings, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Monday, May 9
The 14th season of the Grand River Film Festival kicks off Monday, May 9 and runs through May 22. GRGG is Waterloo Region’s longest running independent film festival and includes screenings of features, shorts, and selections from the local film making community. Learn more about the festival at grff.ca.
Coming up in June
Ways to support local.
It’s May and that means it’s time for the annual Farewell4Hire campaign. Since Farwell4Hire began in 2014, they’ve been able to contribute more than $860,000 to CF research. Learn more about the campaign at the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation.
What to read.
The Exposure Project: Relating Lived Realities Of Homelessness In The Region (Community Edition)
'A thing of beauty': Let a muffuletta from Waterloo Region restaurant hit the spot (Waterloo Chronicle)
Washrooms might be possible for encampments throughout region (The Record)
How 7 Waterloo Region Food Businesses Are Serving Up Sustainability (Explore Waterloo Region)