Reading raves and a secret show.
TL;WR for April 22 through April 28 2025
What to do.
Tuesday, April 22
Have an old pair of light-coloured shoes that are looking very loved? Instead of getting rid of them or giving up on cleaning them, freshen them up by repainting the shoe or redesign your shoe altogether. Learn how at Waterloo Public Library’s The Art of Upcycling: Sneaker & Heels Edition at 6:30 pm.
Learn more about menopause and mid-life health with menopause specialist, Judy Gardiner in conversation with Dominique Williams of Brisqette. Den 1880 (14 Erb Street West) in Uptown Waterloo with wine and snacks for those in attendance.
Wednesday, April 23
Learn how to make Perler Bead Picture Frames with the Region of Waterloo Library at the Elmira branch from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Want to clear some room on your bookshelves? Donate your quality used books, complete jigsaw puzzles, audio books, CDs, DVDs, or sheet music to the annual CFUW K-W Used Book Sale. Proceeds support scholarships for local students. Drop off your donations from 9 a.m. to 9 pm on Wednesday April 23 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday April 24 at First United Church at the corner of King and William Streets in Waterloo.
For National Poetry Month author and poet David Waltner-Toews visits KPL to discuss his new collection of poetry, New and Selected Poems. Hosted by Professor Emerita Hildi Froese Tiessen, English & Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Waterloo. 7 pm.
Join Kitchener's Forestry staff at KPL Central for an engaging presentation to learn about the trees that create healthy, vibrant communities. They’ll introduce the practice of urban forestry and dive into the state of Kitchener's urban forest, including findings from our tree inventory, operations programs, and the key threats we're facing. 7 pm.
Thursday, April 24
Reading Rave is a slow rave for the curious, a literary salon for the lost, a place to read in public with strangers under soft lights and beautiful sounds. Bring a book, make a bookmark, sip a mocktail, and drift into the library inside your mind. Thursday, April 24 at 101 Queen St. from 7 to 11 pm.
ACO's North Waterloo Region Branch has a talk featuring Graham Cubitt and Linda Nydam sharing how St. Mark's Church was turned into 43 units of low cost housing. 7 pm at St. Mark’s Place (825 King St W, Kitchener).
The Region of Waterloo x Block Three Brewing Company have a Trivia Night at the brewery from 6 to 7:30 pm.
Forget Samantha or Carrie. Are you a Dr. Suzanne Kearns or Dr. Anna Klinkova? Check out Science in the City at Catalyst Commons from 6:30 to 8 pm.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive play the Aud. Doors at 6:45 pm.
FOLD 2025 authors Amanda Leduc, Denise Da Costa, and Suzan Palumbo are at KPL central to talk about their writing processes and publishing careers. Join them for a lively conversation about the life of a writer. Presented in partnership with The Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD).
Friday, April 25
A must-attend event on book lovers' calendars for 58 years. Don't miss the annual CFUW K-W Used Book Sale - Friday April 25 from 9 am - 9 pm and Saturday April 26 from 9 am to 1 pm at First United Church at the corner of King and William Streets in Waterloo. Prices are $3 for hardcovers and large paperbacks and $2 for small paperbacks and children's books. Get an entire box of books for $15 on Saturday. Proceeds fund scholarships for local students.
Explore the food scene of Uptown Waterloo with the Waterloo Food Tour from Stroll Walking Tours. Your guide, Stephanie Soulis, will walk you through some of the best independently owned restaurants, gourmet food shops, hidden gems, sweet treats and eateries, many of them women owned. Food tours can accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free dietary needs. 2 to 5 pm.
Get your comedy fix across KW with two awesome shows from Rusty Nail Comedy. You can see headliner Dom Paré at Morty’s Pub or headliner Christophe Davidson at TWH Social. Both shows start at 7:30 pm.
Boreal plays Emmanuel United Church. Doors at 7, music at 7:30 pm.
Short Finger Brewing Company has Live in a Dive with NovaKate from 6 to 8 pm.
No one knows who’s playing or where. That’s what makes the Good Co. Production’s Secret Show such as awesome secret. 7 pm somewhere.
Saturday, April 26
Join Lucky Bug Farm for a hands-on seedling workshop at Workshop KW where you’ll prepare two 12-pot seedling trays filled with a mix of herbs, veggies, and flowers—perfect for giving your garden a strong start. 11 to 12 pm.
KPL Forest Heights Library hosts Tea and Tales with Muslim Women. You’re invited to meet with Muslim women from diverse cultures to hear their experiences growing up in their countries of origin and their resettlement in Canada over traditional coffee, tea, and cultural treats. 2 pm.
Join the Grand River Hospital Foundation at Spinco Waterloo for Spin for Good from 2 to 3 pm. This class will raise funds for Scotland's Yard, a community initiative focused on augmenting care closer to home for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
Gale Presbyterian Church and H.O.P.E. are excited to host Discover Elmira: A Community Resource Fair—an inclusive event designed to connect new and long-time residents with the essential services, programs, and businesses that make Elmira a great place to live. 10 to 12 at Gale Presbyterian Church (10 Barnswallow Dr, Elmira).
TWB Brewing Co-Op has a Euchre Tournament at 6 pm.
The Country Mixtape Tour is bringing Tyler Joe Miller, Shawn Austin & Andrew Hyatt to the Hub in Kitchener. Doors at 7 pm.
Rusty Nail Comedy has another two shows on Saturday with headliner Christophe Davidson at TWH Social and Jason Allen at Morty’s Pub. As always, both shows start at 7:30 pm.
Sunday, April 27
Check out the Retro & Revival Vintage Market at Farm League Brewing from 12–5 pm. Shop a curated selection of vintage sellers, sip on craft brews, and soak up the spring sunshine.
Elbows up, pinkies up. Enjoy a sweet selection of pastries with your friends for $45 per person at the Walper’s Afternoon Tea from 12 to 2 pm.
Cool Aunt Creative has a Leathercrafting Cardholder Workshop at Metro Restaurant at 1 pm.
KPL central has a screening of the best Disney Princess animated film, Tangled, at 1:30 pm. I said what I said.
The Jazz Room has a special Sunday matinee show with the Lorne Lofsky Trio at 4 pm.
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery has another information session for its 50/50 Garden of Resilience, the newest addition to the KWAG Sculpture Garden. 2 to 3 pm at the gallery.
The Union is hosting Rot Fest, which I think is a birthday party, but it’s late and I’m trying to follow the Instagram posts, but I’m old and I think I’m missing something. ANYWAY, music from solsic, I CAN’T RƎMƎMBƎR, stevedave, Smoothie Lou, and Uppercut 519. Entry is a cut out baby photo, cut out pet photo, and donation to the Humane Society.
Monday, April 28
Join illustrator, Vivian Rosas, for Embracing Identity, an uplifting and empowering workshop designed to help students celebrate their unique identities and embrace diversity in themselves and others. Elmira branch of the Region of Waterloo Library from 4 to 5 pm.
Over at the New Hamburg Branch of the Region of Waterloo Library, join author, Leonarda Carranza, for an informative session on racism and micro-aggressions. Leonarda will read her picture book, Abuelita and Me based on her and her family’s experiences with racism in Toronto. 4 to 5 pm.
Arabella Park and In For Questioning have trivia at 7 pm.
Ways to get involved.
Get ready to test your knowledge at the 8th Annual KW Trivia Challenge on April 25, brought to you by Knights of Columbus! Test your Trivia skills with the purchase of a team table (8 players). Presented in cooperation with Heffner Toyota in support of Tiny Home Takeout (THT), a community food service with a pay-if-you-can model in Kitchener.
On Saturday, April 26, get ready for an action-packed day of giving back, furry friends, and community spirit! Paws on Pavement is more than just an event it’s a movement in support of the Better Together Capital Campaign, helping people and pets in our community thrive, together. The central hub at Waterloo Public Square will be full of tail wags and good vibes! Bring your dog and join us for a celebration that includes the Fo' Cheezy Food Truck, free dog treats from our Pet Pantry, dog nail trim clinic, kids’ activities and more.
What to read.
60+ festivals to attend this spring & summer 2025 near Kitchener (CuratedKW)
Raised tracks and a new platform: What it will take to build Waterloo region's new transit hub (CBC News)
XL Records: a Small Nook Offering Big Records (Jack Vrolyk, The Community Edition)