Thanks for the bubbles, Erick!
TL;WR for June 3 through June 9 2025
What to do.
Tuesday, June 3
KPL has the Sounds by Southwest: Open Mic Night at the Southwest branch starting at 6 pm.
Wednesday, June 4
MT Space is hosting the Newcomer Youth Theatre Project Spring Showcase at the The Registry Theatre at 6:30 pm. It’s a night of performance by newcomer youth from St. David CSS and Resurrection CSS.
Midtown Radio has partnered with the good people at Civic Tech WR to build a listening app for all your local music listening needs - and they’re (soft) launching it at the Civic Tech WR Demo Day at the Builders Club (165 King St. W).
Thursday, June 5
R+T Park is having this season's first Charity Beer Garden on June 5th in support of Mike Farwell's campaign to raise money for cystic fibrosis research! They are collaborating with Block 3 Brewing and Los Rolling Tacos food truck to bring the good vibes, good times, and good beer. 2 - 5:30 pm at the green space outside 375 Hagey Blvd.
Encore Records is one of the Canadian locations for a listening party for the first Pulp album in 24 years! June 5 from 6-8 pm!
Head to TWB Brewing for the Lavender Fizz - A 2SLGBTQIA+ Women & Non-binary Comedy Open Mic hosted by local stand-up comic Sarah Thompson! Each performer will get 5 mins (possibly more if time allows).
The Kitchener Panthers take on the Hamilton Cardinals at 7:30 pm.
Rusty Nail Comedy is heading to The Underwing at the Gaslight District with headliner Jesse Singh at 7:30 pm.
Friday, June 6
Badunkafunk is a crowd favourite bringing the funk to your Friday night at TWB Brewing! No tickets or reservations needed — just good vibes, great beer, and live music. Pay What You Can to help us better support and compensate our amazing local musicians. 7 to 9 pm.
The hills are alive this weekend! Join KW Musical Productions for The Sound of Music presented in concert at Knox Waterloo. Shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Royal LePage Wolle Realty proudly presents Shelterfest 2025 at the Concordia Club. Shelterfest is a traditional KW Oktoberfest-style night-out with an authentic keg tapping ceremony, live music provided by The Golden Keys, Bavarian food, dancing, games and more! The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has raised more than $41 million to support abused women and children living in shelters across Canada.
The Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship is Canada’s largest wood carving show, with carvers coming from across Canada and the USA. Over 500 carvings and wood art pieces will be displayed from youth, beginner, and master carvers. Admission is free on Friday, June 6. Saturday and Sunday are $10 per adult or $20 per family. Children 12 and under are free.
Chris Quigley headlines Rusty Nail Comedy on Friday and Saturday at TWH Social. Both shows start at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, June 7
Celebrate cycling in DTK with the City of Kitchener’s Bike Day from 1 to 5 pm. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned rider, there’s something for everyone.
Midtown is bumping with Belmont Village’s Happy Trails & Sidewalk Sale. There’s free bike tune-ups, live music, food trucks, games, magic, and more!
CAFKA.25: Field Guide to the Understory opens on Saturday, June 7, with a whole day of programming:
Choir performance / naakita f.k. // Willow River (Victoria) Park, 10-11am
Opening Forum // Kitchener City Hall, 12-2pm
Installation and performance / Syrus Marcus Ware // Gaukel Block, 3-5pm
Artist Party // Kultiq, 8pm onward – Get tickets here!
CAFKA – Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area takes art outside of the gallery and presents it in public places to foster community connections, record our stories, and enjoy the common spaces we all share. Artworks featured in CAFKA.25: Field Guide to the Understory can be found across Waterloo Region from June 7 - July 26, 2025.
Wave Maker and Sparrow Brewing are hosting the Preston/Hespeler BrewCycle Trail Ride. Hit the Mill Run Trail for a fun-filled ride from Wave Maker Craft Brewery to Sparrow Brewing and back OR from Sparrow Brewing to Wave Maker and back! To sign up or for more info please email taproom@wavemakerbrewery.com and indicate whether you are starting in Preston at Wave Maker or in Hespeler at Sparrow Brewing.
Dance along to the sounds of salsa, bachata and merengue music on Main St. in historic downtown Galt from 6 to 10:30 pm. New to the music? No worries, there is a free intro lesson from 6 to 6:30 pm.
The Cambridge Sculpture Garden is celebrating 25 Years on Saturday June 7 with a day of free community events and a paid box picnic lunch provided by EVO kitchen. The day will feature a public reception at 1 pm to welcome a new permanent public sculpture by creators Laura Marotta and Brian Redmond.
Brant Station with special guests The Mark Smith Experience play Saturday Nights Live at Dalla Night Club starting at 7:30 pm!
Don't wait to grab your tickets to Pinch Cabaret’s Together We're Boisterous Comedy Show. It’s taking a summer hiatus, and this is your last chance to catch a show at TWB until September!
Catch indie legends Broken Social Scene live at Maxwell’s Concerts and Events! For over 20 years, this Toronto collective has redefined what it means to build a music community by blending genre-defying sounds with unstoppable creative energy. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of Canada’s most influential bands, up close and unforgettable.
Sunday, June 8
The Grand Porch Party is Kitchener-Waterloo’s original porch fest, and this year’s features the talents of 21 great local musicians playing on the porches of the Uptown West neighbourhood from 1-5pm on June 8, 2025. In addition to music, check out Children’s Book Author Readings with Jennifer Harris and Carolyn Huizinga Mills, Waterloo Bike Mayor hosting a Slow Bike Race, the S.A.I.L. Airstream, Music Together, and the Fo’ Cheezy and Hissing Goose Coffee Roasters Food Trucks.
Market Road Antiques invites you to its Open Air Antique Fair from 10 am to 6 pm. Explore a curated collection of vintage treasures, unique antiques, and timeless collectibles from furniture to home décor.
Short Finger Brewing is having its community garage sale on Sunday June 8 from 10 to 5 pm. For more info and to get involved, email SFBCCGS@gmail.com.
Celebrate over 35 years of music and joy with Waterloo Region’s most beloved children’s entertainer, Erick Traplin! This free, all-ages event features live performances, games, food trucks, family-friendly fun—plus a special 1 p.m. tribute to Erick. Bring the whole family for a summer day full of music, laughter, and community.
Monday, June 9
Retro Rollers is turning Carl Zehr Square into the region’s best outdoor roller rink every Monday night in June from 7 to 10 pm. Skate and dance to tunes spun by DJ PDK and other guest DJs! No skates? No problem! Retro Rollers has kids’ and adults’ skates available for rent.
Ways to get involved.
Teeing Off for Tiny Home Takeout
Join Tiny Home Takeout on Sunday, July 13, 2025 for a for a meaningful day of golf, community, and giving back. The day is all about coming together to support Tiny Home Takeout continue to provide warm, freshly prepared meals to the community five days a week.
The Essentials Fund is now accepting applications from local non-profit organizations for its 2025 granting cycle. If your organization provides essential items or services to support the long-term health and well-being of vulnerable individuals in Waterloo Region, they encourage you to apply.
The application deadline is Friday, June 13, 2025 at 5pm.
To learn more about eligibility requirements, the application process, and their values of gratitude, trust, teamwork, and transparency, please visit https://essentialsfundwr.ca/application/
What to read.
Sonny’s returns to Waterloo Region’s restaurant scene (Mark Bryson, The Record)
Do you work from home? University of Waterloo researchers raise red flags over remote surveillance by employers (Jeff Outhit, The Record)
Collective Arts to open brewery hub at Cambridge’s Gaslight District (Prabhnoor Kaur, The Record)