Vote for these events that actually happen in town.
TL;WR for November 28 through December 4 2023
What to do.
Monday, November 27
The Laurier Wellbeing in Film Forum (LWIFF) series & Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG) present a screening of Someone Lives Here at 6:30 p.m. The film tells the story of carpenter Khaleel Seivwright, who built shelters for unhoused people in Toronto and storytelling and photos from the exhibit Falling Through the Cracks: Voices of Displacement in Waterloo Region.
Tuesday, November 28
Are you a nonprofit organization, community group, or an individual with ideas to help improve the City of Cambridge or your organization using technology? The Cambridge Tech Collective is hosting a networking session and pitch session from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Princess Twin has a screening of The Holdovers at 6:45 p.m.
The Apollo has a 30th anniversary screening of The Fugitive at 9:15 p.m. and Jon Johnson made this sick poster for it.
Wednesday, November 29
From his birthplace in southwestern Ontario, Jesse Rivest has brought his musical talents to British Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. On November 29, he’ll bring his music and a few friends for a wintery evening of folk music with Sammy Duke and Mitch Szitas at the New Friends Concert at Emmanuel United Church.
You haven’t truly seen Peter Pan until you’ve seen the Panto version. The St. Jacobs Country Playhouse presents Peter Pan: The Panto, a traditional British panto production where you cheer for the hero and boo the villain in a fun-filled audience participation production.
WCA Astronomy Series presents Gravitational Lensing: A Tool to Study the Universe at KPL’s Central Branch. Jordan Ducatel is a graduate student in the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Waterloo will talk about using gravitational lensing to measure the amount of dark matter in nearby galaxies.
After playing to sold-out audiences earlier this fall, Anna Kaljas: The Untold Story, a documentary by Kitchener filmmaker Dwight Storring, is back … with a twist. The screening will be followed by a far-reaching panel discussion featuring organizations at the forefront of the local housing crisis. 7 p.m. at The Registry Theatre.
Rusty Nail Comedy is at The Foundry Tavern in Galt with headliner Andrew Barr.
Thursday, November 30
It’s election day in Kitchener Centre! Get out and vote!
Rebecca McIntosh, Reep Green Solutions, The Steel Group, & Penny Wrightly present Renovate or Relocate. Crafting Your Home's Next Chapter. Are you considering a home renovation and want to ensure your investment pays off not only in comfort but also in long-term value? This expert panelists will guide you on renovating with an eye on future resale, making wise financial choices, and leveraging federal grants for energy-efficient home improvements.
Do a kick flip! The Waterloo-Wellington Skateboard indoor skatepark is open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Queensmount Arena.
Arabella Park is hosting Revel Cider on Thursday, Nov. 30 for a fun fruit party with never-before-seen kegs and a few vintage bottles. Tariq from Revel will be around all night, with special pours from a jeroboam bottled in 2018. 4-11 p.m.
Friday, December 1
Celebrate a season of wonder at the Uptown Waterloo Winter Wonderland. It’s three days of activities and events including the Tree Lighting Ceremony, a Holiday Pop-Up Art Market, special events and promotions from Uptown businesses and more Dec. 1-3, 2023.
The St. Jacobs Market at the Sip n’ Shop night market on Dec. 1 from 4 to 9 p.m. is an evenings of live music, festive drinks, and the chance to connect with old friends and make new ones.
Dive Bar has Sam Nabi, Dj Nice, and JT Carlyle with a night of hip-hop and R&B at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 2
The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum has a Pancake Breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m.
Dog Friendly KW’s 2nd Annual Paw-liday Festival presented by Pet Valu is happening from 10 to 6 p.m. It’s a hyper-local festive holiday market with all kinds of activities and entertainment for you, your dog, and your family!
The December Edition of Apollo Cinema’s All-You-Can-Eat Cereal and Cartoon is on at 10 a.m.
Join THEMUSEUM for an afternoon of festive music with selections from classic holiday movies, dynamic soundscapes and all-time favourites by the Kitchener Musical Society Band (KMSB) at 2 p.m.
Rusty Nail Comedy Saturday nights is on at the Crazy Canuck DTK with headliner Crystal Ferrier.
Over at The Yeti, Pink Lemonade Presents The Axxidentals, Moon Dreams, Night Stocker, and Charlie Weber at 8 p.m.
Choir! Choir! Choir! is returning to Centre in the Square! Come out and enjoy equal parts singing, comedy, and community-building. The night unfolds like a dream: you get a lyric sheet at the door, DaBu teaches you the vocal arrangement, and a video is recorded. Everyone has a ball and goes home feeling great!
Sunday, December 3
The Gaslight District has its first official Gingerbread House Exhibition 9 to 8 a.m.
The First Annual Cool Yule at Ethel’s Lounge features live music (for real) from Cheryl Lescom, Chuckee Zehr, Rick Taylor, Dale Anne Brendon, and Marc Shickluna. Sunday, Dec. 3 starting at 3 p.m. Free admission with a donation to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. (h/t BarRescueKW)
Giving Tuesday.
Now that the two days of gratuitous consumerism are behind us, here are some ways to give back on Giving Tuesday.
Adopt an animal with rare Conservation Area. Give the Gift of Nature this holiday season! Adopt a species at rare and they’ll send an eCertificate by December 25 to a loved one!
KidsAbility. Empower children and youth with special needs to realize their full potential by making a one-time donation OR set up a monthly donation!
Food4Kids Waterloo Region. School takes a break each weekend, but child hunger exists all year throughout Waterloo Region. Donate to Food4Kids to help kids get the nutrition they need to do their best inside and outside school.
Grand River Hospital Foundation. Care never stops, and neither do the awesome doctors, nurses, and staff at Grand River Hospital.
Toasty Toes. Sharon and the team have been raising funds to support the agencies that help our most vulnerable neighbours. Make a donation to this year’s campaign.
What to read.
Tapas and more tacos in DTK (Andrew Coppolino)
Waterloo high school student youngest winner of CBC Poetry Prize (Joel Rubinoff in The Record)
Wild Writers Literary Festival Returns With Sessions, Workshops and More for WR’s Literary Community (Adrian Quijano in The Community Edition)
As municipalities work to address homelessness, how do they measure success? (Kate Bueckert on CBC KW)