The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
π Long Weekend Guide, Band Crawls & A Very Good Boy
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February 12th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! This weekend's a big one, Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Family Day! Friday, February 13th is also tomorrow - a cold one for the bikers in Port Dover... π₯Ά Also... why does February have a second 'r' in it?! In today's email:
Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General Free Family Fishing from the 14th-16th throughout Ontario! You can find more information here. βCheer Evolution | The Aud, Kitchener | Fri, Sat & Sun (13th-15th) | "This high-energy, high-stakes event brings together some of the best teams in Canada, going head to head for a chance to win a bid to the Cheerleading World Championships!" βGalaxy: Kitchener Psychic & Crystal Fair | DoubleTree by Hilton Kitchener | Fri, Sat & Sun (13th-15th) | "Top Psychics, Mediums, Astrologers, New Frequency Energy Healing Tech, Aura Photography, Rune Reading, Healers. Tea Leaf and Palm Readers." Thursday, February 12th βJourney to the Heart | Princess Cafe, Waterloo | 6pm | "A guided journaling workshop. Designed for journalers with any level of experience, the session will include thoughtfully curated prompts, moments of quiet reflection, and time to explore your thoughts at your own pace." βAuthor Evening with David Menary | Cambridge Public Library, Queen's Square | 6:30pm | "His latest book delves into the 100-year history of Canada's longest continually operating area, Galt Arena Gardens. Menary covers the history of the arena as well as many of the players who spent time on the ice, such as Normie Himes and Gordie Howe." βGalentine's Night Out | Pink Crow Cafe, Waterloo | 7pm | "Join us for a night of cocktails, music, bites & shop vintage Valentineβs racks all for $10 at the door. Your ticket includes a free cottage springs beverage and appetizers!" Music Bingo:
βInnuendo: Thursday Soul Show | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "Known for their live music with energy and style, this dynamic five-piece delivers an unforgettable mix of Soul, R&B, and Funk, blending timeless classics with contemporary hits that keep audiences moving all night long." βAn Intimate Evening with JJ Grey & Mofro | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "From his early days playing cover songs behind chicken wire at a Jacksonville juke joint to headlining sold-out shows around the world, JJ Grey has built a career on delivering music thatβs as raw as it is soulful." Friday, February 13th βPottery, Pints & Prosecco | Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo | 6pm | "Each ticket includes all materials for a kiln-fired project, one drink, and full kiln firing service that takes place after your visit." β10th Birthday Bash | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 6pm | "Join us to celebrate a decade of TWB!" βBloody Berlin Walking Tour | Schneider Haus, Kitchener | 7pm | "There's no better time to learn about bloody Berlin than on the unluckiest day of the year, Friday the 13th!" βGalentine's Day: Get Loud Paint Night | The Paint Riot, Cambridge | 7pm | "Includes: guided painting, all art supplies, mocktails & charcuterie." βHalfway There | Elmira Theatre Company | 7:30pm | "Multiple dates, starting Fri, Feb. 13th" βBig Band Theory | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "This fantastic big band packs an irresistible wallop of musical entertainment β spirited, talented and fun!" βFriday Live Music | The Galt Club, Cambridge | 8pm | "Tonight's event features Katy Topham" Saturday, February 14th βLegally Blonde & Polymer Clay | Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo | 11am | "Join us for a screening of Legally Blonde alongside a polymer clay jewelry & sculpture workshop - with snacks & drinks!" βValentine's Day Crafternoons | Schneider Haus, Kitchener | 11am | "Enjoy crafts like paper heart ornament making, custom valentine's cards with heart confetti, and join us in decorating Schneider Haus' favourite cookies, Sandhearts!" βCrafty Cupid Market | Victoria Park Pavilion, Kitchener | 12pm | "Mark your calendars for Valentineβs Day - If you donβt have a date weβve got you covered" βKids Glow Dance Party | Fireside Haven Studio, Cambridge | 1pm | "Dance alongside your little ones or kick back and relax while we light up the studio with Valentine vibes." βThe Great Gatsby Masquerade Valentine's Party | Conestoga Banquet Hall, Waterloo | 4pm βValentine's Murder Mystery Dinner Show | African Lion Safari, Cambridge | 5:30pm | "Immerse yourself in an evening of suspense, laughter and unforgettable twists as the story unfolds around you." βEmo Night: Valentine's Edition | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "Spend Valentineβs Day wrapped in angst, nostalgia, and loud sing-alongs as Strike Tyson delivers a live set packed with emo anthems and alternative classics." βSoul Dive Conscious Dance | Yoni Mudra Art Gallery, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Guided by a series of rhythms, we start in stillness, slowly shift into embodied movement and end in stillness. A moving meditation fuelled by your soul; part mindful practice and part creative exploration." 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' Concert | Hamilton Family Theatre, Cambridge | 7:30pm | "An all-star band will take you on a heartwarming, humorous, and nostalgic musical journey that pays tribute to some of the greatest love songs of all time." βValentine's Dance Night! | EVO Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge | "DJ Yazzy will be spinning all your favourite club hits for a packed, high-energy dance floor." βGowan | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "An evening with Gowan, Scottishβborn Canadian rock icon and current frontman of Styx - he brings theatrical musicianship, keyboard virtuosity, and powerful vocals to the stage." βOrlando Cardoso Trio | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "Cuban-Canadian jazz pianist Orlando Cardoso Herrera is a professional musician with over 30 years of experience." Sunday, February 15th βHeart-Shaped Clay Mug Pottery Workshop | Arabella, Kitchener | 1pm | "Youβll learn the basics of coil construction, shaping, surface design, and how to embrace the perfectly imperfect charm of handmade pottery." βFebruary Chess Social | Eastbridge Academy, Waterloo | 1pm | "Come play casual friendly games with local KW chess players. All levels and ages are welcome. Free event!" βTatreez: Traditional Cross Stitch Workshop | Metro Restaurant, Kitchener | 1pm βThe Academy | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 3pm | "Join Dr. Bonner - from the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at St. Jerome's University - in our very first session of The Academy. Come learn from an expert and share ideas over a pint!" βEvening of Champions | SydFit Health Centre, Kitchener | 6pm | "Join your Destiny Boxers for a full night of high impact, high energy amateur boxing matches." βLong Weekend Band Crawl | Multiple locations in Uptown Waterloo | 6:30pm | "Featuring the best of punk and alternative DIY ethos from Waterloo region and abroad! 14 amazing artists across 4 great venues - all for the price of one ticket!" βHit Music Video Bingo | McCabe's Irish Pub & Grill, Waterloo | 7pm | "The game is displayed on the TVs throughout the venue showing music videos featuring a variety of famous hit songs. All you have to do is sing along while you digitally dab your way through the game on your bingo card." Family Day There's a ton going on around the region for Family Day! Listing below a handful of one's that look fun. And hey... one of the best things to do is find a local hill and toboggan down it all day! Mix that with some hot chocolate and you're golden π
Farmers Markets βSt. Jacobs | Saturday, February 14th (7amβ3:30pm) βKitchener | Saturday, February 14th (7amβ2pm) βCambridge | Saturday, February 14th (7amβ1pm)β * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS Hereβs a list of Region of Waterloo service changes for the Family Day holiday on Monday, February 16th -> Infoββ Young players inspired by Kitchener's Jamal Murray as he heads to his 1st NBA All-Star Game -> [Read More]β COMEDY Friday, February 13th βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Niles Seguin Saturday, February 14th βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Niles Seguin βValentine's Day Show & Dinner | Kingpin Bowlounge, Kitchener (Bingemans) | 7pm | Headliners: Keith Pedro, Rob Ross & Lianne Mauladin WEATHER β οΈ Thu, Feb. 12th | HIGH -6Β° | NIGHT -16Β° | 30% POP π¨οΈ Fri, Feb. 13th | HIGH -2Β° | NIGHT -4Β° | 40% POP | 1cm βοΈ β οΈ Sat, Feb. 14th | HIGH 1Β° | NIGHT -8Β° | 30% POP β οΈ Sun, Feb. 15th | HIGH 1Β° | NIGHT -5Β° | 30% POP SPORTS π₯ Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 4th Overall | 1st in Western Conference
Upcoming Away Games (back home on Fri, Feb. 20th):
π KW Titans (BSL) 2nd Overall
π₯ Winter Games
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS You can find more information here, along with what animals are up for adoption! ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Meet Bo! "He's the true definition of a gentle giant. With his big, soulful eyes and even bigger heart, he brings a calm, comforting presence wherever he goes. Despite his size, Bo is incredibly gentle, tender, and affectionate - the kind of dog who leans in softly for love and melts into you for cuddles. What a big cutie! While he may be a larger dog... he seems so kind & I know he'd be a great fit for the right person/family! Tap here to find out more. And there are tons of dogs, cats and other animals that are looking for their forever homes. You can find the adopt page here. They've also got an adoption event going on this weekend - details in the above section! * if you adopt a dog or any pet from these emails, reply and let me know! I'd love to send you a special gift to help get things started QUESTION OF THE WEEK When the winter's feeling a bit 'long', what is one of your favourite things to do that helps pass the time/keep you entertained? π€ Hit reply to this message to let me know and I'll share some of the best responses next week! RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY Cleopatra lived closer to the invention of the iPhone than the building of the Great Pyramid: The pyramids were completed around 2560 BCE, while Cleopatra lived around 30 BCE. The iPhone arrived in 2007. The mantis shrimp has the fastest "punch" in the animal kingdom: They strike with the force of a .22 caliber bullet. The movement is so fast that it creates "cavitation bubbles"βtiny pockets of vapour that collapse and release heat nearly as hot as the surface of the sun. Fruit Loops are all the same flavor: Despite the different colors, every loop tastes exactly the same. The "flavor" is just a blend of fruit essences. THANK YOU! Hope you have a great day, and we'll be back for Family Day Monday π ps. I'd love your feedback. Whether it's something you like, or hate, or want to see more/less of - please let me know! My goal is to make sure you're getting value from these emails, and the important info you need. Hit 'reply' to let me know! INFO STATION:β Had enough of these emails? No hard feelings, just tap this link to unsubscribe. (if you are unsubscribing.. can you do me a small favour and email me the reason why beforehand. I'd love to take that info to help improve the newsletter for everyone!) π© Did someone forward you this email? And now you're wondering how to get in on the action? Say less friend, tap here to sign up for yourself: grandriverbuzz.ca/signupβ π Do you have an event, funny story or meme about the region you want to share? Hit reply to this email and let me know what you've got to be featured in an upcoming email! π Have a thought, comment or feedback about the newsletter? Or maybe you just want to tell me a random joke.. whatever it is, I love getting replies and try to respond as often as possible. Reach out whenever you'd like by hitting reply. π’ Think someone you know would love this email? Forward this to them to spread the love. β€οΈ Feeling extra generous and loving? Shout us out on your favourite social media platform using this link: grandriverbuzz.ca/signup - it really helps spread the word! |
Grand River Buzz
The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
March 16th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! I did in fact jinx us about spring "only being eleven days away" last week & I'm sorry... Promise to be quiet about the weather until we're in the full clear. That being said, I hope you're having a great week - and lot's of great stuff going on in the newsletter below. Enjoy! In today's email: a handful of local news articles & updates March break events a fun community highlight at the mall a wooden mouse & more Let's dive in π -Ross at...
March 12th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! We're coming up to March break next week and this year's flying by. Hope everyone's having a great week & there's a ton going on this weekend... especially on Saturday. Let me know what you're planning to attend or how it went! In today's email: Ramona the inventor of cotton candy (it's kind of sneaky...) a question of the week tons of fun, local events for people of all ages & more Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING...
March 9th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Spring is 11 days away. ELEVEN! I don't want to jinx things but I think we've made it. Plus with the 'spring forward' time change, it'll kick off the start of longer evenings. Exciting times indeed. In today's email: local news updates and some fun events a question of the week Summer Games coming to the region the longest place name in the world & more Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General Irish Real Life Festival...