The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
🐝 Kelowna Bound, Birria & Barcodes
|
May 18th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Whoa, we got a hot one today... Perfect for the long weekend & much deserved. Hope you're enjoying the day & have your favourite cold drink in hand. In today's email:
Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General Live at Lunch | Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener | Tuesday's & Thursday's from now through August at 12pm | "Grab a delicious lunch from a local restaurant and cool off in the splash pad while enjoying a rotating mix of live music all summer long. A perfect midday break with great food, fresh air, and feel‑good tunes, right in the heart of Downtown Kitchener." Iron Willed: Women In STEM | City of Waterloo Museum | Starting Tuesday, but multiple upcoming days from 10am-4pm | "Developed by Ingenium, this engaging exhibition celebrates the vital contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. From Nobel Prize winners to local icons like giraffe researcher Anne Innis Dagg, you’ll explore the lives of history’s greatest problem-solvers through interactive displays and hands-on activities." Tuesday, May 19th The Good Card @Square Peg | Kitchener City Hall | 10am-4pm | "Take a moment at our letter-writing station to send a heartfelt note to someone you love, anywhere in Canada. Every purchase gives back, with 5% of sales supporting Mamas for Mamas KW." Paint Nite | E.V.O. Kitchen, Cambridge | 6:30pm | "Join Elle C. for a fun-filled evening of painting "Owl Springtime Friends". This is not your typical art class; it's a social event where the painting is just the backdrop for a night of laughter and connection." "A Minecraft Movie" Free Outdoor Screening | The District Square, Cambridge | 7pm | "Looking for a sweet treat? Visit Build-A-Bucket in our Snack Shack! Or grab a Pizzeria Motola pizza to-go and fill up on authentic Italian pizza while you watch!" Poker Chicks! Poker Night | Queen of Hearts, Kitchener | 7pm Wednesday, May 20th Sing-Along with Kento | Trillium Lutheran Church, Waterloo | 1:30pm | "We would love for you to join us! Come and sing, or just listen to the music. Each week is a unique combination of songs from the 1940s-1990s. Refreshments provided during the break." Public Works Open House & Family Fun Night | Kitchener Operations Facility | 5pm | "Dive into the exciting world of public works at our free open house and family fun night! Bring the whole family, gather your friends, or come out on your own for an action-packed evening. Face painting, balloon art, food trucks, simulator, tours & more!" Community Sing-Along | Knox Presbyterian, Waterloo | 7pm | "Led by Mary-Catherine Pazzano, singers will start with a warm-up and work on learning the song alongside 'Age of Majority Singer' members. Music will be provided and everyone is welcome, no musical experience necessary." Rusty Nail Comedy: PRO AM Night | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | "Only $5 for a great night of laughs!" Thursday, May 21st Spotlight on Seniors Health and Info Event | Cambridge Newfoundland Club | 2-5pm | "A free annual event focusing on providing information and connection with our local senior community members and their families. Come and enjoy 40+ vendors, giveaways, refreshments and door prizes!" Empowering Evenings Series Launch | Storehouse 808, Cambridge | 5:30pm | "Join us for an unforgettable evening of connection, conversation, and real stories. Through candid interviews and powerful personal journeys, you’ll hear from incredible women who are redefining success, navigating challenges, and showing what’s truly possible when you believe in yourself." Youth Month: Young Art | Kitchener City Hall | 6pm | "Young Art is an annual event that showcases some of the community's most talented young artists' (10-18yrs) artwork in partnership with several partner organizations." Indie Music Night | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 7pm | "A stacked local bill is taking over Maxwell’s for a night of rising indie sounds, featuring Midnite Vice, The Morays & Stacking." Run Club & Trivia Night | Counterpoint Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm Paint Night: Summer Makeup/Travel Bag | Cafe Clementina, Kitchener | 7pm | "This beginner-friendly event is perfect for anyone who loves art, DIY crafts, or simply wants a relaxing creative night out." Speed Networking | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "A room full of business owners. Every few minutes, a new connection. By the end of the night? You’ve met 10+ businesses and practiced your pitch 10 times." Eric Johnston “Son of a Bull” Comedy Tour | Waterloo Brewing Taphouse, Kitchener | 7pm | "Marking 15 years in comedy, Johnston delivers his most personal material yet, tackling fatherhood, marriage, ambition, and the pressure to grow up without losing who you are." Salsa In The Square | Waterloo Public Square | 7pm | "Back for the 4th year in a row! Join us for a free evening of dancing, music, and laughs. Registration is encouraged." Mennonite Mass Choir: Jenkins’ Mass for Peace | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "The concert features two powerful choral works: Johannes Brahms’ Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) and Karl Jenkins’ epic The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Together, these remarkable compositions explore the tension between human suffering and the search for serenity, weaving voices and orchestral colour into a profound musical journey" Voc Silent Film Harmonic: The Docks of New York (1928) | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 8pm | "Josef von Sternberg’s storied career stretched from the silent era to talkies. One of his favourite actors, George Bancroft, plays a ship’s stoker whose life changes forever when he saves a woman from drowning herself." Robbie G: Live | Room 47, Waterloo | 8pm Girl Night: Live Comedy | Whoopsie Daisy Drinks, Kitchener | 8pm | "This month we have Heather Mariko (Sirius XM, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Canada’s Drag Race, and Project Runway Canada) headlining! Followed by the infamous secrets auction!" Upcoming Events Slamdemonium II | The Aud, Kitchener | Sat, May 23rd at 7pm | "Slamdemonium II returns for an unforgettable night of professional wrestling featuring wrestlers who have competed on some of the biggest stages in the world (ex. WWE). More than just a wrestling event, the show's a fundraiser for KidsAbility Centre for Child Development - with all net proceeds donated in support of their important work in our community." Yuk Yuk's Comedy | Bingemans Bowlounge, Kitchener | Sat, May 23rd at 9pm | "Featuring comedians Adrienne Fish, Ronald Hae & Greg Palone" Grand River Buzz Upcoming Events Page Library Events Fun, family-friendly and free. Click below to see what's happening at your local branch this week!
Community Centres The region's community centres are excellent ways to access fun & affordable/free programs and activities. They have a ton of things to do for kids & teens, and they've got some great adult & senior programs as well! * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS
WEATHER ☀️ Mon, May 18th | HIGH 29° | NIGHT 19° | 10% POP 🌦️ Tue, May 19th | HIGH 29° | NIGHT 7° | 80% POP | 1-3mm 💧 🌤️ Wed, May 20th | HIGH 11° | NIGHT 2° | 20% POP 🌤️ Thu, May 21st | HIGH 14° | NIGHT 5° | 20% POP SPORTS 🥅 Kitchener Rangers (OHL) Kitchener start their Memorial Cup quest this Friday in Kelowna, BC. It's Kitchener's 7th appearance and they've won twice - the last one coming in 2003. Full schedule of the tournament below & will keep you updated along the way. Send-Off Rally | "The Kitchener Rangers and the City of Kitchener is inviting fans and community members to gather at Carl Zehr Square at Kitchener City Hall this Tuesday, May 19th, at 5:00pm for a special Rangers Rally as the team prepares to depart for Kelowna and the 2026 Memorial Cup" ⚾️ Kitchener Panthers
FOOD & DRINK IN THE REGION Latinoamerica Unida | 18 Concession Street #101, Cambridge | 4.7 stars across 1.1k Google reviews "Classic Mexican food like tamales & tacos in an easygoing setting with drinks." Tucked into a quiet corner of downtown Galt, this little spot is serving some of the most flavourful Latin American food in the region. Authentic, unpretentious, and the kind of place that makes you wonder how it flew under your radar for so long. Here's a great review from Rafael along with a 'secret tip': "The food is absolutely delicious. Here’s a tip, the taco birrias/quesobirrias are not in the regular menu, ask for them. It’s 100% a must try. The burritos and quesadillas are also great. Hard to go wrong here." You can check out their menu here - and let me know what your favourite dish is if you've been before or go after reading this! * this is not a sponsored placement, but came highly recommended. ads will always be made obvious if so. RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY Most maple trees don't start producing sap for syrup until they are 40 years old: It takes decades of growth for a sugar maple to reach a diameter large enough (10-12 inches) to be tapped safely without harming the tree. The first product to ever have a barcode was a pack of Wrigley’s gum: It was scanned at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, in June 1974 The Canary Islands are named after dogs, not birds: The name comes from the Latin phrase Canariae Insulae, which means "Islands of the Dogs." When ancient Romans visited, they were struck by the large numbers of fierce wild dogs roaming the islands. THANK YOU! Hope you have an awesome rest of your day and we'll see you Thursday. 🐝 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. Just hit 'reply'. INFO STATION:❌ Had enough of these emails? No hard feelings, just tap this link to unsubscribe. 😩 Did someone forward you this email? And now you're wondering how to get in on the action? Tap here to sign up for yourself: grandriverbuzz.ca/signup 📖 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! 👋 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. 📢 Think someone you know would love this email? Forward this to them to spread the love. ❤️ Feeling extra generous and loving? Shout us out on your favourite social media platform using this link: https://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.
May 28th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! We're almost at the end of May, this year sure is flying by... Excited for what's to come over the summer, so many cool events going on! Make sure to check out the upcoming events page to start planning your future weekend fun. In today's email: some really fun, family-friendly events over the weekend Memorial Cup celebrations Belle goldfish memories (and why it's not just 3 seconds) & more Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S...
May 25th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Hope you're enjoying the day so far & the week's kicking off well for you. Herrle's Market officially opens this Thursday. That's one step closer to the best corn on the cob ever 🤌 (iykyk) Let's go! In today's email: a delicious restaurant highlight local news updates a fun, upcoming fundraiser slug noses & more Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General Gaslight District Big Screen | Bring your own lawn chair for some...
May 21st, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Not sure if anyone loves the 'random facts of the day' each newsletter as much as I do! 😅 One of my favourite sections to put together... I love the three today, so make sure to check them out! And if you have some random fun facts? Let me know so I can share them in upcoming posts. In today's email: Watermelon lots of fun events for this weekend a sports update comedy show highlight & more Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S...