May 7th, 2026

Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region!

Did you get the long or the short census?

We got the long one unfortunately...

Luckily I had some help completing it, but it was interesting to hear only 25% of people get that version, while the other 3/4 get a much smaller one.

Luck of the draw I suppose!

In today's email:

• some great comedy shows
• an interesting community event
• Moss
• another crazy Blue Jay fact
• & more

Let's dive in 👇

-Ross at Grand River Buzz

WHAT'S HAPPENING

General

​Bloom Fest | Shuh Orchards, West Montrose | Sat & Sun from 9am-7pm | "Join us for our first annual Bloom Fest. Enjoy a wagon ride through the apple blossoms, sip hard cider, listen to local live music and let the kids explore our petting zoo, corn box, playground and many other activities."

​The Good Card @Square Peg | Kitchener City Hall | Thu, Fri & Sat from 10am-4pm | "Step into a thoughtfully curated Pop-Up by The Good Card, a space where meaningful gifting meets a love for sustainability. Discover plantable wildflower stationery alongside a selection of gardening-inspired goods, fresh local flowers, and beautiful finds perfect for Mother’s Day and beyond. 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."

Friday, May 8th

​Empowered Learners | Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex | 1:30pm | "Calling all curious minds! Join us for an informative presentation and lecture series on a wide range of themes and topics, including health resources and general interest. This week's theme is creating comfort & joy around technology."

​Father & Son: Duelling Pianos | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 4pm & 7:30pm (two shows) | "A high-energy, narrative-driven musical production featuring Juno Award-winning pianist Eddie Bullen and his son, the multitalented Quincy Bullen. More than a standard concert, the show serves as a musical autobiography, tracing the journey of a father passing his legacy of excellence to his son."

​Line Dancing Night with Urban Cowboy | Four Fathers Brewing, Cambridge | 6:30pm | "New to line dancing or just looking for something fun to do with friends? This night is beginner friendly and makes for a great night out.The night kicks off with guided lessons so everyone can jump in with confidence, followed by open dancing where you can show off your new moves!"

​KW Kiwanis Music Festival Finale Concert | Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo | 7pm | "This program will feature performances from some of our top festival participants, and will recognize outstanding achievements with our trophies and awards presentations."

​John Shambles: Spring Fever Tour | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "The solo project of Brett Emmons of The Glorious Sons, stepping away from rock roots into a lo-fi alternative indie space built on relatable lyricism and a swirling soundscape produced by Juno nominee Derek Hoffman."

​An Evening with Trucker Mouth | Room 47, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "Join us for a very special evening with Trucker Mouth. A set of your TM favourites plus a brand new set you won't want to miss."

​Trivia Night | Rural Roots, Elmira | 7:30pm | "A fast-paced, fun night of brain-teasing questions, great drinks, and prizes to be won. Grab your team, reserve your spot, and put your knowledge to the test!"

​Top Pocket | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "A fusion band playing 100% original material written by 4 of the 5 band members. The band's fusion combines funk, rock, Latin and jazz/swing styles."

​Pavlo & Daniel Emmet | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "Together, they blend Pavlo’s infectious Mediterranean rhythms with Daniel’s soaring operatic-pop vocals to create an unforgettable evening of music. Expect a rich mix of fiery instrumentals, heartfelt ballads, and powerful duets, delivered with passion and precision."

​Armani & Stalk Ashley Live: Impact Tour | Rare Nightclub, Waterloo | 8pm

​Friday Night Dance Party | E.V.O. Kitchen, Cambridge | 9pm | "The music goes wherever the vibe takes us - from throwbacks to club favourites and everything in between. If it gets people moving, it’s getting played!"

​The Flying Dutchmen: Live | Block Three Brewing, St. Jacobs | 9pm | "A dynamic acoustic duo bringing a fresh twist to classic hits. They seamlessly blend folk, pop, rock, and country genres. Your favourite tunes in a stripped-down, acoustic style that’s both engaging and unforgettable."

Saturday, May 9th

​Mothers Day Floral Workshop | St. Jacobs Farmers Market | Multiple times available but tickets look to be selling out fast | "Celebrate the beauty of Mother's Day by joining us for a delightful and hands-on Floral Arrangement Workshop! Sign up with mom, or make it as a gift."

​Waste Discovery Day | Waterloo Waste Management Site | 9am-1pm

• Free, fun, and family-friendly
• The region invites the community to learn what happens after carts are collected during Waste Discovery Day
• Featuring family-fun attractions including guided bus tours of the Waterloo landfill, a falconer meet and greet, face painting, mint planting, children’s games, a food truck, and a look at some of the equipment used in waste management.

​Gem & Mineral Show​ | The Aud, Kitchener | 10am-4pm | "Hands on activities for children, rocks/minerals/fossils/meteorites, gemstones/jewelry/beads, fluorescent specimens & local vendors"

​Forest Walk: Trees and Old Growth | Ken Seiling Museum, Kitchener | 10am | "Join Region of Waterloo Forester Andrew Puchalski for an immersive guided walk through the beautiful woodlands surrounding Doon Heritage Village. Discover how our forests are constantly changing and renewing - from towering old-growth stands to thoughtfully managed reforestation areas - and uncover the hidden systems that keep them thriving."

​Kids in the Kitchen: Mother's Day Mini Cakes | Kitchener Farmers Market | 10:30am-12:30pm | "In this hands-on mini cake class, our budding chefs will bake, decorate, and personalize adorable mini cakes made with love from start to finish."

​Poyo Fest 2026: A Kirby Celebration | Gaukel Block, Kitchener | 11am-7pm | "Join us for free and spend the whole day exploring over local artists, workshops, and surprise-filled activities. Feeling extra? Snag a Poyo Pass for exclusive merch, discounts, and goodies you can’t get anywhere else."

​Mom Fest | KWFamous Creative Cafe, Kitchener | 11am-4pm | "Whether you’re bringing your mom, are the mom, or just love a good creative hang - Mom Fest is about celebrating connection, creativity, and community in a way that feels real (not forced brunch energy)."

​Spring Open House & Fundraiser | Button Factory Arts Centre, Waterloo | 2-9:30pm | "There's a ton of fun performances, crafts and programs throughout the day for both adults & children. They've got a great programming schedule on the site when you click through to see what takes your interest."

​Come What May | KW Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 2pm | "Spring, but make it a cappella.The harmonies are locked in, someone has already asked “What are we wearing?” and we’re sounding suspiciously polished."

​The Power of Fate | St. Matthews Centre, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Renowned Korean-Canadian conductor Earl Lee leads the KWS for Mozart’s Violin Concerto #5 with our concertmaster Bénédicte Lauzière. The season concludes with Tchaikovsky’s best-loved symphony, the Fourth."

​Canada's Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers | Dallas Nightclub, Kitchener | 8pm

​Bad Mom’s Club: Retro Dance Party | Fireside Haven Studio, Cambridge | 8pm | "We’re playing the best of the 80’s, 90’s & early 2000’s — all the throwbacks, all the nostalgia, all the fun."

​Gordon Sheard Trio | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "An exciting, dynamic contemporary jazz ensemble that has been stunning audiences with virtuosic performances grounded on strong original compositions for over fifteen years."

Sunday, May 10th

Looking for something special to do for Mother's Day? There's a lot going on - from brunches to teas to luncheons to 'sip & stretches'. While there's a few events already sold out, here's a full list below of places you can still make reservations at:

• ​Rural Roots, Elmira (Brunch)
• ​Crown Plaza, Kitchener (Brunch)
• ​Four Fathers Brewing, Cambridge (Sip & Stretch)
• ​Canoeing the Grand, Kitchener (High Tea)
• ​Castle Kilbridge, Cambridge (Guided Tour)
• ​McDougall Cottage, Cambridge (High Tea)
• ​Waterloo Central Railway (High Tea & Luncheon)
• ​CDC Landscape Design & Floristry, Wellesley (High Tea)

​​Heartfulness Chair Yoga​​ | Waterloo Memorial Recreation Center, Waterloo | 8:30am | "The session starts at 8:55 AM with Relaxation & mind centring exercise for 5 mins followed by Meditation for about 30-45 minutes. Followed by learning Heartfulness techniques & interactive session, Q&A on topic of the day. Light refreshment after the session."

​Intuitive Art: Oil by Hand Class | Mandalia House, St. Jacobs | 10am | "This unique workshop is designed to help you connect with your creativity, explore your emotions, and express yourself through the tactile and flowing medium of oil paints—using only your hands."

​Preparing to Garden | Ken Seiling Museum, Kitchener | 10am | "Learn all there is to know about starting a garden! A hands-on overview of soil preparation, essential tools, methods of watering, fertilizing and preventing weeds. Participants will sow seeds and learn how to care for tender seedlings."

Upcoming Events

​Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic (Trailer Park Boys) | Maxwell's, Waterloo | Wed, May 27th at 7pm | "Get ready for a night of outrageous laughs, greasy goodness, and classic Trailer Park Boys chaos with Randy Bobandy himself!"

​Grand River Buzz Upcoming Events Page​

Farmers Markets

​St. Jacobs | Saturday, May 9th (7am—3:30pm)

​Kitchener | Saturday, May 9th (7am—2pm)

​Cambridge | Saturday, May 9th (7am—1pm)

​Elmira | Saturday, May 9th (8am-1:30pm)​

* none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so.

COMEDY

Friday, May 8th

​Rusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | "Headliner: John Mostyn"

​The Big & Tall Comedy Tour | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "A high-energy stand-up showcase featuring a stacked lineup of touring comics, including CJ Erwin, Billy Squires, Jonny P, Tim Reaburn, and Curtis Coleman, with credits spanning CBC, Apple TV, and Prime Video."

Saturday, May 9th

​Together We're Boisterous Comedy Show | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Grab a drink, gather your friends, and join us for a comedy show that’s anything but predictable."

​Yuk Yuk's Comedy​ | Bingemans, Kitchener | 8pm | "Headliners: Bryan Hatt, Leny Corrado & Lianne Mauladin"

​Rusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | "Headliner: John Mostyn"

​Toronto Comedy All Stars | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "Catch the hottest standups from Toronto’s world-class comedy scene for one night only, featuring comedians seen on Just For Laughs, Hulu, Crave, CBC & more!"

Upcoming Events

​Yuk Yuk's Dinner & Show | Bingemans, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Headliners: Adrienne Fish, Ronald Hae & Greg Palone"

WEATHER

🌦️ Fri, May 8th | HIGH 14° | NIGHT 4° | 40% POP | 1mm 💧

⛈️ Sat, May 9th | HIGH 17° | NIGHT 3° | 70% POP | 5mm 💧

🌧️ Sun, May 10th | HIGH 11° | NIGHT 1° | 30% POP

SPORTS

🥅 Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Kitchener lead the OHL Championship Series 1-0 against the Barrie Colts (best of 7)

• 5/1: Kitchener beat Barrie 5-2 in game one, with the matchup a lot closer than the scoreline would suggest | #43 Andrew MacNiel was the first star - grabbing 2 goals, including the game winner | Watch Highlights​​
• Next Game: Fri, May 8th at 7pm | The Aud, Kitchener | Tickets are sold out, but you can also watch the game on your TV if you don't want to miss out on the action.

⚾️ Kitchener Panthers

• Home Opener: Kitchener Panthers vs. Chatham-Kent Barnstormers | Sun, May 17th at 2:05pm | Click here for more info and tickets. Pretty cool that they've been around since 1919!

* what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

"Join the Waterloo Region Community Foundation for a 'Do More Good Dialogue' conversation about ways to embed social infrastructure into places. We have invited Daily tous les jours, an award-winning art and design studio, to talk about some of the creative ways places can inspire connection. We will also be sharing some updates on WRCF and celebrating community with the presentation of several WRCF Community Awards."

Click here to find out more, and secure your free ticket!

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Meet Moss!

Moss is a medium-sized, 5 year old male cat who first came to the shelter at the beginning of April.

"He's a soft-hearted tabby with such big, curious green eyes! While he may be a little shy at first, there's a sweetness in him that's just waiting to bloom in the right home. He's looking for a calm and peaceful environment where he can take things at his own pace. Loud spaces and lots of activity aren't his style, Moss prefers patient companions (adults or older, calm kids) who understand that trust takes time. With a little patience and kindness, Moss begins to show his true self: an affectionate boy who forms deep bonds with his people. Watching him come out of his shell is sure to be a special experience, and the connection you'll build with him is well worth the wait."

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.

* 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

RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY

Structural Blue: The feathers of a Blue Jay aren't actually blue. The pigment in their feathers is brown (melanin), but because of a phenomenon called structural colour, the microscopic structure of the feathers scatters light in a way that only blue wavelengths are reflected back. If you were to crush a Blue Jay feather, the blue color would disappear. (what?!?)

The F1 Halo: The "Halo" titanium bar located above a Formula 1 driver's cockpit is strong enough to support the weight of a double-decker bus. Despite its thin appearance, it is designed to withstand a 125-kilo-newton impact (about 12 tonnes of weight) to protect the driver from flying debris.

Built-in Flippers: Golden Retrievers have significant webbing between their toes. While many dog breeds have some webbing, it is particularly prominent in Goldens, making them incredibly efficient swimmers and helping them navigate muddy or marshy terrain with ease.

THANK YOU!

Hope you have a fantastic day & we'll see you Monday 💪

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!

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