The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
π Blue Rodeo, Blue Boxes & "Hurry hard!"
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January 8th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! What a beautiful January day with some warmth and blue skies. Definitely deserved after this crazy winter we've been having so far... Hope you're having an excellent week, & we've got some great stuff packed into the newsletter. In today's email:
Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General βBlue Rodeo: Lost Together - The 40th Anniversary Tour | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | Fri, Jan. 9th & Sat, Jan. 10th at 8pm | "Blue Rodeo has defined the sound of Canadian roots rock with their signature blend of folk, country, and rock, earning a devoted fanbase, 12 JUNO Awards, and a permanent place in Canadian music history." βOntario Men's & Women's Curling Championships | Woolwich Memorial Centre, Elmira | Sun, Jan. 4th to Sun, Jan. 11th | "The Elmira & District Curling Club is excited to once again present the Ontario curling championships. Kids 12 and under are free! Full event, weekend, single day and single draw passes available." βShrek: The Musical | Hamilton Family Theatre, Cambridge | Shows everyday through Sun, Jan. 11th | "The greatest fairy tale never told comes to life in this fun-filled and hilarious musical comedy based on the hit animated movie." βCinderella: The Panto | St. Jacob's Country Playhouse | Shows everyday through Sun, Jan. 11th | "Pantos are a popular form of family theatre in the UK based on fairy or folk tales, and encourage audience participation." Thursday, January 8th βMusical Bingo: Best of 2010s | EVO Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge | 7pm βThursday Soul Show: Joshua Pascua | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "A blend of Pop, Funk, RnB and Soul. With training in jazz and contemporary vocals, Joshua brings depth and emotion to every performance, connecting with listeners through catchy hooks and personal storytelling." Friday, January 9th βPsychic & Crystal Fair | The Cambridge Newfoundland Club | 1-9pm | "Psychics, mediums, palm readings, numerology, astrology, tarot card readings, intuitive healers, crystal vendors and more - also runs through Sat/Sun" βKevin California: Live Music | Block Three Brewing, St. Jacob's | 6pm | "A Canadian singer-songwriter-producer whose musical origins began from the warmth of the west coast in 2014" βFriday Live Music | The Galt Club, Cambridge | 8pm | "Friday Night Music is back in 2026. This Friday, Brandon Dean performs" βTymish Koznarsky Quintet | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "Koznarsky is renowned for his nuanced and quick-witted improvisations, which take listeners on an engrossing voyage through the diverse and intricate realm of jazz." Saturday, January 10th βThat 70's Rock Show | Room 47, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "A night of groovy tunes and nostalgic vibes. Let's transport ourselves back to the era of bell bottoms, disco balls, and classic rock anthems. Don't miss out on this blast from the past!" βSara Porter: Excerpts from Hello Sunshine! | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Storytelling, dance, comedy, and image come together in a multi-media account of living with an invisible disability." βBenjamin Deschamps' "No Code" | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "The group stands out for the absence of a harmonic instrument and for the emphasis placed on improvisation, interaction, and dialogue between the musicians." Sunday, January 11th βSunday Grind | Fresh Ground, Kitchener | 11am-2pm | "A fresh new music series designed to bring people together over great coffee, local talent, and vibrant community vibes. This Sunday features DJ Yazzy of Exclusive Vibez Music" βFamily Sunday: Paper Cutting Magic | KW Art Gallery, Kitchener | 1-4pm | "Guided by our talented Art Instructors, families will explore new art techniques, play with materials, and create one-of-a-kind artworks together. Plus, it's free!" βPoetry Open Mic Night | Pink Crow Cafe, Waterloo | 7pm | "Come join us for a night of poetic vibes and good times! Whether you're a seasoned poet or just dipping your toes into the world of spoken word, this event is the perfect place to share your creativity." Farmers Markets βSt. Jacobs | Thursday, January 8th (8amβ3pm) | Saturday, January 10th (7amβ3:30pm) βKitchener | Saturday, January 10th (7amβ2pm) βCambridge | Saturday, January 10th (7amβ1pm)β * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS
Check out the 'Community Update' section below for more information about upcoming changes to the region's recycling program. COMEDY Friday, January 9th βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Jeff Paul Saturday, January 10th βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Jeff Paul Upcoming Events βJeff Leeson: Only Gonna Say This Once Comedy Tour | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | Sat, Apr. 18th at 8pm | "Combining traditional stand up comedy with long form improv Jeff creates a unique and personal experience for the audience each and every show." I've seen Jeff perform a couple times now and the shows are so, so good. I almost had to leave one of the times because I was finding it hard to breathe from laughing too much π WEATHER π€οΈ Thu, Jan. 8th | HIGH 4Β° | NIGHT 5Β° | 30% POP π§οΈ Fri, Jan. 9th | HIGH 11Β° | NIGHT -3Β° | 100% POP | 5mm π§ π¨οΈ Sat, Jan. 10th | HIGH 1Β° | NIGHT -3Β° | 1000% POP | 2cm βοΈ π¨οΈ Sun, Jan. 11th | HIGH -3Β° | NIGHT -4Β° | 60% POP | 1cm βοΈ SPORTS π₯ Kitchener Rangers | 5th overall | 2nd in Western Conference
π KW Titans | 1st overall
* what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful! GEM OF THE WEEK βRetro Rollers | 563 Highland Rd W, Kitchener Thanks very much to John for recommending this after receiving the last newsletter! Retro is making a comeback everywhere! From fashion to music to tech - and now the local rebirth of a classic: the roller rink. They're currently running a 'soft opening' - with skate times available Wednesdays to Sundays. Family owned & operated... they offer open 'roll' sessions along with classes for both adults and kids. If you don't have your own skates, no worries - they have rentals available for all ages. There are also three party rooms - perfect for birthdays, corporate events or other special occasions. If you're interested in checking it out, you can go to this page that has the waivers, 'rules of the rink' and FAQs. Or the link above the picture for days, times and more info. COMMUNITY UPDATE First it was the garbage/green bins, now we've got some changes coming to the region's recycling program. Here are some of the key notes/things to be aware of:
ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Meet Maslow! Maslow is a 4 year old male, mixed breed pup who weighs a touch over 40lbs. "A happy, wiggly guy who just loves people. He's friendly from the start, always excited for attention, and never says no to a good treat (or two). If you stop to say hello, be prepared, he'll wiggle his whole body like it's his job. He enjoys being around people, soaking up pets, and showing off his sweet personality. Treats are definitely his favorite thing, and he's very good at convincing you he deserves one! If you're looking for a fun, affectionate pup who brings a little extra joy and silliness into your day, Maslow would love to meet you." 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 The first webcam was created to watch a coffee pot. In 1991, researchers at the University of Cambridge set up a camera directed at the Trojan Room coffee pot so they could check if it was full without leaving their desks. Cashews grow on "apples." A cashew nut is actually a seed that grows on the bottom of a fleshy, pear-shaped fruit known as a "cashew apple." Bumblebees can fly higher than Mount Everest. In a study using flight chambers, researchers found that bumblebees are capable of flying at altitudes of over 29,500 feet - higher than the peak of the world's tallest mountain. THANK YOU! Hope you have an awesome day, a great weekend... & we'll see you 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. 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.
April 2nd, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Did anyone see the rocket launch going to the moon yesterday?! Exciting that we're going back there. This mission takes 4 astronauts on a 10 day journey where they'll fly around the moon and back. In the next year or two, the plan is to run two more missions - one where they'll connect with a lander in outer space, and the second where they'll actually land on the moon. And in a local twist, Jeremy Hansen from London, Ontario is one of the four...
March 30th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! What a beautiful, well-deserved day we're having. If you love paint nights, then you're going to absolutely love this newsletter. And if you don't... well, that's fine too - because there's lots of great stuff going on this week! Plus our local sports teams are getting right into 'playoff season' which is always exciting. In today's email: some great community-drive grants available lots of paint nights to choose from local news from the past...
March 26th, 2026 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! So for those that clicked through onto the 'upcoming events' site on Monday, thanks so much & appreciate the feedback. Since I can't reliably get the full list into the email each week, it's now going to live under 'Upcoming Events' in the 'What's Happening' section - this'll actually be a good thing, giving you easy access each time the newsletter's sent. I'll also put a 'new' badge on anything that was recently added. For example, there's a...