The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
🐝 Teddy Bear Toss, Yoko & Ketchup Medicine
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December 4th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! I've said in previous emails that "this newsletter is packed", and I always genuinely thought it was... But this one... is JAM PACKED! There's so much going on around the region and it's fantastic. Great to see such a vibrant community, especially around this time of year. In today's email:
Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING General (over the weekend) KrampusKINDL | 44 Gaukel St., Kitchener | Friday, Saturday & Sunday Cambridge Holiday Market | Cambridge City Hall | Friday, Saturday & Sunday Christkindl Market | Kitchener City Hall | Thursday to Sunday Thursday, December 4th Bailey's Holiday Night Market | Bailey's Local Foods, Waterloo | 4-9pm | They also run an online farmers market where you can pick up your order later (on your next visit). Candlelight Evening Tour | Castle Kilbride, Baden | 6pm | "A self-guided tour with costumed staff in rooms. Entertainment by Local Vocals. And finish your tour with shortbread and warm cider." The Professional Palette: How To Taste Like A Sommelier | Langdon Hall, Cambridge | 6:30pm | "A guided exploration of how sommeliers approach wine analytically and sensorially, breaking down acidity, tannin, body, and balance in a way that’s accessible" One Love, One World: Canadians for Jamaica | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 6:30pm | "Featuring an exciting lineup of talented regional artists coming together for a powerful cause. This special benefit concert will raise funds in support of hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica." Beer Stein Making Workshop | Wave Maker Craft Brewery, Cambridge | 7pm Midtown Radio Holiday Variety Show | AOK Craft Beer & Arcade, Kitchener | 8pm | "Enjoy music, poetry, and comedy from fabulous Kitchener/Waterloo entertainers!" Shawn Desman: Back To Life | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm Friday, December 5th Downtown Elmira Moonlight Madness | 6pm | "Join us this holiday season in Downtown Elmira for a festive celebration of local shopping and community spirit! Discover unique gifts and enjoy holiday treats as you explore our downtown shops, all while supporting small businesses." Uptown Waterloo Tree Lighting Ceremony | Waterloo Public Square | 6pm Night Market | Melville Street, Cambridge | 6:30pm Phil Kline's Unsilent Night | Cambridge City Hall | 6:45pm | "All ages will enjoy walking through downtown Cambridge with thousands of participants as you enjoy interactive light installations and live LED performers who will be along the route." Larry's Jazz Guys for the Holidays | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm The Tenors: Joy to the World Tour | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "Celebrate the wonder of the holiday season with The Tenors: Joy to the World Tour—an unforgettable evening of music, magic, and holiday spirit." Santa's Nightcap (19+) | St. Jacob's | 8:30pm Saturday, December 6th Winter Artisan Market | Kitchener Farmer's Market | 7am-2pm Grinch Food & Toy Drive | St. Jacob's Farmers Market | "The Grinch is coming to the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, but he isn’t coming to steal Christmas, he is coming to collect non-perishable food donations for the Food Bank, and new-packaged toys for Voices WR" Jingle & Mingle Market | Schwaben Club, Kitchener | 9am-3pm Christmas Craft & Gift Sale | Wilmont Recreation Complex, Baden | 10am-3pm | "Plenty of vendors with gifts and goodies, photos with Santa, silent auction & lunch!" Your Ceramic Christmas House: A Pottery Workshop | Camellia Bake Shop, Waterloo | 10:30am Christmas at Rural Roots! | Rural Roots Brewery, Elmira | 11am | "Enjoy a festive day filled with live music by Dana Kay and Joe Dunn, cheerful visits with Santa, and free hot chocolate to keep you warm and cozy." Kid's Festive Mug Workshop | Meadow Acres, Petersburg | 11am Jazz Jam | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 2pm | "All performers are welcome!" Claytime | Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo | "Get creative with clay! During this freestyle clay workshop you can make and paint a small project of your choice." Hotel California: The Original Tribute to the Eagles | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "For almost three decades, Hotel California has been re-creating the legendary sound of The Eagles, and thrilling audiences all over the world." Florian Hoefner Trio | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 2pm | "All performers are welcome!" Sunday, December 7th Brunch with Santa | African Lion Safari | 9am-12pm Snow Goddess Artisan Festival | Yoni Mudra Art Gallery | 10am-6pm | "This year, we are hosting a sound bath and grounding ceremony, artisan show, and masquerade soiree with live entertainment." Christmas at Doon | Doon Heritage Village, Kitchener | 11am-4pm Big Screen Christmas: Home Alone | The Gaslight District, Cambridge | 1pm Family Sunday: Candle Making | K-W Art Gallery | 1pm | "Make your very own candle to take home, and relax with a cup of apple cider while your creation cools. Let’s light up the season together!" Winter Showdown | St. George Banquet Hall | 1pm | "The Whip Boxing Academy presents an action packed afternoon of boxing. Hosted by Canadian boxing icon, Fitz 'The Whip' Vanderpool." Paint Nite | Score Pizza, Waterloo | 2pm Farmers Markets St. Jacobs | Thursday, December 4th (8am—3pm) | Saturday, December 6th (7am—3:30pm) Kitchener | Saturday, December 6th (7am—2pm) Cambridge | Saturday, December 6th (7am—1pm) Upcoming Events Sonic Uke Ensemble Holiday Show | Sunday, December 14th | 4-7pm | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | "Tiny instruments. Big sound. Huge holiday fun. And proceeds from ticket sales will go to support Tiny Home Takeout, a local initiative bringing food and community to those who need it most." Disney's The Muppet Christmas Carol | Thur, Dec. 11th & Fri, Dec. 12th | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | "Featuring a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live to film." * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS Frederick Street Bridge Demolition Begins with Year-Long Road Closure in Kitchener. Advancing the long-promised Highway 7 expansion, Kitchener's Frederick Street Bridge demolition commenced this week with a scheduled overnight closure of Highway 7/85 on December 6-7, while Frederick Street will remain closed until approximately November 2026 as the bridge is demolished and reconstructed to accommodate highway widening between Kitchener and Guelph. Local Author Aaron Williams Wins Prestigious Literary Award. Wilfrid Laurier University has named Aaron Williams the winner of the 2025 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, recognizing his storytelling and contribution to the Canadian literary landscape. Region of Waterloo Launches Medical Priority Dispatch System to Accelerate Emergency Response. Enhancing life-saving capabilities, the Region of Waterloo rolled out a new Medical Priority Dispatch System on December 4, enabling paramedics to prioritize the most critical emergencies while providing comprehensive training and new mobile software to streamline access to vital patient information during responses. Kitchener Partners with Local Startup to Launch AI-Powered Website. The City of Kitchener has teamed up with local tech startup municiPal AI to integrate artificial intelligence into the city's website. This new tool allows residents to ask questions in plain language—such as inquiries about bylaws or permits—and receive instant, conversational answers, making city services more accessible and user-friendly. Waterloo Racquet Club Revived After Fire. After a devastating fire and an $11 million restoration effort, the Waterloo Tennis Club (now the Waterloo Racquet Club) has officially reopened its doors, restoring a beloved recreational hub for the community. COMEDY Friday, December 5th Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | The Walper Hotel, Kitchener | Headliner: Bryan Hatt Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | Morty's Pub, Waterloo | Headliner: Drew Behm Saturday, December 6th Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | TWH Social, Kitchener | Headliner: Bryan Hatt Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | Morty's Pub, Waterloo | Headliner: Jean Paul Sunday, December 7th Justin Willman: One For The Ages Tour | 7pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | "Fresh off the release of Magic Lover—Netflix’s first-ever magic comedy special - Justin Willman is hitting the road with an all-new tour: One for the Ages." Upcoming Yuk Yuk's New Years Eve Comedy Show | Wednesday, December 31st | 8pm | Kingpin Bowlounge (Bingemans), Kitchener | Headliners: Dom Pare & DK Phan * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. WEATHER 🌦️ Thu, Dec. 4th | HIGH -7° | NIGHT -15° | 40% POP | <1cm ❄️ ⛅️ Fri, Dec. 5th | HIGH -4° | NIGHT -8° | 30% POP 🌨️ Sat, Dec. 6th | HIGH -2° | NIGHT -6° | 40% POP | <1cm ❄️ 🌨️ Sun, Dec. 7th | HIGH -3° | NIGHT -17° | 40% POP | <1cm ❄️ 'GEM' OF THE WEEK Alright, I'm trying out something new so bear with me... I thought it'd be cool to feature a business, store or spot around the region each week that really stands out. So first up... we have The Mercantile in Elmira. Located in the building where Crossroads used to be as you head into Elmira. (agh they had great breakfast buffets, I miss them...) They sell a wide range of home decor and gift items. From candles to jewelry to decorations to soaps to pots & tons of other knick-knacks. There's something for everyone! They've also got a 'Christmas Extravaganza' event going on this weekend! One of my favourite places to go for a gift & tons of great items to browse and buy. You can check out their Facebook page here. * not sponsored by the business. that will always be made obvious if so. SPORTS 🥅 Kitchener Rangers | 7th overall
* what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful! COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Turkey Drive Join the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club's 24th Annual Turkey Drive, supporting House of Friendship's Christmas Food Program. Their goal for 2025 is reaching 1,750 more families than last year, so any help given is really appreciated. Your donation provides a complete holiday meal for families in need. $150 feeds a family with turkey and all the fixings, while $50 provides a turkey alone. Since 2003, this volunteer-driven program has fed nearly 5,000 households annually - with every dollar going directly to those who need it most. Click here to find out more about the project, and what help they need. * these are not a sponsored placement, just a cause I came across. ads will always be made obvious if so. ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Meet Yoko! She's a 5 year old domestic shorthair/mix with white & orange fur. The 'Ultimate Social Butterfly', Yoko first came to the shelter on November 4th. "An affectionate little cat who loves nothing more than curling up in your lap and soaking up all the attention she can get. Friendly and confident, Yoko adjusts easily to new people and surroundings. She was exploring her new foster home and making friends with her foster's roommates on her very first day, all on her own! While she's perfectly content spending time alone when needed, she'll happily seize every opportunity to snuggle, purr, and show off her loving personality." 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 a donation drive going on right now called 'Double The Hope This Holiday Season'. Your donation has twice the power as local landscaping company Helmutz is matching all donations up to $10,000 through December 7th. More information can be found at this link if you're interested. * 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 What's your favourite event, tradition or 'must do' each holiday season? 🎄 Reply with your answer and I'll share some responses next week! Each month I'll be sending out a special gift to some random people that either reply to the Question of the Week... or give overall feedback on the newsletter (see the ps. at the bottom)! RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY Cows have best friends and get stressed when separated from them. Studies have shown that cows exhibit lower heart rates when they are around their preferred companions. During World War II, the British military tanks were equipped with all the items needed to make tea. This boiling vessel, or 'BV', was installed to allow troops to make tea safely inside the tank, keeping them out of enemy fire. Ketchup was originally marketed as a medicine in the 1830s to treat indigestion and diarrhea. An Ohio physician named Dr. John Cook Bennett was credited with developing the tomato-based concoction. THANK YOU! Hope you have a great day, an awesome weekend... & 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! INFO STATION:❌ Had enough of these emails? No hard feelings, sometimes I don't like them either.. just tap this link to unsubscribe. 😩 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/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: 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.
December 1st, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Here we are in the final month of 2025. (did this year go super fast for anyone else?!) 24 days until Christmas, and a ton of great events happening around the region. There truly is something going on for all ages and interests. In today's email: a must try for eggs benny lovers question of the week are sharks or trees older? a special community highlight & more Let's dive in 👇 -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING Monday, December 1st...
November 27th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! How about all this sno... ahh, nevermind, let's talk about something else. Hmmm.. tomorrow is Black Friday! I know for some of you it's all systems go for finding the best deals, while others are putting in noise-cancelling headphones and heading on a long walk. Whatever group you're in... hope you're having the best day and an awesome week so far. We've got lots of fun stuff heading into this weekend, so let's get to it. In today's email:...
November 24th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Hope you're having a great day and enjoying some of the 'sunnier' weather lately. After an absolutely packed weekend, things kick off a bit quieter this week.. but they start to ramp right back up again as the week goes on. In today's email: an epic, 'Moonlight Madness' event the smallest bone in your body question of the week the best poutine around (?!) & more Let's dive in 👇 WHAT'S HAPPENING Monday, November 24th Paper Flower Workshop |...