🐝 Trails, Tires & Lightsabers

April 30th, 2026

Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region!

Big thanks to all those that have participated so far in the giveaway to win $150 worth of gift cards!

Really appreciate it and welcome to anyone new this week, great to have you.

Still time to enter, with the deadline Sunday night & the winners announced on Monday (will list the first names in the newsletter and send out emails on how to collect your prize if you win.)

There's a TON going on this weekend, wait until you see the 'Upcoming Events' section.

Enjoy!

In today's email:

Waffle
a list of awesome trails in the area
who makes the most tires in the world
an event for everyone (seriously, there's so much variety)
& more

Let's dive in 👇

-Ross at Grand River Buzz

WHAT'S HAPPENING

General

Jane's Walk: Waterloo Region | Multiple walks, locations & times throughout the region | "Jane’s Walks are citizen-led walking tours that make space for people to observe, reflect, share, question and collectively reimagine the places in which they live, work and play. All walks are free and you don’t need to register to attend."

TriCon KW 2026 | The Museum, Kitchener | Sat & Sun from 10am-5pm | "TriCon combines a convention, vendor fair, and speaker event into one weekend that immerses guests in all things pop culture, sci-fi, comics, anime, visual art, digital technology, interactive tech-art, and more!"

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | Thu, Apr. 30th at 7pm and Sat & Sun at 1pm | "This critically acclaimed, immersive 2-hour theatre production combines side-splitting comedy with a delicious 3-course dinner. Step into the mayhem as Basil, Sybil, and Manuel bring the iconic British sitcom to life with their hilarious antics - all while you enjoy your meal."

Cambridge Potters Market | Cambridge Centre for the Arts | Fri from 4-9pm & Sat from 9am-5pm | "Discover beautiful, handmade ceramics at the annual Cambridge Potters Market, a two‑day celebration of talented local pottery artists. Browse functional and sculptural works, meet the makers behind the clay, and find one‑of‑a‑kind pieces for your home or as thoughtful gifts."

Rising Stars | St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre | Multiple times on Fri & Sat | "Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy presents Rising Stars. A spotlight on the next generation of musical theatre talent in a celebration of creativity, passion, and possibility. Performed by a dynamic ensemble of students, this high-energy revue features solos, duets, and showstopping production numbers from beloved Broadway classics to today’s biggest hits."

Thursday, April 30th

Darts Night | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Come out for a fun and friendly evening of darts. Partners rotate after each game of '501'. All levels are welcome."

Musical Bingo: Classic Rock | E.V.O. Kitchen, Cambridge | 7pm | "Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Doors… you know where we’re headed with this!"

Step Afrika! | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "Step Afrika! celebrates more than 30 years of critically acclaimed percussive performance with this groundbreaking program. The production features exciting new dance works alongside a performance shaped and refined through the Company’s long-standing collaboration with South Africa."

Friday, May 1st

Mood Yellow Gallery and Studios: Grand Opening | 204 King St. E, Cambridge | 5pm | "Join us in person for an evening filled with good vibes, local artists, and a splash of sunshine. It's the perfect chance to experience what Mood Yellow is all about and kick off something awesome together."

9th Annual KW Trivia Challenge | Bingemans, Kitchener | 6pm | "Join us in person for a fun-filled evening of brain teasers, friendly competition, and great vibes. Whether you're a trivia pro or just in it for laughs, this event is the perfect way to test your knowledge and meet awesome people. All in support of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul."

Tiny Sketchplorations | Neruda Arts, St. Jacobs | 7pm | "Bored of doomscrolling on your phone? Make a tiny sketchbook your new playground!This workshop will help you get started with exercises and tips on how to draw the world around you, or the world in your mind. All materials are provided & you can take them home after."

Music Bingo: Golden Oldies | Rural Roots, Elmira | 7:30pm | "A lively night of throwback hits, music bingo, and good vibes. Hosted by Liv & Phil, you’ll be singing along while you play for fun prizes. Cover by donation"

Run 2 You: The Bryan Adams Experience | E.V.O. Kitchen, Cambridge | 8pm | "Just announced - 'Something’s Always Flying' added to the night!"

New Vibes Jazz Quintet with Jerzy Kaplanek | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "The group interprets jazz standards with a polished sound and fluid improvisation."

Homegrown at The Registry: Shebad | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 8pm | "From neo soul, to jazz inflected melodies and danceable basslines, the sound of SHEBAD is music that exists in a sonic world of its own."

Men of the Deeps | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "A world-renowned choir of working and retired coal miners from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, who bring the stories of their lives underground to the stage through powerful song and heartfelt storytelling."

KW’S Official Cinco De Mayo Party | Rare Nightclub, Waterloo | 10pm | "Come party to the best Reggaeton, Perreo, Latin and Cancun vibes & club anthems with the best DJs!"

Tell All Your Friends: Alternative Night | Revive Karaoke, Waterloo | 10pm | "KW's only alternative DJ night is back featuring DJ Chives spinning the best emo, hardcore, punk, metal and alternative tracks all night long!"

Saturday, May 2nd

Shred & E-Waste Recycling Day | Woolwich Community Lions Club, Elmira | 10am-1pm | "Do you have confidential papers piling up? Old electronics collecting dust? Bring them to us and make a difference! Secure shredding - safely dispose of your papers, $10 donation per bankers box volume. Clear out your unwanted electronics - free of charge, but donations accepted."

Magic Mini Mandalas | Neruda Arts, St. Jacobs | 10am | "In this 2-hour acrylic painting workshop, you will create mandalas on wooden rounds."

Wonderfully Made Spring Market | Catalyst 137, Kitchener | 10am-3pm | "Bringing together over 65+ incredible makers and artisans under one roof for a day of inspired shopping and discovery. Explore hundreds of one‑of‑a‑kind, locally crafted products - from gifts and home goods to sweet treats and small luxuries."

Spring Pottery Sale | The Corner Studio, Kitchener | 10am-4pm | "Whether you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, a unique piece for your garden, or a new favourite morning coffee mug, we have something special waiting for you. Come browse through hundreds of one-of-a-kind items"

Mom’s & Mimosa’s: Mother’s Day Market | Fireside Haven Studio, Cambridge | 11am-3pm | "Grab your mom, your sister, your bestie—or treat yourself—and join us for a beautiful day of shopping, sipping, and celebrating all things mom!"

May 2-D2: An Intergalactic Celebration | Ken Seiling Museum, Kitchener | 11am-4pm | "Dress up as your favourite characters, join our Galactic Academy and learn to wield a lightsaber like a pro, enjoy a variety of Galactic-themed snacks at Hazel's Cantina & more!"

Xuemei Lu's Ever-Pending: Exhibition Opening | Cambridge Centre for the Arts | 1pm | "Using experimental techniques like saggar firing and cyanotype, Ever-Pending explores themes of unpredictability through both material and lived experience."

Jazz Jam | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 2pm | "All performers are welcome. Listeners are encouraged (no charge)."

Headshots & Scoops Networking | Sweet Caroline's Ice Cream & Cafe | 4pm | "Join us for a kid-friendly networking event designed for local entrepreneurs, moms, and creatives. Enjoy ice cream while building meaningful connections and updating your professional image with headshots by Mae."

Glitz and Glam Drag Bingo | Block Three Brewing, St. Jacobs | 7pm | "A hilarious drag bingo with Crystal Quartz - glitz & glam and adult prizes, big laughs, and a great time await"

Royal Tusk: Live | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "Royal Tusk have built a reputation as one of Canada’s hardest-hitting modern rock acts, delivering electrifying live shows that blend gritty alternative energy with classic rock power."

The Roemers: Live | Rural Roots, Elmira | 7:30pm | "With a passion for rock and indie, their set features a dynamic mix of crowd-pleasing covers - from Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age to AC/DC - along with a few of their own original tracks."

2026 Thunderball: Thunder Strikes Pink | Puddicombe House, New Hamburg | 8pm | "19+ fundraiser featuring live music, pizza, and a raffle table in support of Wilmot Thunder. Wear a splash of pink and enjoy the night!"

Folk Night | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 8pm | "Multiple award-winning francophone singer Mélisande makes her first visit to The Registry. Accompanied by 4 seasoned musicians, including Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand of Genticorum, and featuring fiddle, flute, guitars, mandolin, and percussion, the result is a high-energy sound with strong vocal harmonies."

Classic Albums Live: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | 8pm | "Classic Albums Live and its roster of A-list musicians from across the country will be performing rock favourites exactly as you remember hearing them, note for note, cut for cut. "

James Brown’s “Art of Anthem Ensemble” | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "Guitarist, composer and educator James Brown has been a long time staple on the Canadian jazz scene. His set list features critically acclaimed original tunes by Brown along with tasty standards and not so standard tunes by Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Beatles."

Sunday, May 3rd

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."

Starling’s Steps for Kids | Starling Children's Mental Health Centre, Waterloo | 9am-12pm | "When you participate in Steps for Kids, every step and every dollar goes directly toward life‑changing programs like our Children’s Mental Health Centre and Safe Haven Youth Services. Your impact helps kids find safety, stability, and healing during some of the toughest moments of their lives. Pets are welcome on the walk too!"

Pottery Workshop: Ceramic Travel Mug | Metro Restaurant, Kitchener | 1pm | "In this 2-hour session, professional ceramics teacher Sarah will guide you step-by-step through the process of building your mug from start to finish. With visual examples, instruction sheets, and plenty of encouragement, you’ll learn the basics of clay construction, surface design, and the importance of embracing the perfectly imperfect process of pottery."

Tiny Felted Art | Neruda Arts, St. Jacobs | 1pm | "In this 2-hour workshop, you will needle felt 2-3 small pieces of 2-dimensional art on subjects of your own choosing!"

Glasstime | Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo | 2pm | "Our instructor will give a brief lesson on fused glass, and the rest of the time is yours to create a one-of-a-kind artwork! Get creative with colour and texture to create a unique, functional piece of art."

Bealtaine, 'Bright Fire' Celebration | Brubacher House, Waterloo | 2pm | "Presented by Irish Real Life - join us to celebrate the shift from winter to summer, fertility, and the blooming of nature with this ancient Celtic tradition."

Carry On: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 3pm | "Back by popular demand after the last sellout show!"

Supernatural-Tributo | Edelweiss Tavern, Kitchener | 5pm | "A Cinco De May fiesta! Groove to the authentic music of Santana with Supernatural-Tributo Santana's 10th Anniversary Show - featuring special guests The Divines!"

Dead Bob, Mvll Crimes, Disciples of Morgardee | Revive Karaoke, Waterloo | 7:30pm | “Dead Bob is the solo incarnation of John Wright, drummer of long time and apparently legendary, but now retired, Punk rock band No Means No.”

Upcoming Events

Gem & Mineral Show | The Aud, Kitchener | Sat, May 9th from 10am-4pm | "Hands on activities for children, rocks/minerals/fossils/meteorites, gemstones/jewelry/beads, fluorescent specimens & local vendors"

Waste Discovery Day | Waterloo Waste Management Site | Sat, May 9th from 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.

Grand River Buzz Upcoming Events Page

Farmers Markets

St. Jacobs | Saturday, May 2nd (7am—3:30pm)

Kitchener | Saturday, May 2nd (7am—2pm)

Cambridge | Saturday, May 2nd (7am—1pm)

Elmira | Saturday, May 2nd (8am—1:30pm) - First market of the year in Elmira, looking forward to checking it out!

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

WEATHER

🌦️ Fri, May 1st | HIGH 9° | NIGHT -2° | 40% POP | <1mm 💧

🌦️ Sat, May 2nd | HIGH 8° | NIGHT -2° | 30% POP | <1mm 💧

🌤️ Sun, May 3rd | HIGH 11° | NIGHT 7° | 30% POP

🌧️ Mon, May 4th | HIGH 15° | NIGHT 10° | 70% POP | 1-3mm 💧

SPORTS

🥅 Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Kitchener lead the Western Conference Final series 3-1 against the Windsor Spitfires (best of 7)

4/27: Kitchener lost 4-2 to Windsor away from home | #11 Cameron Arquette was the Rangers top player with a goal and an assist | Watch Highlights
4/29: Kitchener beat Windsor 6-3 in Game 4, putting them on the brink of winning the series | #86 Luca Romano led the way with a goal an assist | Watch Highlights
Next Game: Fri, May 1st | Game 5: Windsor at Kitchener | 7pm | Tickets

🏀 KW Titans (BSL)

KW lose the Championship Series 3-2 against the Sudbury Five (best of 5)

4/29: Heartbreak for the KW Titans. After winning the first two games, Sudbury came back to win games 3 & 4 - before clinching the series & championship with an extremely close 90-89 victory in game 5
While they didn't get the ultimate prize, the Titans can be extremely proud of an amazing season where they entertained local fans with great professional basketball over the last few months. Here's to a good off season and a strong return next year!

⚽️ Soccer

Women's Ontario Premier League 1

Sat, May. 2nd | Waterloo vs. Vaughan | RIM Park | 7:30pm | Tickets

Women's Ontario Premier League 2

Sat, May. 2nd | Cambridge United vs. Whitby FC | Fountain Street Soccer Complex | 7:30pm | Tickets

Men's Ontario Premier League 2

Fri, May 1st | Waterloo United vs. Hamilton United | RIM Park | 7:30pm | Tickets
Fri, May 1st | Cambridge United at Windsor City FC | 7:30pm

COMEDY

Thursday, April 30th

Sobreviviendo Canadá: Stand Up Comedy Latino | TWH Social, Kitchener | 6:30pm

Friday, May 1st

Rusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | "Headliner: Ian Sirota"

Saturday, May 2nd

Comedy Night | Counterpoint Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Presented by comedian Eric Pillwein - join us for a fun-filled night of laughter!"

Pinch Stand Up Student Showcase & Improv Jam | Whoopsie Daisy Drinks, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Students have spent 4 weeks working together honing their jokes, stories and bits! Come laugh with them at their graduation show where they'll share their original 5 minute sets. Cover by donation."

Rusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | "Headliner: Ian Sirota"

Upcoming Events

Yuk Yuk's Comedy | Bingemans, Kitchener | Sat, May 9th at 8pm | "Headliners: Bryan Hatt, Leny Corrado & Lianne Mauladin"

TRAILS AROUND THE REGION

Last October I featured some of the local trails in the area, and got some feedback from subscribers on their favourites. So I thought we'd highlight them again now that we're getting some nicer weather!

Let me know if you've got a favourite and/or enjoy any of the ones listed below.

rare Trails | Cambridge | Multiple Trails | "We are a community-based land trust and environmental institute dedicated to protecting over 1,500 acres of environmentally sensitive land across Waterloo Region and Wellington County."

an actual picture of my pup when she heard the word 'trails'

* do you have a favourite trail you like to walk on? let me know and send some pictures too!

COMMUNITY GROWTH

(This section was originally posted in the Monday, April 27th newsletter - but I'm including it again in case anyone missed it or still wants to get involved. $150 worth of gift card prizes just for sharing a link! Again, thanks so much to those who have participated so far, really appreciate it. Draw will be Sunday night & the winners contacted on Monday.)

As of writing, the Grand River Buzz currently sits at 799 subscribers!

Considering the first newsletter got sent to 27 people (shoutout to all you OG's!), this is huge.

But I've got a lofty goal to hit and I've been eyeing the next phase for a while now - 1,000 people receiving the Grand River Buzz every Monday and Thursday.

Naturally.. I want the list to be as large as possible - but it also helps out everyone. The more people we have in the Grand River Buzz community, the more we all get out of it. More people to recommend events, call out great community work, answer the questions of the week, share local tips & more.

All of which will give more valuable content to keep us all in the loop.

So here's the deal.

Share the Grand River Buzz on your favourite social media platform - and you'll be entered in for a chance to win a gift card.

To Enter:

Make a post on social media about why you like the newsletter, and encourage your friends, family members, etc. to signup
Use this link: grandriverbuzz.ca/subscribe
Once you've done so - reply to this email with "Posted" (I trust you so no need to send in screenshots that you've actually posted, just let me know you've done so and you're in!)

I'll then create a random draw with everyone submitted for the gift cards. (the draw will take place Sunday, May 3rd - with the winners announced the following day on the Monday newsletter)

The Prizes:

1st Place: $75
2nd Place: $50
3rd Place: $25

You can pick anywhere in the Waterloo Region. If they have online gift cards, I'll send the winners over via email... and if not no worries - you'd just need to provide me with your address so I can mail them out or drop them off.

First prize is the first drawn, second prize the second drawn and third prize the third person drawn.

Let's hit 1,000 Grand River Buzz members! I've got some awesome ideas in store for when we get there. (keep on the lookout for those)

Again, there's no pressure here, but if you're getting value out of the newsletter I'd appreciate it a ton.

ps. if you're not sure what to write, here's something you can copy & paste below to make things easier:

"I'm signed up to the Grand River Buzz newsletter and I think you'd love it too. Delivered every Monday & Thursday, it covers local events, news, updates & more from around the Waterloo Region. All with a positive spin, avoiding anything negative (ex. they don't talk politics, robberies, etc.) Signup at this link: grandriverbuzz.ca/subscribe"

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Meet Waffle!

Waffle's a one & a half year old male who came to the shelter for the first time this April. Love the tongue, he looks fun!

"This sweet boy is full of personality and is such a fun bundle of energy once he's comfortable. Waffle enjoys attention and really being part of the action, and he's sure to keep his future family smiling with his fun-loving nature.Waffle may be a little reserved at first in new environments, but he settles in nicely with a bit of time and reassurance. Once he's feeling at ease, his playful, affectionate side really shines through!

Waffle would thrive in a home that can offer him patience during his initial adjustment period, followed by plenty of opportunities for play and engagement! Come meet this sweet boy today."

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 World's Biggest Tire Manufacturer: By sheer number of units produced, LEGO is the world’s largest tire manufacturer, producing over 300 million tiny tires every year.

13 Full Moons: The year 2026 will feature 13 full moons instead of the usual 12. This includes a rare "Blue Moon" in May and a Supermoon that will fall right before Christmas.

Golden Earth: There is enough gold at the Earth's core to cover the entire surface of the planet in a layer 1.5 feet thick. However, it is located about 1,800 miles beneath our feet, making it impossible to mine.

THANK YOU!

Hope you're having a great week so far!

Enjoy the weekend and see you again on Monday 🐝

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? 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

🐝 Trails, Tires & Lightsabers

INFO STATION:

🐝 OHL Champs, Ghost Walks & Dale

🐝 Duelling Pianos, Shy Cats & Not-Blue Blue Jays?

🐝 Sneaky Blue Jays, Hidden Gems & Big Winners