The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
π Ring in 2026, Ski Chicopee & Tongue Prints
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December 29th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! We're officially into the last few days of 2025 (where did the year go?!) There's a ton of great events going on to celebrate NYE, and some fun family-friendly activities on New Year's Day as well. Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope 2026 kicks off well for ya! π₯³ In today's email:
Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING Tuesday, December 30th βAcrylic Pour Workshop | Block Three Brewing, St. Jacob's | 6:30pm | "This workshop lets you pour and manipulate specially formulated paints to create unique, abstract designs. No experience required - just bring your creativity!" βBooks & Brews | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Come for the books, stay for the brews - let's talk literature over a pint!" Wednesday December 31st (New Year's Eve) βGlow Slime Party | Mini Playtown, Kitchener | Multiple Times Available | "Elsa, Anna & Olaf are coming to Mini Playtown for a Slime Glow Party! Join us for glowing slime fun, dancing, photos, stories, and magical playtime." βCambridge New Year's Eve Party | Preston Memorial Auditorium | 3-7pm | "Come ring in the New Year with the City of Cambridge with an evening packed with free activities for all ages on and off the ice." βNYE Sparkling Wine Pairing Dinner | Little Mushroom, Cambridge | 5pm | "We take you through four courses of sparkling wine from Hinterland Wine Co, from Prince Edward County, paired with food from Little Mushroom Dining Lounge." β80's and 90's NYE Dance Party | EVO Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge | 5:30pm | "Dinner, retro dance party, great vibes, and zero stress - let's make this New Yearβs Eve unforgettable!" βWaterloo New Year's Eve Party | Waterloo Public Square | 6-9pm | "Free, family-friendly event. Ice skating, hot cider, a DJ & more." βThe Roast of NYE: Comedy Show | The Registry Theatre, Kitchener | 7pm | "Headlining the night is Canada's own roastmaster Tyler Morrison, taking the stage for a no-holds-barred Roast of 2025 - because if the yearβs going out, it might as well go down in flames." βNYE Celebration Party | Wave Maker Brewery, Cambridge | 7pm | "Good people, fun games and great music make for a great party, so we've got a variety of activities to take us to midnight-whether it's for laughs or for prizes you'll have a great time!" βRockin' New Year's Eve Bash ft. The Mudmen | Four Father's Brewing, Cambridge | 7:30pm | "Celebrate New Year's Eve with an unforgettable evening of Celtic music and storytelling from Canadaβs very own Celtic rock warriors, The Mudmen!" βNYE Featuring The Almost Hip | Bobby O'Brien's, Kitchener | 8pm | "An unforgettable NYE celebration featuring live music from The Almost Hip, delivering an energetic tribute to the legendary sound you love." βNYE Countdown on the Big Screen | The Gaslight District, Cambridge | 8pm | "The most popular annual New Year's Eve tradition is coming to The Big Screen! Catch the New Year's Eve Ball Drop live on our Big Screen!" βYuk Yuk's Comedy | Kingpin Bowlounge (Bingemans, Kitchener) | 8pm | Headliners: Dom Pare & DK Phan βKitchener New Year's Eve Party | Kitchener City Hall | 8:30pm | "Kid-friendly concert to kick things off, an 'early family countdown', Shania Twain tribute performance, free hot chocolate, ice skating & more!" βGlass Tiger Concert | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 9pm | "Upclose. Iconic. Unmissable: A rare chance to get closer than ever as you ring in 2026 with the band Glass Tiger." βRomeo Sex Fighter NYE | Elements, Kitchener | 9pm | "Your favourite long bois ring in the new year with very special guests (TBA)" βThe Great Galtsby NYE | The Galt Club, Cambridge | 9pm | "A Night of Drag, Dancing & Exotic Performances! Dress code: 1920's era" Thursday, January 1st (New Year's Day) Not a ton open or going on today, but listing out some spots where you can still go & have some fun!
* none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS Regional Services Operating on Modified Holiday Schedules Over New Year's. Planning ahead for the New Year holiday, the Region of Waterloo announced adjusted service schedules with administrative offices, libraries, museums, and waste collection services closed on January 1, while essential services including warming spaces, overnight shelters, and the Service First Call Centre remain available to serve residents throughout the holiday period. | More Infoβ Chicopee Ski Hill Opens on Schedule. For the first time in five years, Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort has officially opened its hills on schedule for the holiday break. Favourable temperatures allowed for perfect snow-making conditions, providing local families with a much-anticipated outdoor activity to enjoy during the school holidays. | More Infoβ The "Art of Engineering" Showcase. Engineering students at the University of Waterloo have launched a new exhibition this week that transforms complex research into stunning visual art. The project - "The Art of Engineering" - uses high-resolution photography of microscopic materials and scientific processes to create a gallery experience that celebrates the beauty of innovation. | More Info (the pictures are really cool! and you can see past years winners as well) WEATHER π¨οΈ Mon, Dec. 29th | HIGH -1Β° | NIGHT -9Β° | 70% POP | 6-8cm βοΈ π¨οΈ Tue, Dec. 30th | HIGH -6Β° | NIGHT -7Β° | 60% POP | 2-4cm βοΈ π¨οΈ Wed, Dec. 31st | HIGH -6Β° | NIGHT -13Β° | 70% POP | 6cm βοΈ β οΈ Thu, Jan. 1st | HIGH -11Β° | NIGHT -12Β° | 40% POP | 1cm βοΈ SPORTS π₯ Kitchener Rangers | 5th overall | 2nd in Western Conference
π KW Titans
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT βColdest Night of the Year is an annual family-friendly fundraising walk held on February 28, 2026, supporting local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness across Canada. Participants choose between 2km or 5km routes at organized main events in 190 Canadian communities or walk offsite on their own schedule throughout February, with 100% of net proceeds staying local to support charity partners. Each of the tri-cities has their own walk/cause, linked below:
Do you know of any great causes or organizations doing impactful things throughout our community? Make sure to reply & share so I can feature them in an upcoming newsletter! FOOD & DRINK IN THE REGION βLa Cucina | 320 King St W, Kitchener Thanks to Cheryl for replying back to a recent email & recommending this 'top food spot in the region'. "La Cucina is a NEW authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Although a new location, the owners are not new to Italian food. With strong Italian roots, a passion to create authentic Italian food and a love of quality and fresh ingredients, La Cucina will soon be your favourite spot to eat and hang-out. The irresistible aromas from our custom-built Malagutti pizza oven will draw you in, and the delicious dishes that emerge from it will keep you coming back for more. Our menu includes antipasti, homemade pastas, paninis, and larger dishes like Veal Parmigiana and Porchetta." And as always, don't just take my word for it. Here's a fantastic, 5-star review from Mauro last week who had an excellent time: "Absolutely incredible! Every bite was full of flavour, Neil, our server, was warm and genuine, and the atmosphere was perfect. You can feel the passion behind everything they do. Canβt wait to come back - highly recommended!" It's so fun watching the pizzas come in and out of the oven - and they have a ton of other dishes... so lot's to choose from. We went for a family member's birthday not too long ago and the service was excellent. You can check out their menu here - enjoy! π€ * this is not a sponsored placement, but a recommendation. ads will always be made obvious if so. QUESTION OF THE WEEK "As we head into 2026, what is the one local business in the region youβre determined to visit more often in the new year?" π Hit reply to this message to let me know and I'll share some of the best responses next week! RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY Peanuts are not actually nuts. Despite the name, peanuts are legumes, making them more closely related to beans, lentils, and peas than to walnuts or almonds. They grow in pods that mature underground rather than on trees. Nepal is the only country with a non-rectangular flag. While every other national flag in the world is a square or a rectangle, Nepalβs flag consists of two stacked triangles. The triangles represent the Himalayan Mountains and the two main religions of the country, Hinduism and Buddhism. Your tongue print is unique. Just like fingerprints, every human has a unique tongue print. The tongue's shape, texture, and the layout of its taste buds are specific to each individual. Because it is protected inside the mouth and difficult to forge, researchers have even looked into using it as a high-security biometric scan. THANK YOU! Hope you have a great day and a Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2026. π β ps. we'll be back on either Thursday or Friday (haven't decided yet!) with another small update before getting back to our 'usual ways' on January 5th. 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: 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.
January 26th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Hope you're having a great day so far & keeping warm. Nice to see some blue skies today. In today's email: a ton of great, local events the largest living organism a sports update & more Let's dive in π -Ross at Grand River Buzz WHAT'S HAPPENING Monday, January 26th Resin Coaster Set Workshop | Ernie's Roadhouse, Cambridge | 7pm | "Join us for an evening of creativity and calm as we dive into the art of resin coastersβperfect for anyone...
January 22nd, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Today is apparently 'National Polka Dot' day. I'm not sure who makes these random days up - maybe polka dot sweater or polka dot wallpaper companies?! I'll investigate and get back to you... In today's email: a ton of fun, local events Carlos a special winter festival why bees have 'bouncers' & more Let's dive in π WHAT'S HAPPENING Thursday, January 22nd Candle Making Workshop | Ernie's Roadhouse, Cambridge | 6:30pm | "Each participant will...
January 19th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! I'm on a mission to make sure this newsletter provides you with as much value as possible. Once you're done reading today... I'd love to hear your feedback if you have a spare moment. What more would you like to see covered in these emails? What do you enjoy? What do you not particularly like? And always feel free to share your favourite place to eat (who has the best pizza?!), or a charitable cause you've seen doing great things around the...