The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
🐝 Santa trains, a parrot party & holiday markets
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November 20th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! Okay so we've officially entered the 'Holiday Market' season. I did my best, but if I included them all this email would take about 4 hours to read. That and the Butterfly Conservatory is having a birthday party for their 17 year old parrot?! We are absolutely SPOILED! Anyways, hope you're having an awesome day and let's get started. In today's email:
Let's dive in 👇 WHAT'S HAPPENING General Santa's Nightcap Train (19+) | Friday & Saturday | St. Jacob's | "Who says the magic of Christmas is just for kids? Join us aboard Santa’s Nightcap, a one-of-a-kind 19+, round-trip holiday train experience filled with laughter, lighthearted challenges, and just the right amount of holiday cheer." Wonderfully Made Holiday Market | Friday & Saturday | Catalyst137, Kitchener | "A two-day handmade and local shopping experience, full of all things festive." Sparkles: A Holiday Shopping Event | Thursday-Sunday | St. Jacobs Village | "Join us for our annual holiday shopping event amid thousands of twinkling lights in the village - a true holiday experience!" Whimsical Weekends: Handmade Hobbies Edition | Saturday & Sunday | Castle Kilbride, Baden | "Kirigami Snowflakes (Paper cutting)" Thursday, November 20th Holiday Candle Making with Sew Rustic | 6pm | Benjamin Tree Farm, Waterloo Wooden Sled Workshop | 6pm | Meadow Acres, Petersburg | "Craft a nostalgic holiday accent that captures cozy cabin charm" Mahler - Symphony No. 2 in C Minor: Resurrection | 7:30pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener Wicked Watch Party | 7:30pm | Fireside Haven Studios, Cambridge | "A watch party of Wicked: Part 1, in anticipation of Wicked: For Good" Friday, November 21st CKPC Holiday Train | 4pm | Cambridge & Ayr | "Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train's stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation." The Shoppe's Christmas Market | 4pm | Langdon Hall, Cambridge | "Browse a curated selection of wine, gift baskets, holiday décor, spa treats, and more, and enjoy tastings and samples from some of our favourite local suppliers." Holiday Tree Lighting | 5:30pm | Fairview Park Mall, Kitchener Live Music & Tapas: Rob Dice | 7:30pm | Little Mushroom Dining Lounge, Kitchener Dreamer: The Supertramp Experience | 8pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | "Relive the unforgettable music of Supertramp with DREAMER — the ultimate tribute to one of rock’s most distinctive bands. In support of Diabetes Canada" Saturday, November 22nd Pristine Card Show KW Edition | 10am-4pm | Maxwell's, Waterloo | "From Pokémon, Disney Lorcana, Magic: The Gathering, and One Piece to the hottest sports cards featuring your favourite athletes, there’s something here for every fan and collector." BCS Christmas Market | 10am-3pm | Base Church, Bloomingdale Paint Nite | 6pm | Score Pizza, Waterloo | "This Paint Nite event with talented artist Hiral Panchal will have you painting, sipping, and laughing the night away." ONES: The Beatles #1 Hits | 8pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | "A 24-piece performance of top musicians who faithfully recreate the sound of the original hit records with period-correct instruments, top vocalists, and a string and horn section! Plus a big screen in the background showing a collection of stunning photos & videos." Sunday, November 23rd Cheecho's 17th Birthday | 10am-5pm | Butterfly Conservatory, Cambridge | This sounds like one of the best events of the year Kimchi Master Class | 12:30-2:30pm | Taste of Seoul, Waterloo | "Our restaurant is hosting a special Kimjang Day — a hands-on kimchi-making event where you can experience Korean tradition, enjoy a hearty lunch with bossam and tofu kimchi, and take home your own 1kg of freshly made kimchi." Upcoming Events (not this week, but fun stuff coming up to keep an eye on!) Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble | Tuesday, November 25th | 7:30pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | "Get ready for an evening of sidesplitting laughter as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the dynamic duo from TV's 'Whose Line is it Anyway?'" The Muppet Christmas Carol: In Concert Live To Film | December 11th & 12th | 7:30pm | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | This sounds fun, I wanna go! Farmers Markets St. Jacobs | Thursday, November 20th (8am—3pm) | Saturday, October 22nd (7am—3:30pm) Kitchener | Saturday, October 22nd (7am—2pm) Cambridge | Saturday, October 22nd (7am—1pm) * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. COMEDY Friday, November 21st Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | TWH Social, Kitchener | Headliner: Ali Hassan Saturday, November 22nd Rusty Nail Comedy | 7:30pm | TWH Social, Kitchener | Headliner: Crystal Ferrier YukYuk's Holiday Buffet Dinner & Show | 6:30pm (9pm Show Start) | Kingpin Bowlounge (Bingemans), Kitchener | Headliner: Casey Corbin Comedy Night at Boathouse DTK | 9:30pm | The Boathouse, Kitchener | Headliners: Nick Reynoldson and Patrick Hakeem * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS The Waterloo Region District School Board Secures Federal Grant for Massive Tree Planting Initiative. The WRDSB has received a $176,000 grant from the federal Natural Infrastructure Fund to plant approximately 680 native trees across 12 schools. Scheduled to begin in 2026, this project aims to increase the tree canopy in underserved areas, providing shade and cleaner air while serving as an outdoor classroom for students. Waterloo Region Speed Cameras Go Dark as Provincial Ban Takes Effect. As of November 14, 2025, the Region of Waterloo suspended its automated speed enforcement program under Ontario's Bill 56. While cameras remain in 28 school zones to collect traffic data, they no longer issue tickets. However, any tickets issued by November 13 remain valid and must be paid. To compensate, the province launched a $210 million Road Safety Initiatives Fund for physical traffic-calming measures like speed bumps and roundabouts, with $42 million available immediately. St. Mary’s General Hospital Earns 'A' Safety GradeSt. Mary’s General Hospital was awarded an "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group on November 13, recognizing its achievements in preventing errors, accidents, and infections. The hospital was also recently voted the region's "Best Hospital" by community members, highlighting a high level of local trust in its care. WEATHER 🌤️ Thu, Nov. 20th | HIGH 6° | NIGHT 2° | 20% POP 🌦️ Fri, Nov. 21st | HIGH 8° | NIGHT -1° | 40% POP | <1mm 💧 🌤️ Sat, Nov. 22nd | HIGH 4° | NIGHT -1° | 30% POP ☀️ Sun, Nov. 23rd | HIGH 8° | NIGHT 2° | 10% POP SPORTS 🥅 Kitchener Rangers | 7th overall
🏈 Shoutout to Elmira District Secondary School - who won their first-ever WCSSAA senior football championship! * what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful! COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT Tiny Home Takeout - “Grab A Bite. Give If You Can.” "Tiny Home Takeout is where community, connection, and good food come together in a way that’s not just about filling stomachs, but also hearts. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or sharing a moment with us, we’re here to make sure everyone feels at home and valued." A superb initiative where you can grab some great food and help the community. If you can afford to pay they appreciate your generosity and it helps their project, but if you can't... no problem. Their mission is to provide all community members with access to a dignified, nutritious and delicious meal. I'd encourage you to click through and see 'How It Works' on this page. * this is not a sponsored placement, just a cause I came across. ads will always be made obvious if so. ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Meet Silia! Silia is a beautiful 4 month old, female domestic shorthair mix with orange and white fur. "I'm a happy-go-lucky kitty who loves her snuggles. I love to play with toys and to watch my human friends while they work. I'm looking for a family who can spend time playing with me and my toys, and who can also fulfill my need for cuddles and love." Sounds like a bit of a micromanager keeping an eye on your work day... but apparently 80% of orange cats are male, so this makes her a bit rare and I mean just look at her... if cuteness was a picture. Tap here to learn more about Silia. And there are tons of dogs, cats and other animals (including a lizard called Linguini) 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 QUESTION OF THE WEEK As things get a touch colder... what's your favourite 'comfort food'? 🍴 Hit reply to this message to let me know and I'll share some of the best 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! RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY Prior to the 17th century, carrots were purple. The orange carrot was cultivated by Dutch growers in the 17th century as a tribute to the ruling House of Orange. The creator of the famous yellow smiley face logo never received any royalties. Harvey Ball was paid just $45 for creating the image in 1963, and he never copyrighted the design Before alarm clocks, there were "knocker-uppers" in England and Ireland. These people were paid to walk around and tap on clients' windows with long sticks or throw pebbles to ensure they woke up for work. THANK YOU! Hope you have a great day, enjoy the 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, 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 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: a new medical dispatch system for the region Yoko the origin of Ketchup a ton of great, local events the 'GEM of the week' & more Let's dive in 👇 -Ross...
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