The best news and events from around the Waterloo Region. Delivered Monday and Thursday mornings. For free.
π Santa Trains, Space Smells & Gingerbread Houses
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December 11th, 2025 Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region! What a beautiful day we're having. It's a touch crispy outside, but the snow makes everything look nice and 'Christmasy' and great to see the sun and blue skies. Just like last Thursday, we've got a ton of fun events throughout the region this week! In today's email:
Let's dive in π WHAT'S HAPPENING General (Throughout the weekend) βSanta's Nightcap (19+) | Fri, Dec. 12th & Sat Dec. 13th | 8:30pm | Linking again, but ya'll seem to love this. I wanna go... | "Who says the magic of Christmas is just for kids? Join us aboard Santaβs 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." βDisney's The Muppet Christmas Carol | Centre in the Square, Kitchener | Thu, Dec. 11th & Fri, Dec. 12th | 7:30pm | "Featuring a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live to film." Thursday, December 11th βCastle by Candlelight Evening Tours | Castle Kilbride, Baden | 6pm | "Warm yourself in the glow that emanates from every room of the decorated Castle and imagine yourself as a guest of the Livingston family Christmas in 1895." βSip & Create: DIY Ornament Night | Four Fathers Brewing, Cambridge | 6:30pm βYoga at the Gallery | K-W Art Gallery, Kitchener | 7pm | "Youβll practice yoga alongside a specially selected artwork from the Gallery's Permanent Collection and close the session with a short period of rest, relaxation and tea." βChristmas Through The Ages | Farm League Brewing, Cambridge | 7:30pm | "From classical to pop: The Mill Race String Quartet presents Christmas Through the Ages." βQuisha Wint: The Ladies of Soul | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm Friday, December 12th βEco-Friendly Holiday Market | Victoria Park Pavilion, Kitchener | 3-8pm βEverlasting Ring With Lights | Meadow Acres, Petersburg | 6pm | "Design your own luminous holiday ring β a stunning modern dΓ©cor piece that glows with seasonal cheer. Add everlasting greenery and warm twinkle lights for an effortlessly elegant look." βRobin Jessome's "Blunt Object Christmas" | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "Blunt Object is a Toronto-based 11-piece jazz ensemble performing energetic, creative music - and balancing unique improvisors with quirky and compelling arrangements." βGlue & Brew | JTM Cake Studio & Cafe, Cambridge | 7pm | "Whether you fill your journal with photos, stickers, thoughts or junk, there are no rules here. Just scissors, paper, fun... and some really good coffee!" βHops & High Notes: Christmas Carols at the Brewery | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Grand River Opera returns for an evening of Christmas Carols and other seasonal favourites" βLowest of the Low | Maxwell's Waterloo | 7:30pm | "Canadian alt-rock icons return to Waterloo for a high-energy night of razor-sharp hooks, big harmonies and fan-favourite songs!" Saturday, December 13th βThe Grinch and Cindy Lou Who in The District | The Gaslight District, Cambridge | 1:30pm βThe Muppet Christmas Carol Outdoor Screening | The Gaslight District, Cambridge | 1:30pm βAllen Street Christmas Market | 43 Allen Street, Waterloo | 2-7pm | "Youβre invited to Uptown Waterlooβs Coziest Christmas Market! Free entry, live music, free hot drinks, and the best local holiday vendors!" βWinter Centrepiece Table Topper with Candle Workshop | Meadow Acres, Petersburg | 3pm βChristmas Crunch Fight Night | Destiny Boxing, Kitchener | 6:15pm | "Bring the family and share the season's greetings to help us hit our goal of 2000LBS for our local food banks!" βGingerbread House Decorating Competition | Midnight Run Cafe, Waterloo | 7pm | "Get ready to show off your creativity at our Gingerbread House Decorating Competition! Join us in person for a fun-filled evening of icing, candy, and festive cheer." βThe MacQueens Christmas | KW Little Theatre, Waterloo | 7pm | "We'll be playing our favourite originals, plus some Christmas tunes as well ('tis the season!)" βSchmaltz & Pepper | The Jazz Room, Waterloo | 8pm | "A uniquely virtuosic and entertaining chamber ensemble performing original music inspired by Klezmer, Yiddish Swing, Jazz and Classical music." βGhosts of Christmas Past | Schneider Haus National Historic Site | 9:30pm | "The holidays arenβt all merry and bright! Join us for the Ghosts of Christmas Past and embrace the darkness of the year's longest night." βSwiftie Strikes Night | ibowl Family Fun Center | 9:30pm | "All Taylor, All Night Karaoke β Sing along to your favourite hits from every era. Dress the Part β Come as your favorite Taylor era for a chance to win prizes!" Sunday, December 14th βBrunch with Santa | Langdon Hall, Cambridge | 10am-2pm | "Santa Claus is coming to town! Join us in our Firshade Room for our annual Brunch with Santa. Enjoy delicious food and get your photo taken!" βHoliday Snap & Craft Day | La Galeria, Cambridge | 11am-2:30pm | "Create your own picture-perfect Christmas memory with our Holiday Snap & Craft Weekend" βChristmas at Doon | Doon Heritage Village, Kitchener | 11am-4pm | "Guests will be able to stroll the Village streets and enjoy the rustic Christmas decorations and beautiful wintery nature." βKW Christmas Market | McCormick Community Centre, Waterloo | 11am-4pm | "The perfect way to enjoy the season, support local businesses, and make unforgettable holiday memories." βChristmas Sweater Sunday and Toy Drive | Four Fathers Brewing, Cambridge | 11:30am-5:30pm | "Put on your favourite Christmas sweater and help us fill the taproom with holiday cheer. We will be collecting new unwrapped toys for our Toy Drive, spreading joy to families in our community." βElf: The Movie Outdoor Screening | The Gaslight District, Cambridge | 1pm βRhythm & Brews | Kultiq Studio, Kitchener | 1-5pm | "Where smooth R&B music meets signature sips, sweet treats, and creative connections" βClaytime: Beginner Workshop | Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo | 2pm βSonic 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." Farmers Markets βSt. Jacobs | Thursday, December 11th (8amβ3pm) | Saturday, December 13th (7amβ3:30pm) βKitchener | Saturday, December 13th (7amβ2pm) βCambridge | Saturday, December 13th (7amβ1pm) * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. LOCAL NEWS Region of Waterloo Joins Global Network to Combat Hate and Extremism. Strengthening community safety and inclusion, the Region of Waterloo joined the Strong Cities Network alongside more than 290 cities worldwide, while Regional Chair Karen Redman attended this week's Sixth Global Summit in Toronto to collaborate with international leaders on developing strategies to address hate, extremism, and polarization through local government action. | Infoβ Waterloo Region International Airport Achieves Gold Accessibility Certification. Breaking barriers in accessible travel, the Region of Waterloo International Airport earned the highest Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Gold rating, becoming one of only seven Canadian airports to achieve this distinction through comprehensive accessibility features including hearing loops, adult change tables, tactile signage, and inclusive staff training that ensures meaningful access for passengers of all abilities. | Infoβ WRHN Foundation Launches Holiday Campaign with $519K Donation Match. Amplifying community generosity this holiday season, Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation's Wish Book campaign features a record-breaking $519,000 donation match from the Grand River Hospital Volunteer Association, doubling the impact of every donation toward priority equipment and programs serving roughly 700,000 annual patient visits across cardiac, cancer, pediatric, emergency and critical care services throughout the 519 region. | Infoβ University of Waterloo Astronomers Discover Massive Helium Trail on Ultra-Hot Jupiter. Rewriting expectations for massive gas giants, University of Waterloo Professor Lisa Dang and collaborators used the James Webb Space Telescope to discover exoplanet WASP-121 b is losing its atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, with helium gas escaping in dramatic streams that stretch across 60% of the planet's orbit in a phenomenon never before observed on a Jupiter-sized world. | Infoβ * none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so. COMEDY βThursday, December 11th βThe Basement Comedy Show | TWH Social, Kitchener | 8pm | Headliner: Kyle Patan Friday, December 12th βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Christophe Davidson Saturday, December 13th βTogether Weβre Boisterous Comedy Show | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm βRusty Nail Comedy | Falls Road Irish Pub, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: David Green βRusty Nail Comedy | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Headliner: Christophe Davidson βComedy Night | Farm League Brewing, Cambridge | 8pm Upcoming Events βYuk 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 β οΈ Thu, Dec. 11th | HIGH -7Β° | NIGHT -13Β° | 60% POP | 1cm βοΈ β οΈ Fri, Dec. 12th | HIGH -2Β° | NIGHT -8Β° | 30% POP | ~1cm βοΈ π¨οΈ Sat, Dec. 13th | HIGH -5Β° | NIGHT -13Β° | 70% POP | 1-3cm βοΈ π§οΈ Sun, Dec. 14th | HIGH -8Β° | NIGHT -12Β° | 20% POP SPORTS π₯ Kitchener Rangers | 5th overall | 2nd in Western Conference
π KW Titans
* what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful! GEM OF THE WEEK βEncore Records | 301 King St E, Kitchener An absolute goldmine of CD's and vinyls... they buy and sell and have great customer service. If they don't have an item you're after, they're always more than happy to look it up and get it in for you. I find their prices are very reasonable and competitive too which is nice. A great way to support local if you're a music fan, and it's always fun spending some time there hunting through everything to find some favourites. Don't just take my word for it - David had this to say on the stores google reviews: "I've been going to Encore Records since I was 16, and I'm now 47. That alone should tell you something. Anyway, I drop by every month or two and pick up some cds. Hats off to the crew - Mark, Chris, Al - for all the musical recommendations and years of just being there." You can check out their website here to learn more - highly recommend! COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS βToy Mountain | A great initiative with three different ways to donate - "Every child deserves to open a present on Christmas morning and we need your help to meet our gifting goal.Toy Mountain, in collaboration with the Salvation Army, is once again collecting toys for children in need in Waterloo Region and Guelph." βStuff-a-Cruiser | "A highly successful partnership between the Waterloo Regional Police Service and the Waterloo Knights of Columbus' toy drive campaign. Through events at local retailers and collection points at police buildings, it has collected more than 80,000 toys for children in our community." βVolunteer Express | "Volunteer Success is a registered Canadian charity that connects organizations to people and people to causes. We make it fun and easy for people of all ages and expertise to find meaningful volunteer opportunities." Lot's of opportunities right now to volunteer around the region, including some remote placements. * these are not sponsored placements, just causes I came across. ads will always be made obvious if so. ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Meet Jinu Saja! The charismatic, yet conflicted, leader of the K-pop boy band from the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters?! Not quite... but Jinu Saja is a wonderful mixed breed male who's almost 6 months old and first came to the shelter in late November. He'll be around 24 pounds when fully grown! "A cheerful little pup with short, stocky legs and a big, happy personality. He zips around like a tiny rocket, always ready for a game of chase or a playful zoom around the yard. This social butterfly loves saying hello to everyone he meets, tail wagging, eyes sparkling, and heart wide open. Whether he's running circles in excitement or curling up for a snuggle after a fun-filled day, Jinu Saja brings joy wherever he goes." Click 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 QUESTION OF THE WEEK What's your 'gem' in the region? (see above section) I'd love to highlight some of your favourite 'hidden gems' around the area. A favourite bookstore, a place you love to shop or a small business doing good things (basically anything other than a restaurant, bar or brewery which we usually feature in it's own dedicated section) Hit reply to this message to let me know! RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY The T-Rex lived closer in time to the iPhone than to the Stegosaurus. The Stegosaurus lived about 150 million years ago, while the T-Rex lived about 66 million years ago. That leaves an ~80 million year gap between the dinos, but only a ~66 million year gap between the T-Rex and us. Humans are bioluminescent. We actually glow in the dark, but the light we emit is about 1,000 times weaker than our eyes are capable of picking up. Astronauts say space smells like seared steak. After returning from spacewalks, astronauts frequently report a distinct odour clinging to their suits, described as "hot metal," "welding fumes," or "seared steak." THANK YOU! Hope you have an awesome weekend & we'll see you Monday πͺ 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.
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