Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: Sept. 6 to 8
It may feel like fall this weekend with some cooler temperatures, but it's still summer and there are many events to enjoy.
Mighty Trucks is a chance for kids big and small to check out emergency vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum on Saturday.
Friday night, there's Roller Skating in DTK. The splash pad in front of Kitchener's city hall will become an outdoor roller rink on Friday nights this month. DJ PDK will be spinning tunes all evening. Skate rentals are available for a fee, socks are required.
The Stratford Kiwanis Garlic Festival is also taking place Saturday and Sunday. There will be samples, pairings, presentations and activities for kids.
Waterloo Region Hunger No More is Sunday at 1 p.m. at 56 Duke St. W., in downtown Kitchener near the Tiny Home Takeout. This event includes food trucks, artisanal vendors, a kids corner and live music.
Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute is also taking place Sunday at 5 p.m. at The Gaslight District in Cambridge, which is a free live performance.
Wellington Brewery in Guelph will also have a Pin Party this weekend with live music and activities all weekend. There will be some brewing-inspired challenges including stein holding, boot toss and keg rolling. There's also a family and kid-friendly rocket building science workshop on Saturday afternoon.
There's also some local pre-season hockey. The Kitchener Rangers are home Friday night and will host the Brampton Steelheads at The Aud at 7 p.m.
The Guelph Storm have two pre-season home games this weekend. Friday night they'll face off against the Peterborough Petes, then Saturday evening, they'll host the Oshawa Generals.
If you need to drive, here are some local gas prices:
Endless Summer
Saturday 2 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Victoria Park, Kitchener
Summer technically does not end until Sept. 22, so the city has decided to continue to celebrate the warmest season with this free concert.
Performers include I, the Mountain, Born Ruffians, Helado Negro, Rêve and Talk. There's also an afternoon dance party with DJ Joanna Magik.
There will be food and drink items for sale on site.
Also Saturday night, there's a Moonlit Market on the Gaukel Block which runs 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be more than 20 vendors selling vintage, handmade and reworked items.
Fall Fairs
There are several fall fairs in our area this weekend, including:
There are several fall fairs this weekend in the area with live entertainment, 4-H shows and midways. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Feel like going a bit further for fair fun? These fairs are also on this weekend:
Also important to note, the Wellesley Township Fall Fair runs next week, Tuesday and Wednesday. The theme is Denim and Plaid — Let's Turnip the Beet. Events get underway Tuesday at 5 p.m. with exhibits in the recreation centre, family friendly games, food trucks, the ambassador competition and an animal show. Wednesday there's several animal shows, food trucks, a parade in the evening and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Arboretum Expo
Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
University of Guelph Arboretum
This annual day to celebrate the trees will include a plant sale, tours and demonstrations. At the gazebo, there are talks and musical performances about nature and trees.
Some of the tours include a kids hike, taking in the new honeybee research centre, urban organic farming, and a music walk. There will also be booths from various nature and environmental groups.
There's a special Friday night event this year called Trees.Listen concert. It's the world premiere of a new composition for harp by Sharlene Wallace and Frank Horvat. The nine-part composition will be part of outdoor installations at the arboretum starting on Saturday.
Arboretum Expo is on Saturday and will include tours, talks, demonstrations, vendor booths and entertainment. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Psychedelic Fun Fest
Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Waterloo Park
This festival will bring together art, music and consciousness for an afternoon of events. There's a marketplace, live performances and activities like yoga, sound healing and ecstatic dancing.
This is a family friendly event.
Eden Mills Writers' Festival
Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Village of Eden Mills
This annual festival has many authors who will be giving talks in different locations throughout the village all afternoon.
The author line-up includes Cherie Dimaline (Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix), Hannah Mary McKinnon (Only One Survives), Heather O'Neill (The Capital of Dreams), Danny Ramadan (Crooked Teeth), Robert J. Sawyer (The Downloaded), Tanya Talaga (The Knowing), Drew Hayden Taylor (Cold), Zoe Whittall (Wild Failure and No Credit River) and former CBC journalist Carol Off (At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage).
