Summer festivals and events you won’t want to miss!

(Submitted/Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival)

Summer is right around the corner and there’s lots to do in and around Waterloo Region.

These are some of the events and festivals you’ll want to add to your calendar.

Check back soon as we’ll be adding even more fun and family-friendly activities!

tri-Pride Summerfest, Kitchener

• Where: Victoria Park
• Date: June 6
• Website: https://tri-pride.ca/

Celebrate Pride in Victoria Park! There will be live music, drag performances, vendors, a beer garden and kids’ zone. This year marks the festival’s 30th anniversary!

Grand River Motorcycle Ride for Dad, Kitchener-Waterloo

• Where: Starting location is 50 Sportsworld Crossing Road
• Date: June 6
• When: Registration begins at 7 a.m., vehicles depart at 9:30 a.m.
• Website: Grand River (Kitchener-Waterloo) - Ride For Dad

Riders take a 180-kilometre trip through the countryside while raising money for prostate cancer research.

Elmira Vintage Guitar Show

• Where: 24 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira
• Date: June 7
• Website: Elmira Vintage Guitar Show

Buy, sell, trade or just show off your guitar at this community event. Banjos, harps, mandolins and even accordions are welcome! Free appraisals are also available, as well as food trucks.

Roller Skating in the Square, Kitchener

• Where: Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall
• Dates: June 8, 15, 22, 29
• When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Carl Zehr Square is being transformed into a public roller-skating rink, with live DJs to keep everyone entertained. Retro Rollers will have skates (kids and adult sizes) available for rent.

FIFA World Cup watch party, Downtown Kitchener

• Where: Kitchener Market’s outdoor piazza
• Dates: June 11 to July 19

Watch the FIFA World Cup on a big screen with other soccer (football) fans!

Movies in the Park, Waterloo

• Where: Waterloo Park, Hilltop Picnic Area
• Dates: June 11, June 18, June 25
• When: Movies begin at sunset

Bring a blanket or chair to watch a movie on a big outdoor screen. And don’t forget the snacks! Movies titles have not yet been announced.

Woolwich Pride, Elmira

• Where: Gibson Park, Elmira
• Date: June 13
• When: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A celebration of queer culture with games, music from the Rainbow Choir and Drag Queen Story Time. There will also be a “Rainbow Runway” fashion show for pets, as well as a talent show.

Cambridge Pride Street Party

• Where: Downtown Cambridge
• Date: June 13
• When: 1 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Pride comes to downtown Cambridge! The community is invited to check out drag performances, shop local vendors and try out some tasty items from food trucks.

Open Streets, Waterloo

• Where: Willis Way and Waterloo Public Square
• Date: June 13
• When: Noon to 6 p.m.
• Website: www.waterloo.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-events/open-streets/

The city shuts down the street to make room for fun! On the agenda for this year’s event: dance battles, an art market, giant games, live DJ sets, circus and stilt walkers, as well as a flamenco performance.

Cambridge Pride Street Party

• Where: Downtown Cambridge
• Date: June 14
• When: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Show off your pride in downtown Cambridge with drag performances, live music and other entertainment.

Goose on the Grand, Cambridge

• Where: Mill Race Park, Grand River
• Date: June 14
• When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A rubber duck race – featuring 1,400 toys – will be held in the Grand River at 1 p.m. There will also be an 18-foot inflatable goose to take photos with, and 12 hand-painted geese designed by local artists. Attendees will enjoy live music, Mother Goose story time, food vendors, interactive activities and local art displays. The event is free but tickets are required for the rubber duck race.

Neighbours Day, Kitchener

• Where: Various locations
• Date: June 20
• When: Noon to 5 p.m.

Local musicians play on porches across the city – for free. Residents are encouraged to bring along a chair and catch a free concert.

Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival, Kitchener

• Where: Victoria Park
• Dates: June 20 and June 21
• When: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
• Website: https://www.kwmf.ca/

Take a trip around the world, without ever leaving Waterloo Region! This festival is a celebration of culture with music, dancing, food and an international marketplace.

Cruising on King, Kitchener

• Where: Downtown Kitchener
• Date: June 26
• When: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Check out a parade of classic cars as they make their way down King Street.

Strawberry Social, Ayr

• Where: Moore Farms at 497 Pinehurst Road
• Date: June 27
• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Strawberries are the star at this community event. There will also be music and a vendor’s market.

Canada Day, Cambridge

• Where: Riverside Park, 49 King Street West
• Date: July 1

Cambridge is hosting a Canada Day party in Riverside Park. The city is still accepting parade and vendor applications.

Canada Day, Kitchener

• Where: Carl Zehr Square, downtown Kitchener
• Date: July 1
• When: Noon to 11 p.m.
• Website: www.kitchener.ca/arts-culture-and-events/events/canada-day/

Canada Day celebrations take over Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener. There will be live performances, a kids’ zone and fireworks will light up the night sky!

Community Picnic, Waterloo

• Where: Waterloo Park, Hilltop Picnic Area
• Date: July 1
• When: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Website: www.waterloo.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-events/july-1-community-picnic/

Enjoy a picnic in the park, with live music, local artists, food trucks, community booths, giant games and an LED drone show.

Movies in the Park, Waterloo

• Where: Waterloo Park, Hilltop Picnic Area
• Dates: July 9, July 16, July 23
• When: Movies begin at sunset

Bring a blanket or chair to watch a movie on a big outdoor screen. And don’t forget the snacks! Movies titles have not yet been announced.

Great Lakes Medieval Tournament and Faire, Rockwood

• Where: 5286 7th Line
• Dates: July 10 – July 12
• When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Website: https://greatlakesmedievaltournamentandfaire.ca/

Take a trip back to the Medieval Age with three days of tournaments, archery, bird of prey shows and more.

Mount Forest Firework Festival

• Where: Mount Forest and District Sports Complex
• Dates: July 16 - July 29
• Website: www.mountforestfireworks.ca/

Celebrate summer with a car show, kids’ zone, demo derby, live music, entertainment and – of course – fireworks!

Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival

• Where: Uptown Waterloo
• Dates: July 17 to July 19
• Website: https://uptownwaterloojazzfestival.ca/

This beloved summer event returns for its 34th year! Thousands are expected to turn out for the three-day festival, which features local and international groups and all genres of jazz.

Hillside Festival, Guelph

• Where: Guelph Lake Island
• Dates: July 17 – July 19
• Website: https://hillsidefestival.ca/

This beloved music festival returns for its 43rd year! Cowboy Junkies, Matt Mays, Stars, Donovan Woods, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Austra, Sinkane, Hollerado, Mae Martin and Angine de Poitrine will take the stage. There will also be a Children’s Parade, performers and crafts, as well as workshops on line dancing, zine-making, backyard birding, cyanotype printing and medicinal plant walks.

Wayback Festival, Kitchener

• Where: Carl Zehr Square, downtown Kitchener
• Dates: July 24 and July 25
• When: 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday

Travel back in time at the Wayback Festival. There will be plenty of live performances, entertainment, food and more.

Ontario Pirate Festival, Guelph

• Where: Marden Park
• Dates: August 1 – August 3
• When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Website: https://thepiratefestival.com/

Shiver me timbers! Pirates must think there’s gold in the Royal City because they’re making their way back in-land. There’ll be sword fighting, feats of strength, a falconry show, magic and maybe a Viking (or two!).

Movies in the Park, Waterloo

• Where: Waterloo Park, Hilltop Picnic Area
• Dates: August 6, August 13, August 20
• When: Movies begin at sunset

Bring a blanket or chair to watch a movie on a big outdoor screen. And don’t forget the snacks! Movies titles have not yet been announced.

KidsPark, Kitchener

• Where: Victoria Park, Kitchener
• Date: August 16, 2026
• When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A full-day of fun for the whole family! There will be music, inflatable obstacle courses, bouncy castles, a rock wall, construction vehicles, emergency service vehicles, a sports zone, face painting, crafts and much more at this annual event. Donations will be collected for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

Caribana Ignite, Kitchener

• Where: Carl Zehr Square, downtown Kitchener
• Date: August 21 and August 22
• When: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday

Caribana Ignite heats up the streets in downtown Kitchener. Instead of a parade, this year’s event will be a Caribbean-themed party with music, performances and, of course, flavourful food trucks!

Sun Life Waterloo Busker Carnival, Waterloo

• Where: Uptown Waterloo
• Dates: August 27 to August 30
• When: Acts throughout the day

The buskers are returning to Waterloo Region! Performers entertain the crowds with comedy, acrobatics and fire shows. There will also be local musicians, food vendors, midway rides and other family-friendly entertainment.

Day of Play, Waterloo

• Where: Waterloo Park, Eby Farm
• Date: August 22
• When: Noon to 5 p.m.
• Website: www.waterloo.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-events/day-of-play/

A day of family-friendly entertainment, including art activities, games, adventures and more.

Lumen, Waterloo

• Where: Uptown Waterloo
• Date: September 19
• When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Website: www.waterloo.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-events/lumen/

Art and technology light up the night in Uptown Waterloo.