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Enjoy free, family-friendly events hosted by the City of Waterloo.
Join us for outdoor activities, public art, music, markets and seasonal programs throughout the year.
Event dates may change. For the most current information, follow the city events team on Facebook, X and Instagram, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter, What's Happening Waterloo.
For community-run events, visit the Community Events Calendar.
Browse through a wide selection of handmade goods created by local artists, crafters and makers while listening to live music.
Additional Art Markets will be held at Open Streets on June 13 and the July 1st Community Picnic.
Tip: If you intend to purchase from the market, please bring cash as some vendors may not accept card payment.
Vendor applications are now closed.
Movies in the Park - June to August
Bring a blanket or your favourite hoodie and join us for movie nights in the park on the big outdoor screen! SDH subtitles will be available. Movie titles to be announced.
Movie nights are brought to you in partnership with Princess Cinemas and in support of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. If possible, please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to donate.
Learn more on the Movies in the Park page.
Dance it off Tuesdays - June to August
Join us for a lively evening of dance!
Local dance groups will be leading fun and engaging sessions each week, offering something new and exciting for everyone.
All skill levels and abilities are welcome.
Join us for free activities including live music, drag shows, Indigenous drumming and circle dancing, line dancing and more!
Service Centre Open House - June 6
Join us for a free, family-friendly event at the City of Waterloo Service Centre.
Learn how the city works and meet the people who keep it running.
Learn more on the Service Centre Open House page.
Open Streets returns to uptown Waterloo! Join us for a fun-filled day in uptown Waterloo featuring live performances by the KW Breakers, music, an art market and more.
National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This day recognizes the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples, communities and nations.
The City of Waterloo has been marking this occasion for the past 9 years by partnering with local Indigenous artists who create and install original art pieces on the surface of Waterloo Public Square. These artworks serve as a visual reminder of the territory and land on which the city was founded.
This year’s mural, ‘wànakìwin: harmony between relations’, is created by local artist Maddie Resmer of Western Sky Designs. Maddie is a mixed-Anishinàbe, Bear Clan, and Two-Spirit artist from Pìkwakanagàn First Nation and Kitigan-Zibi First Nation, based in Kitchener, Ontario (Haldimand Tract Treaty Territory).
Watch the artist YouTube video below to learn more about the design and story behind this years National Indigenous Peoples Day mural.
Inspired by Anishinàbe teachings of kinship and interconnectedness, the beings included in this piece represent the many gifts, perspectives, and ways of being that coexist within a healthy community. The bear, fox, heron, and earth and sky elements each occupy their own place within the ecosystem, contributing to the wellbeing of the whole in different ways. In traditional Anishinàbe teachings, the makwa (bear) is a protector and provider; the fox (wagosh) is a playful and clever trickster; the heron (ashage), a silent and steady presence, demonstrates patient leadership.
The mycelial networks of mushrooms (wàbadòwak) teach us the importance of interdependence, and remaining close with our environment. The cattails represent the generosity of spirit within community. The plant offers us food, medicine, warmth, and shelter, all while holding together the muddy earth of the marsh with its roots, purifying the water, and providing a safe habitat for fish, birds, and insects.
Teachings of the rainbow (tàgwanìbisan) reflect unity across the Anishinàbe, and now include the healing presence of 2SLGBTQ+ people, whose roles and contributions within Indigenous communities have been nearly erased through the impacts of colonialism.
At a time when people are increasingly encouraged to value competition over connection, and solitude above all, this mural offers a different vision: one rooted in reciprocity, collective care, and the understanding that our wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of those around us. Like a thriving ecosystem, communities flourish when difference is welcomed, gifts are shared, and everyone is seen.
July 1 Community Picnic - July 1
Spend the afternoon enjoying a picnic in the park with friends and neighbours. The event will feature live music, local artists, food trucks, community booths, giant games and a spectacular LED drone show.
Join us for a Day of Play in the park!
There will be family-friendly art activities, games, adventures and more. A day of non-stop fun for everyone!
Lumen is an annual, free, all-ages festival that is open to the public and run by the City of Waterloo’s Arts and Creative Industries team (Create Waterloo).
The event features the work of artists as they explore the interplay of light, art, and technology in installations located throughout uptown Waterloo.
Mayor’s Oktoberfest Market - October 4
Enjoy this one-day community market featuring a variety of local vendors, performers, and family-friendly activities.
Presented in partnership with the Uptown Waterloo BIA, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, City of Waterloo and Mayor Dorothy McCabe.
Waterloo Vampire Hangout - October 30
Get ready for a night of frightful fun! Dance to the beats by the on-site DJ, enjoy live tunes from a local artist, and unleash your creativity in the thrilling Vampire Fashion Show.
Bring your own ice skates to enjoy ice skating under the stars to music by our on-site DJ while warming up with the Hissing Goose Coffee Roasters. The first 100 food truck visitors will also receive a complimentary hot drink!
Skate Night Date Night - Wednesdays in January and February
Head to the Waterloo Public Square ice rink from 6 to 8 p.m. and skate along to the amazing tunes spun live by DJ King Kadeem and get warm with treats from the Hissing Goose Coffee Roasters.
The first 50 visitors each night at the Hissing Goose Coffee Roasters will also receive a complimentary hot drink.
Each week will feature a different music playlist theme.
McPhail’s Cycle and Sport (98 King St N) will be offering FREE skate rentals to the first 100 users on January 21 and February 18, until 7 p.m. Ice skates must be returned the following day, and users will need to provide credit card information as a deposit hold.
Discover the magic of winter with family and friends at Waterloo's largest winter festival!
Watch award-winning ice carvers, take part in winter-themed activities, and explore all that uptown's winter culture has to offer.
Find more information on our Winterloo web page.
The City of Waterloo invites the public to enjoy these creative, unique, and vibrant picnic tables featured in the Neighbourhood Picnic Table Program.
Each year, in partnership with the City’s Neighbourhoods team, Create Waterloo commissions local artists to transform picnic tables across Waterloo into colourful works of public art. Since 2021, 46 local artists have showcased their artwork in 15 Neighbourhood parks throughout Waterloo. Today, these vibrant tables form a growing, citywide collection that celebrates local creativity and enhances public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Featured picnic tables remain in the program for a period of up to three years.
View each picnic table and its location on our online map.
Applications for the Neighbourhood Picnic Table Program close on May 7, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Trail Mix - Local Trails & Local Artists
Trail Mix is an auditory accompaniment for trails throughout Waterloo featuring the work of local musicians. Simply find the QR code’s on the trail, use your phone camera to scan the codes, and get ready to listen to a Trail Mix curated of local artists!
View the full Trail Mix album on Create Waterloo's bandcamp page.
The Waterloo Park Art Walk is an outdoor exhibit that stretches through Waterloo Park from Caroline Street to Seagram Drive.
The Art Walk features the work of up to 24 local artists selected by a jury to be part of the program. Each of the art banners makes reference to the nature, scenery, and/or landscape of the park. This initiative began in 2020 and is updated annually.
Participating artists: Alessandra Broderick, Alex Bray, Amanda Ashford, Aoe Girard, Arohi Sawant, Ashley Zikovic, Beth Stobo, Christian Boghossian, Danielle Kuindersma, Emily Murphy, Freya Marchena Acosta, Jacqui Mason, Jeff Dillon, Jillian Belkwell, Lynne Huras, Megan Mirghavami, Nicolas Attieh, Olivia Grgich, Ryan Dwight MacTavish, Sami Park, Sly Soper, Tami Martin
Applications to the Waterloo Park Art Walk will open in October 2026.
Planning your own event in Waterloo? Start with the Plan an event page to book spaces like Waterloo Public Square or Waterloo Park.
Follow Create Waterloo on Instagram, Facebook and X, or subscribe to the What's Happening Waterloo newsletter.
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