An Insider's Guide to Waterloo Region

This event is the most searched topic on this blog by a very large margin. People are already looking for information on the annual fireworks display at Columbia Lake. The University of Waterloo and the Federation of Students organize the family oriented activities which run from 2PM to 11PM on July 1st. They rely on community sponsors and volunteers to make the day a success.

The UW Canada Day Celebrations website provides all the information you need to know including a list of activities, directions, free parking information and opportunities to volunteer or contribute to the event.

Setting up for the festival which runs this Saturday and Sunday

One of our favourite annual festivals is on this weekend at Victoria Park in Kitchener. I took this picture last night as we walked at the park between rain showers. Hopefully the weekend weather will cooperate for this outdoor event. The Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre has more information on their website.

It was a perfect early spring day for the annual Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. We arrived well before 9 AM and Arthur Street was already jammed with pedestrians. It was the busiest I have seen it in a few years and when we returned to Kitchener, the traffic was backed up all the way to Waterloo on the expressway. There is a good variety of street food for sale besides pancakes and maple syrup.

Live music is a big part of Christkindl Market in Kitchener. Bands, choirs, dancers and smaller groups of musicians perform indoors and outdoors during the weekend festival.