Living Local Magazine

Aqua in Concert
2025-09-28 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Toronto) | Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 6P7, Canada
No other band represents the late 90’s like the Danish dance-pop group AQUA. The band got their world-wide break back in 1997 with their debut album ‘Aquarium.’ The album contained hit singles like ‘Turn Back Time, ‘Doctor Jones’ and the notorious hit ‘Barbie Girl,’ which upon its release in May 1997 became a global phenomenon, making everyone sing along to the lines “I’m a Barbie Girl, in the Barbie World”.

Walk Right Back: The Everly Brothers Story
2025-09-27 19:30 - 23:00 | Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 6P7, Canada
DIRECT FROM THE UK! Following an incredible sell-out tour, Walk Right Back returns to stages in 2025 by popular demand. From the producers of the UK’s smash-hit show That’ll Be The Day, this phenomenal production tells the story of the most successful musical duo of all time – The Everly Brothers.
Featuring hits such as “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and “Cathy’s Clown,” this unique concert-based musical entwines the wonderful, sad, yet glorious story of The Everly Brothers. The show follows the brothers’ rise to fame from humble country beginnings to superstardom, through their decade-long feud, and ultimately to their glorious reunion—bringing them back to each other and back to the world.
With “harmonies from heaven” that influenced The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers were unmatched in their talent. The show also features songs from a couple of the Everly Brothers’ good friends, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison.
Producer Trevor Payne (That’ll Be The Day) says: “The Everly Brothers were an original and unique act that had a sound like nothing else. Their harmonies were so tight that every group wanted to emulate them. Before that, there was a singer, a band, and backing vocals—The Everlys entwined all of them and created ‘the harmony group.’ Walk Right Back is the first show of its kind to tell this phenomenal story of two brothers and their unforgettable music.”
This is a show not to be missed!

HARVEST Fundraising Dinner
2025-09-27 18:00 - 23:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Celebrate the season of abundance at HARVEST—an evening of art, food, and community in support of KWAG. After exploring exhibitions on display, guests will gather for a three-course harvest-inspired meal prepared by Chef Jon Rennie of odd duck wine & provisions with wine pairings by Sommelier Wes Klassen. Delve into an enchanting journey where sustainability, community support, and a passion for food and wine converge. This event brings people together—to share a meal, to exchange stories, and to support the Gallery as a year-round community gathering space.
Space is limited — reserve your seat at the table today. Email development@kwag.on.ca with any dietary restrictions when you purchase your ticket and odd duck will ensure you are accommodated.

HARVEST
2025-09-27 18:00 - 22:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Celebrate the season of abundance at HARVEST—an evening of art, food, and community in support of KWAG. After exploring exhibitions on display, guests will gather for a three-course harvest-inspired meal prepared by Chef Jon Rennie of odd duck wine & provisions with wine pairings by Sommelier Wes Klassen. Delve into an enchanting journey where sustainability, community support, and a passion for food and wine converge. This event brings people together—to share a meal, to exchange stories, and to support the Gallery as a year-round community gathering space.
Space is limited — reserve your seat at the table today. Email development@kwag.on.ca with any dietary restrictions when you purchase your ticket and odd duck will ensure you are accommodated.
Why Your Support Matters
Proceeds from HARVEST support KWAG’s education and access programs, which serve thousands of individuals across our community each year. With over 100 programs offered annually, KWAG’s education initiatives break down barriers and make art accessible for everyone. From KWAG2GO school visits that bring art directly into classrooms, to peer-led workshops in seniors’ residences, to sensory-friendly programs for neurodiverse visitors, KWAG creates opportunities to connect with ideas through art at every stage of life. Your support helps keep these programs and Gallery admission completely free. Every ticket sold for HARVEST helps ensure that children, youth, families, seniors, newcomers, and emerging artists can continue to access art experiences that foster creativity and community.

Fall Emerging Artist Clothesline Art Sale
2025-09-26 17:00 - 20:00 | Homer Watson House and Gallery, 1754 Old Mill Road, Kitchener, N2P 1H7, Canada
The Clothesline Art Sale is designed to make art more accessible, offering art lovers the chance to purchase a wide range of works at varying prices. Dedicated exclusively to emerging artists—defined as those who have been practicing for seven years or less—this event highlights fresh talent and creativity. The title of “Emerging Artist” refers solely to experience, not age.
Unframed works are displayed in a unique outdoor setting, hanging from clotheslines strung through the trees and along the edge of the park, creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere for discovery.
Donations accepted in-person or online

Honeymoon Suite Live in Kitchener
2025-09-25 20:00 - 23:00 | Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 6P7, Canada
One night only. Honeymoon Suite 2025 Tour, don’t miss it!
Returning to Centre In The Square!
Seven studio albums, each with over 1 million copies sold.
The original band performing better than ever!

The Australian Pink Floyd Show
2025-09-23 20:00 - 23:00 | Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 6P7, Canada
Experience the world’s most spectacular tribute to Pink Floyd—The Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS)—live at Centre In The Square for one unforgettable night. With over 4 million tickets sold globally, this mind-blowing production has earned praise from The Times as “The Gold Standard” and The Daily Mirror as “The Kings of the Genre.”
Since their first concert in Adelaide, Australia in 1988, TAPFS has toured across 35+ countries, shared stages with David Gilmour and Rick Wright, and featured Pink Floyd touring legends like Lorelei McBroom, now a longtime member of the band.
Now, they’re bringing their note-for-note perfection to Kitchener—with only one other Ontario stop on the entire North American tour.

Sensory Saturday
2025-09-20 11:00 - 17:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery offers an inclusive gallery experience through Sensory Saturdays, a monthly program designed specifically for neurodiverse visitors. Open all day, the program welcomes individuals of all ages and neurodiversity, including ADHD, ASD, OCD, and Sensory Processing Disorder, supporting them throughout their gallery journey.
A dedicated Sensory Environment is available, equipped with calming and engaging tools such as liquid tiles, wiggle chairs, texture tiles, and weighted animals and blankets. These resources help foster comfort, focus, and self-regulation, ensuring every visitor can enjoy the gallery experience at their own pace.
Sensory Saturday will now be on the third Saturday of every month.

Doors Open Waterloo Region
2025-09-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Ontario
Doors Open Waterloo Region invites the community to a day of exploration and discovery, offering access to 23 unique local destinations. Visitors can step inside noteworthy buildings, heritage sites, and fascinating spaces that are rarely open to the public.
This year’s lineup includes three churches, two architects’ studios, a quantum physics institute, a fire station, a world-class research centre, a behind-the-scenes tour of a television studio, a creative workspace dating back to 1880, a former jail, a cannery, city archives, three museums, and the iconic Pioneer Tower.
Admission to all Doors Open sites is free, making it an accessible way to connect with community stories. Through guided experiences and storytelling, the program celebrates the region’s diverse culture, heritage, and architecture.

‘Open Sky Live’ – Live at the Arts Centre Feat. Kyle Burton
2025-09-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
The Elora Centre for the Arts will close out its summer concert series with a special performance by Kyle Burton, live on the MacDonald Pavilion Stage. This final concert of the season is presented in partnership with Bigelow Flooring.
Audiences can look forward to an evening of music that blends folk, country, Americana, and rock. Known for crafting emotionally resonant sets, Kyle Burton draws inspiration from legendary acts such as The Eagles and The Band, while also channeling the energy of modern artists including Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan, The Red Clay Strays, and The Glorious Sons.
The Open Sky concert series is proudly presented in partnership with Tribute Homes, Sorbara Group of Companies, and Storybrook Homes.
Adding to the evening, guests can enjoy a variety of creative sandwiches from the Groovy Grilled Cheese food truck, which will be on site for the event.

A Cross-Country Book Tour & Workshop Event
2025-09-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
The gallery will host a special evening on the cross-country book tour of two acclaimed Canadian authors, Kevin Andrew Heslop and Joanna Cockerline.
The event begins with an immersive creative workshop led by both authors—an inspiring opportunity for writers, artists, and curious minds alike. Following the workshop, guests will enjoy a live reading and discussion, as Kevin and Joanna share from their newly published works.
The evening blends storytelling, creative exploration, and interactive art. It will open with a reading in which each author presents selections from their fiction and non-fiction (approximately 20 minutes each), followed by a Q&A and open discussion with the audience.
Participants will then be invited to take part in a hands-on writing workshop, offering insights into both fiction and non-fiction writing. Attendees are encouraged to bring a notebook or laptop, as well as up to two pages of writing to share and workshop in a supportive setting.
Complementing the literary experience, Leslie Putnam will present a collection of interactive art sculptures displayed on the book table. These tactile works, which reflect themes of transformation and healing found in the readings, invite participants to touch, hold, and engage with art throughout the evening.
Whether a writer, reader, or simply curious, attendees will find this event to be a unique opportunity to connect through words and art.

Kevin Andrew Heslop presents The Writing on the Wind’s Wall, a tender and compelling inquiry into the experiences of those affected by Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in his hometown of London, Ontario. The book is shaped by family connections and a decade of conversations with writers and artists worldwide.

Joanna Cockerline introduces Still, a gripping novel set on the streets of Kelowna, BC. The story follows Kayla, who lives and works on the street, and Little Zoe, a missing sex trade worker. With raw honesty, the novel paints an intimate portrait of survival, community, and the search for home within oneself.

Admission is free, and no registration is required.

Dandelion Paper Making
2025-09-13 13:00 - 17:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
During this program, attendees will use Dandelions to make pulp, sift that pulp from water into the shape of paper, and embed seeds, dried Flowers, and fresh botanicals into the paper. Individuals of all ages are welcome.
Handmade paper is embedded with the maker’s intention and can be an object for gifting, imbued with the plants’ natural medicinal energies and purpose. Attendees have the option of adding botanical scents and natural dyes to their paper. Part of this workshop will include sharing information on how Dandelions can be prepared and eaten. Participants will take home handmade paper!
Registration is encouraged!

Belmont Village Bestival
2025-09-12 08:00 - 2025-09-13 17:00 | Belmont Village Kitchener, 700 Belmont Ave W, Kitchener, Ontario, N2M 1P2, Canada
Belmont Village Bestival is a two-day music and arts festival that brings local performers to the heart of a charming neighbourhood, nestled within the City of Kitchener and just steps from Waterloo. Each year, two weeks after Labour Day, the streets are closed and the celebrations begin—marking the official close of summer with live performances, community spirit, and plenty of fun. Visitors are invited to join in and experience the magic that makes Belmont Village Bestival a highlight of the season.

Wen Li
2025-09-11 - 2025-11-09 | Homer Watson House and Gallery, 1754 Old Mill Road, Kitchener, N2P 1H7, Canada
Ferrie Gallery

The “Impression” series artworks offer an interpretation of landscapes that are recognizable, yet less detail oriented, merely an “impression”. The title for the series also echoes the embossing procedure and the texture on the paper. The subtlety of the artwork enhances a sense of tranquility that nature provides.
This series includes distinguished embossment prints both blind and tinted with wood burning residues from the laser etching process. The residues are gradually reduced during the process; hence each tinted print is unique and non-repeatable with different colour intensity and contrast.
Wen Li is a multi-media artist from Waterloo, Ontario. By simplifying the format, she purposely creates space for the unpredictability and allows the contingencies to emerge within. Her minimalism approach in her artwork is deeply influenced by her own experience. Engineering study and working in China and fine art training in Canada has enabled her to explore cultural translation and cultural hybridity from a unique angle, blending Eastern and Western perspectives in her art practice.
This exhibition is awarded the Exhibition Assistance Grant by Ontario Art Council, with the recommendation from Art Gallery of Guelph and City of Woodstock Art Gallery.

Family Sundays
2025-09-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Calling all art lovers, big and small! Bring your family and friends to KWAG one Sunday a month for fun and interactive activities that explore art and creativity. Enjoy the exhibitions, make one-of-king artworks and listen to stories told by our friends at the Kitchener Public Library. New activities and special guests each month.

All ages welcome Activities designed for ages 4-12 with adult companion Suggest donation of $ 5 per child

The Art of Soil Collective
2025-09-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
In this workshop, participants are invited to deepen their connection to the land beneath their feet, even within an urban setting. Together, they’ll reflect on their own biases, expectations, and assumptions while examining and comparing soil samples gathered from across Kitchener-Waterloo. From there, they’ll craft love letters to the soil—letters to the shared land—written on handmade seed paper, which will then be composted back into local soil.
The experience encourages a shift in perspective: to see our soils and shared urban landscapes not as overlooked ground, but as something to be cared for with the same sensitivity, attention, and affection one would offer a loved one.

Open Sky Live with the Doubtfires and BBQ
2025-09-04 18:00 - 21:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
The end of summer is always bittersweet—but in Elora, the season will be wrapping up with something truly special. On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the Elora Centre for the Arts invites the community to gather for one last evening under the open sky as part of its Open Sky Live Summer Concert Series.
This isn’t just another Thursday night—it’s a celebration of live music, great food, and community support, all set against the picturesque backdrop of the MacDonald Pavilion.

Live Music with The Doubtfires
Kicking off at 6:00 PM, the evening will feature a performance by The Doubtfires—a Southern Ontario four-piece band known for their decades of experience and an irresistible playlist of classics. Expect to hear timeless favourites from artists like Billy Joel, Elton John, The Eagles, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Blue Rodeo, and more. Their setlist is designed to strike all the right chords, offering something for every generation in the crowd.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, settle into the yard, and get ready for an evening of music that feels like summer itself—warm, familiar, and full of energy.

Picnic at the Pavilion: BBQ Dinner Fundraiser
What pairs better with live music than a delicious meal? On this special night, the Centre will host a BBQ Chicken Dinner Fundraiser in support of its Expansion & Accessibility Project.
For $25, guests can pre-order a coal-roasted half chicken dinner, served with coleslaw, baked potato, a fresh roll, and a cookie. Those looking for a plant-based option won’t be left out—there’s a vegan entrée featuring roasted vegetables in phyllo pastry with all the same tasty sides.

Pre-order required by August 31 (credit card only).

Pickup begins at 5:00 PM, just in time to enjoy your meal before the music starts at 6.

Choose to dine picnic-style on the grounds or take your meal to go.

Every bite supports a cause—all proceeds go directly toward the Elora Centre’s expansion project, ensuring more space and accessibility for art, learning, and community connection.

More Ways to Enjoy the Evening
The MacDonald Pavilion yard will also feature a licensed camper bar, open throughout the night with drinks available for purchase (cash, debit, or credit accepted). Admission to the concert is completely free, though donations are always welcome and deeply appreciated.
And if the weather doesn’t cooperate? The BBQ will still go ahead for pickup, though the concert portion will be cancelled in case of rain.

Why This Night Matters
Events like these remind us why places like the Elora Centre for the Arts are so vital to our community. They bring us together, celebrate creativity, and raise the funds needed to keep the arts thriving in our region. On September 4, you’re not just enjoying dinner and a concert—you’re contributing to a future where the Centre can grow, welcome more people, and offer even richer programming.

Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
2025-09-04 08:00 - 2025-09-07 17:00 | Ontario
Each September since 1989, the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival has invited readers to slow down and immerse themselves in Canadian literature within the pedestrian-friendly village of Eden Mills. Nestled along the Eramosa River, this hamlet of 350 residents—with its century-old stone buildings—is located just 15 minutes east of Guelph and one hour west of Toronto.
On Festival Sunday, the village streets close to traffic, transforming into an outdoor haven where festival-goers lounge on the grass, spread blankets, or settle into lawn chairs to listen to some of Canada’s most celebrated writers and exciting new literary voices. Accessible, shaded seating is available at every venue, ensuring a welcoming experience for all. Alongside the readings, guests can enjoy food trucks and vendors, a licensed patio, and a bustling marketplace featuring a bookseller and an author signing tent.

Rick Mercer: Stand-Up For Canada
2025-08-27 19:00 - 23:00 | Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 6P7, Canada
Rick Mercer’s Stand-Up for Canada Comedy Tour — a night of laughter, connection, and unapologetically Canadian comedy.
This fall, iconic comedian Rick Mercer leads a coast-to-coast tour spotlighting homegrown talent and delivering a night of laughter and national pride.
Kicking off September 11 in Saskatoon, SK and wrapping October 19 in St. John’s, NL, the tour will stop in 21 cities nationwide, bringing together audiences for an unforgettable night of comedy. Joining Mercer on stage are three of Canada’s fastest-rising comedy stars: Juno Award winner Sophie Buddle, Juno-nominated Mayce Galoni, and the brilliantly talented Julie Kim.
At a time when the country needs it most, Mercer is ready to bring Canadians together with his signature wit, political commentary, and unifying voice, making this tour a must-see celebration of Canadian comedy and culture.
