Oh hello summer!!
Get your calendars handy! In between your times at the cottage, you breaks to get away, come home and enjoy the sweet, sweet music, festivals, events and excitement happening right here in Waterloo Region.
Upcoming Summer Festivals âŠ
Summer Lights
Itâs time, once again, to Ignite the Night! Each year, annually on the summer solstice, the team at Summer Lights brings an outdoor festival that submerges art with tech, drenched in the beauty of the first full night of summer. Kick off your summer season by heading to one of the first of many free festivals taking over Downtown Kitchener this summer.
June 17th, Downtown Kitchener
Hillside Festival
A true summer staple, Guelphâs Hillside Festival returns for its 34th year! A stunning buffet of genres of music, various stages, and legions of fans, Hillside, once again, plans to pull all the punches for an unforgettable musical experience. Fans will get a chance to catch Billy Bragg, Sarah Harmer, Xavier Rudd, Lindi Ortega, Lucas Stagg, Duchess Says, Lula Wiles and so many others. Day passes, and weekend passes are on sale. And children 12 and under are free!
July 14th â 16th, Guelph Lake
Kitchener Blues Festival
A sure-fire sign that summer is steadily approaching is the announcement of the annual Kitchener Blues Fest! Returning August 10 â August 13th, the festival is a free offering of outstanding blues musicians and artists on multiple stages through-out Downtown Kitchener. This yearâs (ticketed) Kick-Off Concert (Thursday) features Canadian rockers, The Sheepdogs, with the Harpooinst and the Axe Murder. Other notable acts returning this year include David Wilcox, Shawn Kellerman, Miss Angel and the Homewreckers, The Box, Crystal Shawanda, Elliot and the Audio Kings, Matt Weidinger, Mike Todd, Bobby Rush, Ginger St. James, The Music of Etta James, Booker T Jones, Delta Moon, and so many others.
August 10th â August 13th, Downtown Kitchener www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com
Riverfest, Elora
Just an amazing line-up in store for the 2017 Riverfest! This yearâs celebrity-packed headliners include MGMT, Monster Truck, Mother Mother, Gogol Bordello, Sloan, Hollerado, USS, and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Hometown heroes such as Safe as Houses, Wax Mannequin, The Boo Radley Project and more will also be taking the stage.
August 18, 19, 20, Bissell Park, Elora www.riverfestelora.com
Ch-ch-check this out!
Angieâs Kitchen, St. Agatha
Angieâs Kitchen brings the beers! 12, to be exact. The Wilmot favourite introduces 12 craft beers on tap in their upstairs banquet hall! The venue kicks off their new venture June 9th alongside their signature home-cooked dishes, raffle prizes and live music.
Maxwellâs Concerts and Events, Waterloo
Maxwellâs has steadily made its name among the concert halls along the 401. Routinely bringing in top-shelf talent, there is no shortage of terrific shows to check out. 54-40 drops in June 29th and soup up your summer with the sounds of the Beach Boys on July 7th among a cast of other great concerts this season.
Drayton Entertainment
Among its 7 theatre houses, Draytonâs 2017 Season sparkles with high profile shows like Broadway fave, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While you have to wait till fall for Rock of Ages and Beauty and the Beast, thereâs time this summer to catch (my recommended) Million Dollar Quartet, Marathon of Hope (The Terry Fox Story) and Jonas & Barry in the Home. Get out and enjoy! Three of the theatres are located right here in Waterloo Region! There is the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre, and the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge.
And donât forget âŠ
Rhapsody Barrel Bar: Blackball Comedy Nights Tuesday and the Women & Music Showcases on Thursdays
Uptown Waterloo (Waterloo Public Square): Solstice Sampling returns June 17th â bring a blanket and enjoy a campfire + live music once a month right there in the Square! (for details, hit up www.waterloo.ca)
Canada Day Celebrations: Celebrate 150 in your community! The Region is rich with events you donât want to miss this July 1st!
Want more great events and where to find âem?
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