Waterloo Region
Around Waterloo Region
Photo: Tomasz Adamski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Ontario · 575k people
Waterloo Region
“KW”, “The Tri-Cities”
Where old-world charm meets new-world innovation.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks purpleKitchener Rangers blueGolden autumn leaves
Welcome to Waterloo Region! Whether you're here for the tech scene, the trail systems, or the farmers' markets, you'll find a friendly mix of city and country. Grab a coffee in Uptown and start exploring.
Clubs for Waterloo Region
No clubs for Waterloo Region yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Waterloo Region. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Waterloo Region. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Victoria Park Historic park with a lake, bandshell, and trails.
- Waterloo Park Includes a small zoo, play areas, and the Laurel Creek.
- TheMuseum Interactive science and technology museum in downtown Kitchener.
- Centre in the Square Main venue for concerts, theatre, and comedy.
- St. Jacobs Farmers' Market One of Canada's largest farmers' markets, open year-round.
- Grand River Trails Extensive multi-use trails along the Grand River.
- Outdoors Hike the Walter Bean Grand River Trail
- Outdoors Paddle the Grand River
- With kids Visit the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market
- With kids Explore the Waterloo Region Museum
- Evenings Catch a Kitchener Rangers game at the Aud
- Evenings See a concert at Centre in the Square
- Locals love farmers' markets
- Locals love craft breweries
Through the year
- Kitchener Blues Festival July Weekend of blues performances in downtown Kitchener.
- Waterloo Busker Carnival August Street performers and artists along King Street in Uptown Waterloo.
- Cambridge Ribfest Summer Barbecue competition and food vendors in Riverside Park.
- Elmira Maple Syrup Festival April Pancake breakfasts and maple syrup products in Elmira.
- KW Craft Beer Week Spring Brewery events and tastings across the region.
Waterloo Region has four distinct seasons, with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Best: Late spring through early fall, when temperatures are mild and outdoor activities are in full swing.
Talk like a local
- “K-W”
- Kitchener-Waterloo as one area
- “Uptown”
- Waterloo's downtown core
- “The Aud”
- Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
- “The Grand”
- The Grand River
Getaways
- Guelph Historic downtown, Speed River trails, and the Guelph Civic Museum.
- Centre Wellington Elora Gorge and Elora Quarry for hiking, swimming, and photography.
- Stratford Stratford Festival theatres and the Avon River.
- Woodstock Small-town charm, the Woodstock Museum, and the Oxford County fairgrounds.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kitchener Rangers OHL
- Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks U Sports
- Waterloo Warriors U Sports
Eat and drink
- schnitzel
- bratwurst German-style sausage
- sauerkraut Classic side dish
- butter tarts Canadian classic, popular locally
- craft beer Local breweries like Waterloo Brewing
Where people go
- farmers' markets St. Jacobs and Kitchener markets are community hubs
- craft breweries A thriving local beer scene
- university campuses Waterloo and Laurier anchor the tech corridor
- Grand River trails Scenic paths along the river
Heritage and traditions
Waterloo Region is proud of its German and Mennonite heritage, its status as Canada's Technology Triangle, and its vibrant community that balances innovation with tradition.
This time of year in Waterloo Region
- Oktoberfest Fall (October) Massive German celebration with beer, food, and parades.
- Fall colours Fall (September-October) Scenic drives along the Grand River.
- Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest October One of the largest Oktoberfests outside Germany, with beer, music, and traditional food.
Say it like a local: “Sorry” — Pronounced 'soory' with Canadian raising.
Festivals
- Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest October One of the largest Oktoberfests outside Germany, with beer, music, and traditional food.
- KW Multicultural Festival June Celebrates the region's diverse communities with food, music, and dance.
- Cambridge Scottish Festival June Highland games, pipe bands, and Scottish culture in Cambridge.
- Riverfest August A music festival in Cambridge with local and national acts along the Grand River.
- Christkindl Market December A German-style Christmas market in Kitchener with crafts, food, and holiday cheer.
Landmarks with a story
- Joseph Schneider Haus A restored 19th-century German Mennonite home in Kitchener.
- Woodside National Historic Site Childhood home of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.
- Castle Kilbride A Victorian mansion in Baden with ornate interior decorations.
- Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower A tower commemorating the early Mennonite settlers.
- Doon Heritage Village A recreated pioneer village with costumed interpreters.
- Old Galt City Hall A historic civic building in Cambridge, now a museum.
Food traditions
- Mennonite farmers' market breakfasts Fresh apple fritters, sausage, and eggs from the local Mennonite community, a Saturday morning ritual.
- Maple syrup on snow During spring, sugar shacks offer taffy-like syrup poured on snow, a sweet treat.
- German Christmas baking Stollen, springerle, and pfeffernüsse cookies baked for the holidays, a tradition from German settlers.
- Sauerbraten and red cabbage at Oktoberfest A hearty German pot roast served with red cabbage, a staple at fall celebrations.
- Ukrainian perogies Perogies from the Ukrainian community, often served with sour cream and onions, a comfort food.
Music and arts
- German polka and brass band music Traditional German music kept alive at clubs and festivals.
- Mennonite quilting and folk art Handmade quilts and crafts from the Mennonite community.
- Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Classical music performances at Centre in the Square.
- Indie rock and alternative music A thriving local music scene with venues like the Button Factory.
A little history
- Early 1800s Mennonite settlers from Pennsylvania arrive and establish farms.
- 1853 Waterloo County is formed.
- 1916 Berlin is renamed Kitchener during World War I.
- 1957 University of Waterloo is founded, sparking technological innovation.
- 1984 Research In Motion (BlackBerry) is founded in Waterloo.
Rivalries
- Kitchener Rangers vs. London Knights Intense OHL hockey rivalry.
- Laurier Golden Hawks vs. Waterloo Warriors Friendly university sports rivalry.
- Game day Kitchener Rangers hockey games
- Game day University football games
- Outdoors Skiing at Chicopee
- Outdoors Fishing in the Grand River
- With kids Riding the Waterloo Central Railway
- With kids Exploring Doon Heritage Village
The local accent is typical Canadian English with a hint of German influence, especially in older generations. You'll hear 'eh' and 'sorry' a lot, and some German words like 'ja' or 'danke' might sneak into conversation, especially during Oktoberfest.
Only here
- Largest Oktoberfest outside Germany.
- Home of BlackBerry (RIM).
- St. Jacobs Farmers' Market is one of Canada's largest.
- Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is the world's largest one-day maple syrup festival.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace Oktoberfest - it's a huge celebration with family-friendly events.
- Prepare for cold winters with warm clothing and winter tires.
- The tech sector is booming, so job opportunities are plentiful.
- Explore the farmers' markets for fresh local produce and crafts.
- Learn to love the Grand River - it's great for kayaking and walking.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaGuelphOntarioA royal city with a river running through it.Oxford CountyOntarioWhere the fields meet the horizon and neighbours wave.Centre WellingtonOntarioGorgeous by nature, Scottish by heart.StratfordOntarioWhere culture and farmland flourishWoodstockOntarioFriendly dairy country, where neighbours wave helloBrantfordOntarioWhere the Grand River meets innovation and hockey heart.IngersollOntarioWhere the cheese trail meets friendly farms.HamiltonOntarioWhere the escarpment shades a hard-working, friendly city.
Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.