Kitchener 
A list of things to do in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports, and exhibitions: Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 12, 2026
Weather:
Thanksgiving Weekend
Thanksgiving weekend events & activities around KW Region including Thanksgiving Dinner, free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, exhibitions, ideas for day trips and more.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade
Monday, October 12, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
The parade travels up Weber Street and finishes at Bridgeport Road at the corner of Weber and Bridgeport around Noon.
Free; Parade Bleacher Tickets: $10/person
Bring a non-perishable food item or make a cash donation to support The Food Bank through the Onkel Hans Food Drive
Bingemans Screampark
Take this popular horrifying walk if you dare! With newly gruesome and extreme terrifying exhibits to keep you screaming in fright, Screampark aims to haunt. Visit all 6 attractions that are bound to give you repeating nightmares and cultivate your darkest fears. Details
October 8 – 11, 15 – 18, 22 – 25, 29 – 31, 2026
Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
General admission $34.95 – $59.95
KIDtoberfest
Perfect for families with kids aged 3-10 (or a kid at heart!), KIDtoberfest features traditional music and dancing, Bavarian activities, and performances by family favourites!! Details
October 9 – 11, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St W, Kitchener
Enter through the Willkommen Platz Biergarten (family-friendly!) or through the Young Street entrance.
Free
The Irish Descendants
From the rugged shores of Newfoundland the Far East of the Western World originates one of Canada’s most celebrated folk groups, The Irish Descendants. For over 35 years, this multi-award-winning ensemble has captivated audiences across North America and beyond, performing more than 8,000 live shows and earning a reputation for musical excellence and cultural storytelling. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus
$54
Into The Woods
October 7 – 25, 2026
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 40 Benjamin Rd. E., Waterloo
$38 – $62 + taxes and fees
Erin Fair
The Erin Fair has Drone show, 9-11 Homecraft Displays, Ag Awareness Display, Livestock & Horse Shows, Truck, Tractor & Horse Pulls, Live Entertainment, Concessions, Demo Derby, Festival Gardens, Kid’s Pedal Pulls, 4H Achievement Days. Details
October 9-12, 2026
Erin Agricultural Society, 190 Main St, Erin
$7 to $20
Spirit Season at Homer Watson House & Gallery
Support Homer Watson House & Gallery by attending our Spirit Season fundraiser all through the month of October, 2025. Shop at our outdoor Spirit Market, go on an authentic paranormal investigation, learn about the ghosts of the property on a tour, attend a lecture or workshop, and much more! Details
Select dates, October 3 – 30, 2026
Homer Watson House & Gallery, 1754 Old Mill Rd, Kitchener
Varies depending on the program
Let’s Go! Tribute to the Cars, with opening act the 80its
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus
$24.95 inc. HST
Billy Raffoul
Ontario singer-songwriter Billy Raffoul brings his heartfelt songwriting, powerful voice, and intimate storytelling to the stage.
Known for emotionally rich songs and unshakable melodies, Raffoul has connected with audiences around the world, earning hundreds of millions of streams and sold-out shows. His music includes fan favourites like “Acoustic,” “Easy Tiger,” “Better,” “I Wish You Were Here,” and “Bliss,” along with award-winning songs “Western Skies” and “We Could Get High.” Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Centre In The Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener
$64.50
Grillefest
Kitchener council celebrates Oktoberfest downtown with council’s Grillefest. Councillors and city staff will serve you a traditional sausage on a bun, with all proceeds going to support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region! Details
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall
Minimum donation of $5, with all proceeds going to support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
September 25 – October 17, 2026
Various locations in Kitchener
Free and ticketed
Pat Metheny: Side-Eye III+
Twenty-time Grammy Award winner Pat Metheny returns to the stage with Side-Eye III+, the latest evolution of his celebrated project spotlighting fresh voices in jazz. Known for his groundbreaking sound and constant musical reinvention, Metheny continues to push boundaries while mentoring the next generation of innovators. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Centre In The Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener
$96.75 – $128.75
Thanksgiving Day Mile
Kick off Thanksgiving morning with the Thanksgiving Day Mile, a fast and festive one-mile road race held just before the K-W Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade. Runners and walkers will take on a closed, traffic-free course along Weber Street, with thousands of spectators lining the route. Details
Monday, October 12, 2026 | 9:00 AM
George Lippert Park, Weber Street West, Kitchener
Register $40 – $52
Snyder’s Fall Farm Fun
Get ready to have some FALL farm fun! Includes access to our play area, MEGA Slide, petting zoo, pedal carts, jumping pillows, corn maze, haunted houses, and HAYRIDE!
Select dates until October 31, 2026
Snyder’s Family Farm, 936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright
$18.99 to $29.99
Concordia Club Oktoberfest 2026
Join us for vibrant cultural events celebrating German heritage, music, food, and community. This may be what the Concordia Club is most known for today! Concordia is Canada´s ‘Home’ of Oktoberfest. With a seating capacity of nearly 4,000, Concordia has established the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world right here in Kitchener-Waterloo. Details
October 9 – 17, 2026
Concordia Club, 429 Ottawa St South, Kitchener
$15.78; No Ticket Required For 16 & Under
“The Dark Side of Galt” Evening Walking Tours
Put on your comfy walking shoes and join us as we take an evening stroll through the past, exploring stories of disasters, hauntings, and other unsavoury events that are part of the make up of Galt’s dark history. Details
Fridays, October 2 – 23, 2026 | 6:30 PM & 7:00 PM
McDougall Cottage Historic Site, 89 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge
$31.45
Willkommen Platz – “Welcome Place”
Join us at Downtown Kitchener transforms into a bustling Bavarian village like you’ve never seen it before – outdoors along King Street from Queen Street to Kitchener City Hall!
Raise your stein in the Biergarten, savour authentic German cuisine from one of our food vendors, shop our local vendor market or sing along in front of the Circle K Main Stage at one of our live performances! K-W Oktoberfest is bringing the spirit of Gemütlichkeit to DTK!! Details
October 9 – 11, 2026
Carl Zehr Square (200 King Street West, Kitchener) & along King Street from Queen Street to Kitchener City Hall
Free
Castle Kilbride Ghost Walks
Take a walk on Castle Kilbride’s eerie side. The tour features frescoes from an artist who should have been dead, playful kids throughout, including Kilbride’s resident spirit and haunted antiques that have found their way back to the Castle. Participants secluded inside the house with their guide create a perfect environment for experiences. Details
Saturday, October 10, 17, 24, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Township of Wilmot, 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden
$16.75 + tax
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.
Bookmark this page and check back next week for more weekend activities.
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