Kate's 5 fun things to do this weekend (Sept. 25 to 27)
Lumen, micro-festhallens in local restaurants for Oktoberfest and Taste the Countryside are on tap
It will be sunny and warm to start the weekend, but even if some clouds roll in Sunday, hopefully it won't dampen anyone's mood, because for the last weekend in September, it's going to be really nice weather.
It's homecoming weekend for both University of Waterloo, which is hosting an online black and gold event with hometown musician Craig Cardiff on Friday, and Wilfrid Laurier University, which will have some trivia and an ask me anything session with Golden Hawks coaches.
TheMuseum in downtown Kitchener is celebrating its 17th birthday with events on Sunday.
Hope in the Street won't be on a downtown Guelph street this year, but is taking its musical guests and other entertainers online for an event dubbed Hope in the Stream.
The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre would normally hold a pow wow at St. Paul's University College in Waterloo, but COVID-19 guidelines means they're now hosting a pow wow online.
Lumen at Home
Starts Saturday
Hosted by City of Waterloo
Art, technology and light combine in this annual festival. While there is a certain sense of awe in seeing the light displays in person at night in and around uptown Waterloo, the artists will take their pieces online to still bring the festival to people. Even better news, you don't have to make it on a specific night — Lumen at Home runs until Oct. 26.
Oktoberfest in restaurants
Starts Friday evening
Various venues
Oktoberfest is going to be a little different this year. But you'll still be able to get German and German-inspired meals at local restaurants. Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has partnered with local restaurants to create "micro-festhallens" that will include music, beer and food specials and prizes. The restaurant program runs until Oct. 12.
Taste the Countryside
Starts Friday
Various venues in the region
This is a 10-day dining event at restaurants, breweries, coffee houses and the St. Jacobs Farmers Market to get people out of the city and into the townships to taste what is on offer. The various stops will have fixed price menus and people can enter to win prizes from Explore Waterloo Region. It's a fun event because, let's be honest, we all need to eat.
Screampark
8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25
8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26
Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener
This year, the screams will follow you outside. If you enjoy being scared, this is the pre-Halloween event for you. This marks opening weekend for Screampark, so if you can't make it this weekend, there are other opportunities. Pre-purchased tickets are recommended.
Uptown Open Air Market
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27
Uptown Waterloo, parking lot behind city hall, 100 Regina St. S.
Enjoy an outdoor market with local makers, artisans and businesses. Food will also be available on site. The BIA says the number of vendors and shoppers will be limited to ensure people can keep a physical distance from others. Donations will be accepted for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
There are other fall markets happening this weekend in Guelph. They include the It's Fall, Y'all market at the Victoria East Golf Club and the Guelph Handmade Fall Market at Old Quebec Street Shoppes in downtown Guelph. If you stop by this market, you may also want to duck into the new location of the Guelph Tool Library. They're going to be in Old Quebec Street now and they're having a re-opening celebration on Saturday.
There's also the Elora Fergus Art in the Open event on both Saturday and Sunday, which is a rethink of the usual studio tours that happen around this time of year. Instead of going inside an artist's studio, people will be able to view their art outside in their yards.