Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: May long weekend
Depending on what you like, this may not be the ideal long weekend weather wise with rain and cooler temperatures in the forecast, but there are still plenty of events to distract you from the lack of sunshine.
Events to celebrate our feathered friends continue all weekend thanks to Bird Friendly City Kitchener. Events this weekend include workshops, walks and a pop-up market.
WEFTFest
Friday to Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. George Banquet Hall, 665 King St. N., Waterloo
WEFT stands for Woolwich Expressions in Fibre Traditions and this fibre arts festival features vendors and displays from around the region.
Organizers say the highlight this year is the display of the Quilt of Belonging, which spans 36 metres and has 263 blocks made by an Indigenous person or an immigrant to the country. The quilt has gone on tour across the country.
There will be other vendors, speakers, demonstrations, a tea room and other quilts on display.
New Dundee Community Fireworks
Sunday 4:30 p.m. until after dusk
New Dundee Community Centre
Celebrate Victoria Day in New Dundee with an afternoon and evening of events including live music from Erick Traplin, Doug Clayfield Trio and Coty Robinson.
There will also be vendors, a beer tent, food trucks, midway and the evening ends with fireworks after dusk. Note: Organizers plan this event on Sunday evening on purpose (that's not a typo).
Elora Plein Air Festival
Saturday and Sunday, show and sale Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Throughout Elora and area
This annual festival will see artists outside painting various scenes from around the village. On Saturday, there's a group mural painting and nature college activity from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Bissell Park. There's also the Fergus Quick Paint event Saturday afternoon where artists have two hours of complete a painting and get it back to the judges.
On Sunday, the show and sale will be held at the Elora Centre for the Arts.
Kitchener Panthers host Chatham-Kent Barnstormers
Sunday, 2 p.m.
Jack Couch Park, Kitchener
Baseball season is back! The Panthers will be away on Saturday to face the Barnstormers, then host them on Sunday afternoon.
Kitchener Panthers website
The Guelph Royals are on the road for two games this weekend. Friday they're in London, then on Sunday they head to Brantford.
Plant sales
Local nurseries and greenhouses will be open and busy this weekend. There are other plant sales happening around the community, too.
Here's a list of a few of them:
Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red Chevron Club in Guelph, there will be a seedling sale by Brookfront Farms and Sustainable Market with up to 20 varieties of tomatoes, 10 herb varieties, plus lots of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, pepper, eggplant, flowers. Cards accepted but cash is preferred.
Saturday 8 a.m. start, the Preston Horticultural Society's plant sale will be at 212 Highland Park in Cambridge. Organizers stress no early birds but the first 25 customers will receive a free plant (culver root).
Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Guelph Legion there's a plant sale by Nature Guelph, Pollination Guelph and the Guelph Enabling Garden. Organizers ask people to bring their own trays to take purchases home. The sale will be indoors, so please no wagons or pets inside the sales hall. Cash, credit card or debit will be accepted.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harcourt United Church the Guelph-Wellington Master Gardeners will host their annual plant sale with all the usual items for gardens and flower beds, plus shrubs, trees and even some tropical house plants. There will also be 20 master gardeners on site to help. Cash, debit and credit cards accepted.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum is the annual heritage plant sale. The plants are a selection of the flower and vegetable varieties found in the gardens of the Doon Heritage Village. Purchases are cash only.
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