Culture Days kicks off with free arts, music and creative experiences across Kitchener
Culture Days has arrived in Kitchener, bringing together artists, performers, arts organizations and community members for a celebration of creativity and connection. This province-wide celebration of arts, creativity and heritage runs from September 18 to October 4, with a wide range of free events, performances, exhibitions, workshops and tours taking place across the city.
As part of this celebration, the City of Kitchener is hosting a kick-off weekend from September 25 to 27 featuring live music, film screening, songwriting workshop, artist talks, and arts hub open house and street-level creativity at Gaukel Block, and so much more. A full list of events hosted by the City of Kitchener is below, but the celebration doesn’t stop there: arts organizations across the city are hosting events throughout Culture Days.
September 15 – October 4
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SPEAKERS ARENA: CAFKA exhibit – Carl Zehr Square (live programming)
September 22
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Artist walk and talk with Hashveenah Manoharan – Westheights Park Natural Area (meeting point), 6 to 7 p.m.
September 24
- Artist walk and talk with Kruti Patel – Lakeside Park (meeting point), 6 to 7 p.m.
- Rock This Town Screening – Kitchener City Hall Council Chambers (City Hall), 7 to 8:30 p.m.
September 25
- Berlin Tower ARTSPACE exhibition opening and artist talk with Carol Spooner – Kitchener City Hall Rotunda Gallery, 6 to 7 p.m.
- Rotunda Gallery exhibition opening and artist talk with Katherine Takpannie – City Hall Rotunda Gallery, 6 to 7 p.m.
- Culture Days Kick-off Concert with Amanda & James and Chris Clark – Carl Zehr Square, 7 to 10 p.m.
September 26
- Beatlesfest: tribute to The Beatles’ rootfop concert – Yeti Cafe, 14 Eby St. N., Kitchener, 12 to 2 p.m.
- Grand River Opera – Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 12 to 2 p.m.
- Fun and Games in Old Kitchener Walking Tour –Victoria Park Pavilion, 80 Schneider Ave., 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- KWSA Gaukel Block Arts Festival – Gaukel Block, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Live on Gaukel with Mandippal and Evan Redsky – 44 Gaukel Stage, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Indigenous Song Writing Workshop with Evan Redsky – 44 Gaukel Rehearsal Space, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
September 27
- Kitchener Mural Walking Tour – meet at the Parkette at the corner of Charles St. E and Queen St. S, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- KW Symphony Quintet – Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- KWSA Gaukel Block Arts Festival – Gaukel Block, 1 to 5 p.m.
- 44 Gaukel Open House, live mural painting, self-guided and guided studio tours – 44 Gaukel, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Live on Gaukel concert with Joshua Pascua, JP Sunga, Clarissa Diokno, Johanna Daze, Ayesha Ahad and Charissa Pascua – 44 Gaukel Stage, 2 to 4 p.m.
September 29
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Artist walk and talk with Lee Angold – Kiwanis Park (meeting point), 6 to 7 p.m.
October 3
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Stay a Little Longer public art unveiling with Tara Cooper – Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, 10 a.m. to noon
Culture Days programming is free to attend unless otherwise noted. Residents are encouraged to check event listings for details and any registration requirements.
Residents can explore the full schedule of City-hosted events at KitchenerLive.ca/CultureDays and discover additional programming presented by local arts and culture organizations through the Ontario Culture Days hub.
Land acknowledgement
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to act as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples who live in Kitchener today.