Wayback Festival turns back the clock Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25
Get ready to crank up the classics and celebrate summer at Wayback Festival, returning to downtown Kitchener this Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. Featuring two days of free live music, local food and unforgettable throwback hits, the festival will take over Carl Zehr Square and King Street in front of City Hall.
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 24, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The lineup includes:
- 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Only Journey: A high-energy tribute band recreating Journey's biggest hits, from Don't Stop Believin' to Any Way You Want It.
- 9 to 10:30 p.m. – Early Elton: A celebration of Elton John's iconic 1970s era, featuring classics like Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets and Your Song.
The celebration continues on Saturday, July 25, from 5 to 11 p.m., with performances from:
- 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. – Born in the Eighties: A party band playing '80s dance hits, '90s pop and R&B favourites, and early-2000s club classics.
- 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. – The Wayback Collective: A special one-night-only collaboration featuring Kitchener-born and acclaimed musicians Steve Strongman, Rob Szabo and Danny Michel performing beloved '80s and '90s rock anthems, supported by a special guest you won’t want to miss.
- 9 to 10:30 p.m. – Trooper: One of Canada's most celebrated rock bands, bringing decades of chart-topping hits and fan favourites to the Wayback Festival stage.
A variety of local food trucks will be offering delicious eats throughout the weekend and our licensed bar area will be serving cold drinks, so plan to stay and rock all day long.
Wayback Festival is easy to reach by transit, bicycle or car. Bike Check will be available with free, secure bike parking at King and Water Street. Vehicle parking is also available at parking garages and surface lots throughout downtown Kitchener.
With a full weekend of hits on the horizon, we can’t wait to welcome you to celebrate the music that brings generations together and remember that at Wayback, we're here for a good time. Learn more at Kitchener.ca/Wayback.
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.