Where and When
8PM to 1AM
View a Google map of the festival area | Learn how to get here by car, bike, transit or free shuttle bus from Uptown Waterloo to Downtown Kitchener
View a Google map of the festival area | Learn how to get here by car, bike, transit or free shuttle bus from Uptown Waterloo to Downtown Kitchener
I am a Kitchener based visual artist, known widely as a photographer and painter, I love the challenge of working with new mediums. My voice as an artist has developed around the importance of building community, the impact of shared experiences and the strength of mutual support.
Laura is one of five artists painting a rain barrel for REEP Waterloo Region.
A musical line up set outside of the 305 King St West (Perimeter Developments) designed by world-class architect Webb Zerafa, constructed in 1968 and a heritage asset for its modern architectural style.
8pm - 9pm — KW Glee
9pm - 11pm — KW Musicial Productions
11pm - 12am — Millenium Choral Organization
12am - 1am — Acabellas
All musical stage times subject to change.
Come check out EventPeeks and Invuze games on a large screen under the stars!
Fresh Air Films specializes in bringing BIG screen entertainment to you! Whether it be video games outdoors for your small gathering, or an outdoor movie for a big crowd; we provide all the tools and equipment to make it happen.
The EDM stage is back at this year's Summer Lights Festival!
Joday Teschke - Mattyson - Battle Android Trooper - SubStandard
I am an independent contemporary artist specializing in transforming any imagery into harmonious, joyful paintings My mission is to bring colourful positivity to any environment.
Amy is one of five artists painting a rain barrel for REEP Waterloo Region.
Nik is a familiar contributor at local festivals and arts events. See his paintings at the "Elevate" art show at Budd's during the Summer Lights Festival.
Nik is one of five artists painting a rain barrel for REEP Waterloo Region.
Come get your face painted, a glitter tattoo or a balloon twisitie made for free!
We're a team of incredible face and body artists, who bring a world of colour to every event! Face painting, glitter tattoos, and balloon twisting are just a few of our specialties!
Come try the world famous churros!!
The America Latina Variety & Deli is bringing delicious churros to this year's Summer Lights Festival!
We are a skater-run, flat-track roller derby league based out of Waterloo Region, Ontario. As of December, 2010 we are also a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.
For more than five years now, we've been taking the track by storm, facing off against teams from across Canada and the U.S. As our new season approaches, we're gearing up for an even bigger and better year with more bouts, more skaters and more kick ass derby action!
Roller Derby is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, combining a unique mix of athletics, creativity and comradery. There are established leagues in nearly every major city in Canada including London, Hamilton, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Check out the live Summer Lights Festival social media wall powered by Eventpeeks. Send your pics and tweets to #slfkw !
Get your giant Kerplunk on! Move it, shake it, pull out a stick, and see what happens!
Kwatzlab | @kwartzlab | Facebook | YouTube
King Street from Water to College
A musical stage on King Street near Union Burger.
8pm - 9pm — Loretta Fullerton and Sandy MacDonald
9pm - 10pm — Urban X Entertainment
10pm - 11pm — Rebekah Stevens
11pm - 11:30pm — Sarah Granskou
11:30pm - 12am — To be announced
12am - 1am — Vienna D'Amato Hall
All musical stage times subject to change.
Skogen is Norwegian for "Forest".
City of Kitchener Artist in Residence, Sarah Granskou, and Amy Scott will take you for a musical walk in woods, exploring forests near and far. Eight-string fiddle, piano and other instruments provide a passageway for Sarah’s original lyrics, whether inspired by experiences of Kitchener or by her Norwegian tradition.
Sarah Granskou is a storyteller, puppet maker, felting artist and musician, highlighting Kitchener's natural areas in her collaborative project, "Our Fibres, Our Forest", as 2016 Artist in Residence for the City of Kitchener. She is rooted in Norwegian tradition and branching out.
Kitchener Waterloo Musical Productions has been Waterloo Region's premiere community theatre company since 1948. From Broadway musicals like Grease and Anne of Green Gables to new shows like Into The Woods and RENT, KWMP features the finest local theatrical talent.
Check out Vienna on stage and be moved by her incredibly moving melodic tones!
In 2015, Vienna D'Amato Hall released her debut Album, "It's What The Dog Saw," in New York City. She subsequently toured Canada, the US, and Europe, honing her alternative-rock/acoustic sound. Vienna will be releasing her second album in September, 2016.
Join us, watch us and for sure come hopping to see the local favourites!
Hepcat Swing is a volunteer-run dance community dedicated to keeping the spirit of swing dance and music alive in KW. Come have a dance with us, or stop by on the hour at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 for special performances.
Local Pub favourite Sandy MacDonald (guitar/vocals) and KW singer/songwriter (guitar/vocals) will perform an energized set of Country, Pop, Folk, Blues, Jazz and Originals. Their strong harmonies along with Sandy's stellar guitar stylings, seasoned voices and great songs will be sure to be a great addition to this years Summer's Lights on King Street!
Loretta Fullerton has worked in music for three plus decades. She has worked as a back up vocalist for a top 40 show band - Solid Gold, sang country and toured with Cliff Edwards from the Bells. Along the way she found her music happy place with writing pop/country songs, honing that skill along with strong vocals. Sandy MacDonald is a full time professional musician (guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, vocals) with thirty-five years experience. As co-leader of The Beirdo Bros., he played in numerous schools, libraries, clubs, universities and corporate functions throughout Southern Ontario. He performed on The Elephant Show with Sharon, Lois and Bram, and toured Germany with the Canadian Department of National Defense Schools. Sandy has a BA in Drama from the University of Guelph and studied classical guitar and music theory at Wilfrid Laurier University. The Kitchener Record calls him "one of the areas most popular club musicians."
Rebekah is a country/pop singer-songwriter currently residing in Kitchener, Ontario. Coming from a musical family, music has always been in her blood and passion she has always pursued. After posting videos of herself singing a variety of both covers & original songs on YouTube, Rebekah was contacted by a producer through her YouTube channel wishing to work with her, thus jumpstarting her musical career. As well as being a Boots & Hearts 2013 Emerging Artist Finalist, Rebekah also recently released her debut EP "Here I Am" which is available on iTunes now.
City Centre Balcony Stage 11pm-12am
Rebekah Stevens | @RebekahSMusic | Facebook
How long has it been since you've played hopscotch? Don't be shy and join in! You'll wonder why you ever stopped playing.
Kitchener City Hall, King Street from College to Young
As a prelude to its 2016 World Musc Festival, Neruda Arts will present an acoustic duo by David Junca on the cajon and Nabil Moghaddam on guitar and vocals.
David Junca is a proffesionall bassist and percusionist who performs in several local bands. Nabil Moghaddam is a musician, singer-songwriter, and educator.
Come share what matters to you by taking your photo with WR Record.
The Waterloo Region Record has been covering daily news and stories in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and surrounding area for 138 years. This year, we want to hand it over to you and hear the story of why you #SupportYourRecord!
Altekrea's debut program "From Binders and Bricks" brings you underground, edgy alt-culture at its best. From Live DJing on Duke Street, and tattooing on site, the second floor of the Rotunda will also feature side artist extraordinaire Erica Furness, who will shock you with her Bed of Nails act, and curl your toes as she invites you to tip her...by stapling bills to her body.
Altekrea celebrates the artistic excellence of alternative culture, from comics, sci-fi, tattoo, fantasy, animation, graffiti and more across multiple disciplines. Erica Furness is a founding member of Illuminair Entertainment and specializes in fire and sideshow acts. Her signature numbers include fire fans, bellydance/fire-staff fusion, and the mesmerizing bed of nails and piercing acts. Erica is also a very successful model and has been featured in many publications worldwide.
Tic Tac Toe Battle! Grab some chalk and join the battle!
Remember to sign your name if you win and make a new game for the next person!
Check out the live Summer Lights Festival social media wall powered by Eventpeeks. Send your pics and tweets to #slfkw !
What's better than chess? Giant chess. Test your skills on a larger scale!
King from Young to the Civic Centre development and north side parking lot.
Presented by Andrin
RAIA is a singer-songwriter/producer-programmer from Guelph, Ontario. In 2015, she moved to Mumbai to record music and learn more about Indian culture. In addition to releasing her debut single, "Drink Chai," RAIA rediscovered her Raspberry Pi, a tiny computer she uses to code live for a truly modern musical performance. Today, she shares a collection of original songs, written acoustically on the ukulele, played live using technology.
Merge art and technology with us at Summer Lights! Pund-It is hosting an e-waste robot scavenger hunt and e-waste recycling drop-off in collaboration with GREENTEC.
PundIT is a business technology service and consulting firm. We help customers use business technology to get ahead, manage growth and achieve business goals. We love to use technology creatively and you will get to too!
8pm - 9pm — The Short Films
9pm - 10pm — Exclusive Vibez
10pm - 11pm — Safe as Houses
11pm - 12am — Onion Honey
All musical stage times subject to change.
8pm - 9pm — Raia
9pm - 10pm — Vienna D'Amato Hall
10pm - 11pm — King Kitter
11pm - 11:30pm — Bashar Jabbour
12am - 1am — Rebekah Stevens
All musical stage times subject to change.
The Short Films combine intensely vulnerable jazzy-rock vocals, gritty pianos/guitars, heavy drum grooves, synths, and thick steamy bass.
Comedians in cars at midnight with Blackball Comedy, come grab a seat or gather around the iconic 1950's car and laugh!!
Blackball Comedy is a show by two local comedians that showcases professional up and coming, touring comics, also every show features a couple of amateurs. Every Tuesday at Rhapsody Barrel Bar and it's totally free!!
Have your say!
The KW Awesome Foundation is a local group of volunteer Trustees, who commit their time and money into funding great projects, ideas and causes in KW. Let us know what you could do with $1000 to make KW more awesome!
Check out Vienna on stage and be moved by her incredibly moving melodic tones!
In 2015, Vienna D'Amato Hall released her debut Album, "It's What The Dog Saw," in New York City. She subsequently toured Canada, the US, and Europe, honing her alternative-rock/acoustic sound. Vienna will be releasing her second album in September, 2016.
Come try the world famous churros!!
The America Latina Variety & Deli is bringing delicious churros to this year's Summer Lights Festival!
Our delicious addictive whole-wheat pastries are hand-stretched, then float-cooked and served piping hot, topped with butter and your choice of 9 delectable flavours.
SWAT... stands for Sandwiches With A Twist!
We serve Philly Cheesesteak, Montreal smoked meat, Pulled Pork on a brioche bun with carolina cole slaw, Triple Decker Grilled Cheese and Grilled Bologna on thick cut homestyle bread, Certified Angus Beef Burgers, Jumbo All Beef Hotdogs and Chili Dogs, Chicken Fingers and Fries, Poutine, French Fries to name but a few!
For those preferring Vegetarian, we serve a vegetarian burger with fresh ice berg lettuce, tomato and red onion. And our caesar salad with our in house made dressing, real bacon bits and fresh croutons.
Stitch n Kitsch is joining forces with Open Sesame to bring a summer craft trunk show to Summer Lights. Some of Kitchener-Waterloo’s finest crafters will be showcasing their work alongside Open Sesame’s selection of art and gifts. Crafters include BRFC, Banjo Puppets, Jacpot Pottery, and MacLellan Baetz.
Stitch n’ Kitsch is a group of independent artisans based in the Waterloo region. Our collective began in 2005 as a fun way for local indie-craft artisans to offer each other support and information. As a collective, we strive to promote both emerging and established artisans locally.
Come grab a beer, listen to music, play some games and eat some grub!
Abe Erb represents a time before technology saturated the earth, when things were handcrafted, and the only reward needed was an honest pint of beer. We’re here to do right by the old man by serving you fresh beer.
*Abe Erb now OPEN Downtown Kitchener!
This collection of chairs were debuted at the Hohner Avenue Porch Party. After Summer Lights and will pop up at neighbourhood events from Soupstock to birthday parties.
*Community projected created by Laura McBride.
These chairs were created by over 20 artists in the Central Frederick neighbourhood of Kitchener. The artists vary from professional, to amateur, from seniors to children. The artists were not give a theme and told to just paint what they wanted to paint.
Elliot Anton - vocals, guitar, mandolin /// Andrew Laughton - vocals, guitar, piano /// Bensen Carter - vocals, bass, cello /// Thomas Laughton - drums, vocals /// Lauren Taylor - violin, viola
Come meet new friends in the court, play in the sand and have fun in Bobby O'Briens volleyball court. *Accessible by King St
Rebekah is a country/pop singer-songwriter currently residing in Kitchener, Ontario. Coming from a musical family, music has always been in her blood and passion she has always pursued. After posting videos of herself singing a variety of both covers & original songs on YouTube, Rebekah was contacted by a producer through her YouTube channel wishing to work with her, thus jumpstarting her musical career. As well as being a Boots & Hearts 2013 Emerging Artist Finalist, Rebekah also recently released her debut EP "Here I Am" which is available on iTunes now.
City Centre Balcony Stage 11pm-12am
Rebekah Stevens | @RebekahSMusic | Facebook
Proudly originating from KW Region, the MIGHTY LUCHADORS have been decorated as one of Canada`s Top Food Trucks & considered as cross-regional Captains of Industry. Check us out for our Mexican Fusion & International Cuisine!
Tic Tac Toe Battle! Grab some chalk and join the battle!
Remember to sign your name if you win and make a new game for the next person!
Check out the live Summer Lights Festival social media wall powered by Eventpeeks. Send your pics and tweets to #slfkw !
Make it as high as you can, wide as you can... Take a trip in your imagination with Straws and Connectors. Build a boat, design a rocket, create a raft or construct a fort. The straws are flexible; the connectors can join 6 straws together at 90º angles. Build upon someone's design or make your own creation!
Tweet your photos to #slfkw
Make it!
Are you up for the challenge? Visit Sortable for puzzlers and brain teasers.
Sortable is a fast-growing startup full of smart people solving hard problems (like how to make ads suck less). Sortable’s sushi restaurant-turned-office is located in downtown Kitchener.
Lay down, have someone trace your body, write your name on it, add some colour, connect your drawing to the others and VOILA! You have been connected by chalk to your new friends!
Rockatier: one who balance rocks in single column with as many tiers possible. I will be demonstrating using small rocks usually I like bigger it is a matter of scale and public safety. The tallest long lasting tier is best.
The Unaccompanied Minors is one of the University of Waterloo's a cappella groups. Founded in the fall of 2009, this mixed-auditioned group likes to sing and perform arrangements of both indie and pop music. Although the minors love music, these minors prefer to sing unaccompanied.
We are super excited to perform at the Summer Lights Festival this year! Hopefully our performance lights up your evening ;)
Street Photographer Al Doerksen will be looking for photographic pairings & posings of strangers - people who do not each other. After all, strangers are only friends you have not met.
Al Doerksen retired from his career as an international management executive to pursue his photography on a more full time basis. His photographic interest is that of a street photographer: people, their activities, their lifestyles, their costumes, their food, their tattoos, their dress, their relationships and so on.
We are an a cappella group from the University of Waterloo. We will be performing a few songs for passers-by at the Summer Lights Festival. We love to sing and are glad to have this performance opportunity!
Our group was formed in Winter 2010 and have been active every school term since then. If you like what you see, come check out our End of Term Concert on campus on July 22nd and 23rd!
We are ACE, one of the groups from the University of Waterloo. Our group was formed in Winter 2010 and have been active every school term since then. We love to sing and will be performing three songs for you tonight, including an original song. If you like what you see, come check out our End of Term Concert on campus on July 22nd and 23rd!
Come make your own LED badge and light up the night! Assemble a simple electronic circuit using only a few components and some tape. No soldering experience required! Then doodle on your jar with special markers for a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art. This is a free activity, but only available while supplies last!
Mindful Makers is a brand new maker camp created by local artist Agnes Niewiadomski. The camp specializes in lessons that mix art & tech together and give kids an opportunity to use real tools and materials to explore different ways of making things. Week-long sessions are being offered in Waterloo this summer for kids ages 7-14. More info at mindfulmakers.ca
Brent Wettlaufer will be out and about the night of the Festival doing what he does best -- capturing amazing moments on the street. Brent is an official SLF photographer.
Brent Wettlaufer | @BrentWettlaufer
Enjoy our patio, grab a pint or some delicious pub grub!
McCabe's | @McCabesKW | Facebook
Join Rufus as he sings some of your favourite Soul classics. From Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson. Rufus is sure to sing something that with sooth your soul palate.
Rufus is a fresh face who is bringing a refreshing sound to Canadian R&B music. Along with being an artist Rufus is an entrepreneur, a graduated Child and Youth Worker and an Active Youth Mentor in his community. His music has undertones of Jazz, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop but everything he sings is sung with sou
Inspired by an early childhood trip to Las Vegas, Drew Ripley shares the imagination, whimsy, and joy created on stage during his formative years. He is driven by a passion for people and the laughter of others entertaining full time as a professional Balloon Twister.
Drew Ripley | @drewripley | Facebook
Scrabble, on the street! Don't forget, "Z" is worth 10 points. Large size sacrabble that won't disapoint!
#slfscrabble
Al Doerksen is one of the Summer Lights Festival's official photographers. He has travelled and/or worked in around 95 countries. A true street photographer, his primary interests are people, their activities, their lifestyles, their costumes, their interactions their food, their tattoos, etc... keep on the look-out for Al!
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we often forget the people around us. How often do you strike up a conversation with someone in line at the grocery store, or say hello to someone you pass on the street? The people around us might be strangers, but they all have stories to tell and contributions to make to our lives, if only we’d offer them space in which to do so. The Community Couch brings people together to share moments. That’s it. And it could be wonderful, awkward or just something new.
Dedication to the arts & crafts of coffee. Because good taste matters. Your community coffee since 2004.
Staying open late during the festival, so come on by!
Chalkthoughts is striving to provide high quality chalk art photos and to inspire people of all ages to “create art anywhere”. Look for Chalkthoughts during the festival and don't forget to submit your Chalkthoughts.
Chalkthoughts | @Chalk_Thoughts | Facebook
Re live the fun you had as a kid making characters, buildings, and mini cities with play-dough. We will leave it up to you, stop by and unleash your hands to make something with the play-dough. Remember play-dough is for creating not eating!
Jump on/jump off! Play snakes and ladders in a big format. Bringing little kid out!
*Created by Chalkthoughts