Six free things to do in the Waterloo Region

The first item on this list is one of the simplest ones, but it’s also one of my favourites. Waterloo Park is a huge park that includes Victorian-style gardens, forests, paved trails, baseball diamonds, a skatepark, a splash pad, a cricket pitch, a farmstead with a variety of animals, and tons of green space.

It even features beautiful bodies of water, Silver Lake and Laurel Creek, which look especially fantastic at sunset. Spots like the Grist Mill, a replica of the first mill built in the city by Abraham Erb in 1816, is a spot you must check out.

Waterloo Park is located just south of Waterloo campus and is basically in the backyard of Claudette Millar Hall (CMH), one of the residences at Waterloo. It's a great place to take a walk, go for a run, toss a frisbee around, or even take that special someone on a date.

There are a number of popular events that take place each year in Waterloo Park, including Wonders of Winter (an annual festival of lights each December) and Movies in the Park, occurring May to September.

Stroll through Uptown

The city of Waterloo is home to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College, so you could definitely say that this is the city for students.

Uptown Waterloo is just two stops away from campus by ION light rail and has a unique vibe with tons of cool places to see and explore. You can go for a casual stroll to take it all in, or bring some money to buy a treat along the way.

Whether it's for a coffee date, working on a project with friends, or even just enjoying some time alone, be sure to check out some coffee shops in Uptown like Seven Shores and Café 22. Going to these cafés is a great way to mix up your coffee lineup from the drinks you get every day on campus!

Spend Saturday morning at the market

The St. Jacobs Farmers Market is a place for people to shop for organic and local groceries and products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, quality meats and cheeses, locally produced maple syrup, honey, preserves, baking, crafts, housewares, wearables, and more.

It's a great place to grab a bite to eat and spend time with your family or friends. Going to the market is a fun way to spend those crisp fall mornings, even if you're just wandering around and taking in the atmosphere.

Every year, I visit the market with my housemates, and we buy all the produce we need to make homemade soup. We spend the afternoon together making all sorts of recipes and put it in the freezer so that we have dinner made with fresh, local produce all year round.

It's one of my favourite bonding experiences and a great way to take a break from studying. The market is open all year round, so I would recommend taking advantage of the great products and experiencing what the market is all about.

Visit a festival

The Waterloo region has a great arts and culture tradition with festivals throughout the year. With so many talented and creative individuals sharing their work, from art and music, to performances and food, there's sure to be a festival you’ll love.

While you might decide to spend a few dollars on a snack or to buy a unique creation, taking in the festival atmosphere won't hurt your wallet.

Perhaps the most iconic festival is Oktoberfest, the largest celebration outside of Munich, which celebrates the region's German-Canadian heritage every October.

In the summer, Taco Fest and Ribfest show off some of the best food and drink in the area, while Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, and Busker Carnival bring alive public squares to show off local and national talent.

You can't forget about winter festivals like all the holiday markets and Winterloo to help the cold, snowy winter pass by a bit faster. I love the atmosphere outside during the music festivals, with people wandering through, shopping local, and moving along with the music.