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Open Streets June Map Now Available
(Click to view full size. Or grab the PDF.)
We’re only a few sleeps from this year’s first event of the summer. Featuring music, art, entertainment and food, join us in Uptown Waterloo this Sunday as Bridgeport to Willis become Open Streets. Some key highlights include…
The Extreme Zone will pump up the noise with appearances from Pure Wrestling Association, CrossFit Kitchener demos, the Game Asylum Video Game Trailer and the Waterloo Fire Department Truck with an open house.
The main music stage by the Public Square will have rollicking performances starting at:
- 1PM – The Seeing Eye Dogs
- 2:30PM – The Skalywags
- 3:40PM – Belly Up Belly Dancers
- 4PM – Derivation
Or feel free to wander and check out the music on the streets, including:
- The Ever Lovin Jug Band with The Haret
- Dave Neigh
- Janice Lee
- Mike Elg
- Richard Garvey Trio
- Juneyt
- Christa Mercy
- And more!
Artisan Market is from Dupont Street to Erb Street and will be dedicated to art displays, many of which will be for sale.
Local community groups like The Waterloo Public Library will have family friendly crafts, while The Working Centre will be on hand to with food and initiative information. The UW Juggling Club will be teaching and juggling anything they can get their hands on.
Local businesses will also be out to celebrate, with King Street Cycles offering up free kids tuneups and helmet fittings, Long & McQuade hosting a musical petting zoo, and ZiP EcoRide running test rides.
And as always, there will be designated Tot Spots for your little ones, with hula hoops, rubber balls, streamers and more. For parents, relax in the shaded Street Lounges that dot the streets.
Finally, we’re offering a basket of Uptown goodies with the Twitter #bestdad contest - share your pics of dad and the kids, and hashtag it with #bestdad to enter. A winner will be announced Monday, June 17!
Lots to do! Download the PDF of the map, or save the PNG to your smartphone for easy reference. See you at Open Streets!
Lighting the bat signal for businesses, community groups and musical talent
Are you an artist, a community group or a small biz owner?
Fantastic.
We invite you to come out and engage the thousands of people enjoying the Open Streets route along King Street in UpTown and help celebrate community, alternative transportation and healthy living in our City’s core.
Participation in Open Streets is FREE and what you do is up to you! Each date is open to businesses, community groups, and individuals to bring their creative ideas and energy to the street.
Top three reasons to participate? PROMOTION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, and perhaps most importantly, FUN! Choose which event suits you best or come to them all!
June 16 (1-5pm) Father’s Day
Father’s Day with attractions for the whole family!
July 20 (5-9pm) Jazz, Food, Fabulous
Our Special Evening Edition of Open Streets will coincide with the Sun Life Financial UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival. It will be a party in the street with live music, local dining, artists, and more!
August 18 (1-5pm) Park in the Street
And by park, we mean the noun, not the verb. You know, “large public green area used for recreation” rather than “bringing your vehicle to a halt and leaving it temporarily”. BYO Sod!
September 15 (1-5pm) Edgy Urban
The streets will get a little edgier, a little hipper, while we welcome back students and enjoy all that is youthful and urban!
For more information please contact me, Marie Marx at m.marx@openstreetsutw.ca.
#bestdad Photo Contest on Father’s Day
Get those smartphones ready, all you proud Poppas. Open Streets is proud to anounce the #bestdad Photo Contest on June 16!
Are you heading to Open Streets with your kids? Or hanging out with dear old dad on a sunny Father’s Day Sunday? Tweet your photos on the street with hashtag #bestdad.
Winner will be announced June 17 via our Twitter, @OpenStreetsUtW.
We’ll be RTing those pics live all day!
Join the Father’s Day Facebook Event!
Looking for a Father’s Day idea this year? Come down to UpTown Waterloo on June 16 and bike, run or walk across King Street from 1 to 5 PM. It’s the first 2013 Open Streets of the year! With popular returning events like street chalking, a musical petting zoo and extreme wrestling, plus brand new vendors, musical guests and shops – Open Streets is sure to be a fun Father’s Day for the whole family!
Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013
Time: 1 to 5 pm
Where: King Street along Uptown Waterloo, ON
Cost: FREE
Registration: RSVP to the Facebook event – Like it, say if you are going or not, leave a comment and invite your friends!
To stay in the know about all our events, like us on Facebook, download our mobile app or follow us on Twitter!
Top Reasons to Volunteer @OpenStreetsUtW
Maybe you want to be a part of something cool in your community this summer. Maybe you’re looking for a few extra volunteer hours.
Whatever your goals, there are many reasons why volunteering at Open Streets 2013 can be awesome and right for you!
Here are our top 5 reasons:
- Meet awesome new people from all walks of life. Our street teams include co-op and summer students, avid volunteers, community leaders, UpTown enthusiasts and others looking to have some fun in the sun. Some of our committee board members started out as passionate volunteers!
- New to the area? Haven’t yet explored one of Kitchener-Waterloo’s coolest spots? Get to know the UpTown core and some of the businesses and people who live and work there. Get on a first name basis with your favorite merchants.
- Demonstrate that you can work well on a team. What better way to show that you thrive in a collaborative environment and have good interpersonal communications skills? Add some beef (not fluff!) to your résumé with volunteer experience.
- Be a catalyst for something amazing. You’ll be at the front lines executing on our shared vision for the festivals. Open Streets wouldn’t be able to exist without you!
- You’ll have fun! We promise. You’re encouraged to enjoy and participate in the happenings along King Street during the event days.
As a volunteer with Open Streets, you’re also our biggest and most impactful brand ambassador.
Check out our Volunteer Page for some more detailed information on the qualifications for volunteering, the roles you can take on. And when you’re ready, fill out an application form. With four dates to choose from, you can volunteer as often as you’d like.
Questions or comments about volunteering with us? Contact me, (Janelle Blackman) your Director of Volunteers.
Mark your calendar! 2013 dates are confirmed!
Get ready for three fun-filled afternoons on King Street, and new to 2013, one amazing evening event!
Sunday afternoon, June 16
Saturday evening, July 20
Sunday afternoon, August 18
Sunday afternoon, September 15
The 2013 Open Street events being held on King Street in Waterloo from William Street to Bridgeport Street. Afternoon events will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Evening events are 6 to 10 p.m.
Be sure to find out how you can get involved in this year’s events!
Hear Andrew on CBC KW’s Morning Edition
Don’t miss Open Street’s very own Andrew Dodds on the Morning Edition: CBC KW’s new morning radio show hosted by Craig Norris.
Tune in on 89.1 FM at 7:10 am on Wednesday, March 20.
Listen live: http://www.cbc.ca/
Or send your questions in on Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Hello 2013!
The Open Streets UpTown Waterloo team is getting set for another season of great events along King Street in UpTown Waterloo. Find out how you can participate, sponsor or volunteer!
A wonderful close to the summer
Open Streets UpTown Waterloo finished with a sunny, cheerful blast yesterday, and it was all made possible by YOU – the volunteers, community groups, local businesses, musicians, artists and Open Streets visitors. Thank-you to everyone who came, shared and enjoyed the day.
There were many happy faces and busy spaces, and more than one serendipitous moment of shared joy (Hello to all of the adults who played in the hula hoop area!). Here are a few pics of the day. We’ll post more shortly on the event page.
The volunteer board behind the four summer events will now be compiling a report for the City of Waterloo recounting the events and suggesting ideas for next year. If you have feedback or ideas, please email co-chairs Tenille Bonoguore and Debbie Currie by September 30.
Click on any of the photos above to see them in full-screen mode.