Celebrate books, music and history at festivals this weekend

WATERLOO REGION — Take in some literature, check out some cool local architecture or perhaps enjoy a jaunt through medieval times this weekend.

There are a lot of fun activities to choose from. Here’s a short list:

Enjoy an afternoon of readings and discussions with authors from Toronto’s Word on the Street festival. The afternoon preview will be at Kitchener Public Library’s main branch on Saturday. There will also be books available for sale from Words Worth Books.

It’s the Royal Medieval Faire’s 20th anniversary in Waterloo Park on Saturday. Pop by to enjoy a day full of medieval merriment, games, live entertainment and sword fighting. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children between two and 12 years old.

This Saturday is also the 15th anniversary of Doors Open Waterloo Region, a tour of local architecture and heritage. Visit the website at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/discoveringtheregion/doorsopenwaterloo.asp for a map of the 50 sites on this year’s roster. Also check out a list of free talks that will be offered on Saturday.

Check out a different kind of music and art festival in Kitchener’s own Belmont Village on Saturday. The new free festival, known as Bestival, will feature live music from a variety of different genres, an art tent and ukulele and drum workshops.

For more activities and events in Waterloo Region this weekend, check out The Record’s event listings at www.therecord.com/waterlooregion-events.