5 - Day List
Arts events
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 St. Jacobs and Aberfoyle Model Railway Showcasing Ontario steam and diesel railroading in the late 1950s; open Saturdays and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.; for more information visit stjacobsmodelrailway.com $8, $7 senior/student, $5 child, age three and under free, St. Jacobs and Aberfoyle Model Railway, 1440 King St. N., building 3, St. Jacobs, 519-664-3737 Warm and Cozy: Pants and Petticoats worn in the colder months to keep warm in the winter season; to Dec. 17; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., $6, $5 senior/student, $4 child, $15 family plus HST, Schneider Haus, 466 Queen St. S., Kitchener, www.schneiderhaus.ca, 519-742-7752, abettschen@regionofwaterloo.ca Christmas at the Castle From now until January 7, the castle is fully decorated in Victorian Christmas splendour, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., $6.50, $5.50 senior/student, $19 family, Castle Kilbride, 60 Snyder’s Rd. W., Baden, 519-634-8444 The Polar Express Train Ride Join us Fridays and Saturdays to Dec. 23 for a magical trip to the North Pole; train departs St. Jacob’s Village Station at 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m.; hot chocolate and treats served on board, each child gets a gift from Santa, interactive reading of “The Polar carols; tickets: waterloocentralrailway.com, $49.99-$69.99, Waterloo Central Railway, Railway Museum & Restoration Shop, 50 Isabelle St., St. Jacobs, tickets@waterloocentralrailway.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 Global Migration Film Festival An Immigration Partnership and International Organization for 4PNYH[PVU WYLZLU[H[PVU" ¸4PZHÄY ( .\LZ[¹ HUK ¸>OLU 0»T ;OLYL¹" post-screening discussion to follow; www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/en/business-oppor[\UP[PLZ ÄSTFMLZ[P]HS HZW_ W T free, City of Kitchener Rotunda, 200 King St. W., Kitchener, immigrationpartnership@regionofwaterloo.ca
Classics
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 Choir Members Wanted The Cambridge Kiwanis Boys Choir and Young Men’s Chorus invite new members (boys in grades three to 12) to join in January; application forms are available at ckboyschoir.ca or contacting 519-622-4897 or ckbc@rogers.com, contact the choirmaster for fees, Cambridge Kiwanis Boys’ Choir and Young Men’s Chorus, 36-10 Isherwood Ave., Cambridge SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Kitchener Musical Society Band Concert A free public concert in the Rotunda, 2 to 3:15 p.m., free, Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St. W., Kitchener, www.kmsb.org, ron.baer@sympatico.ca Lessons and Carols for Christmas Featuring the choir of St. John the Evangelist together with Renaissance Singers, 7 to 8 p.m., free-will offering, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 23 Water St. N., Kitchener, eventsatstjohns@gmail.com A Book of Mormon Christmas An evening of Christmas music and readings; light refreshments to follow, 7 p.m., voluntary donations for Food Bank of Waterloo Region, The Church of Latter-day Saints, 1250 Strasburg Rd., Kitchener
Concerts
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 Shout Sister! Choir: Singers Wanted Love to sing, but can’t read music? Join us for a practice with no obligation; new members always run Wednesdays in September through January and February through June; $160 per session (includes one-time set-up fee of $20), 1 to 3 p.m., Breslau Mennonite Church, 226 Woolwich St., Breslau, shoutsisterchoir.ca, members@shoutsisterchoir.ca Mostly Music A casual afternoon of singing; if you can sing with us; we sing popular songs and more and in December we sing Christmas carols; all are welcome; Wednesdays from September to June, 1:15 to 3 p.m., free, Breithaupt Centre, 350 Margaret Ave., Kitchener, 519-884-1850, bernhardt.nancy@gmail.com
Events
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 English Conversation Circle Practise your English skills while we talk, listen, learn and laugh about life in Canada; drop-in, no registration required; www. kpl.org, 1 to 2:30 p.m., free, Kitchener Public Library, Forest Heights, 251 Fischer-Hallman Rd., Kitchener, 519-743-7502, askus@kpl.org Fundraisers SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 Gift-Wrapping by Grand River Hospital Volunteers Volunteers wrap gifts for free, but donations to Grand River Hospital appreciated; every Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; to Dec. 23; www. grhf.org/2017/11/favourite-giftwrappers-move, St. Jacobs Outlet Mall, 25 Benjamin Rd. E., Waterloo, jessica.roth@grhosp. on.ca Hespeler Elves Collect for Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank Place non-perishable food donations on front porch for pickup by elves in costume; most wanted items: small peanut butter, canned soup, pasta sauce, rice, cereal, nut-free school snacks, baby food; for full details visit www.soldbyish.com/ hespeler-elves.ish, 10 a.m. free, Silver Heights subdivision, Silver Heights subdivision, Cambridge, 226-868-7653, soldbyish@ yahoo.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 Fire and Police to Food Bank 365 Awareness Day police services unloading food donations and picking up donations from registered food drives; community members invited to bring donations to The Food Bank to have these local heroes help receive the donations; take some photos; take a tour of the facility and learn how their support is helping our community; www.thefoodbank.ca/event, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, 50 Alpine Ct., Kitchener, 519-743-5576, info@thefoodbank.ca
Health
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 Self-Help Mental Health Program Recovery International: a free, self-help cognitive-behavioural program; learn to change your thoughts in a structured, supportive setting; Tuesdays, 7:30 to 9 p.m., free, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 54 Queen St. N., Kitchener, 519-568-7655, anitann88@gmail.com
Kids stuff
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 Santa Trains Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and live music before the ride; thanks to the overwhelming generosity of last holiday season’s Santa Train ticket-holders, the heating system has been upgraded, as well as the seasonal train decor; the train departs at 10 a.m., 12:30 and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 22, $25 all-ages
Central Railway, Railway Museum & Restoration Shop, 50 Isabelle St., St. Jacobs, social@ waterloocentralrailway.com Annual Santa Day Come for a visit and have your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus; we will be celebrating the holidays with crafts, snacks and Santa and his elves, 12 to 4 p.m., free, Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre, 1001 Ottawa St. S., Kitchener, 519-743-8900, westmountfuneralchapel@gmail. com St. Clements Santa Claus Parade Fun for all ages; parade starts at Industrial Crescent, following Hergott Road North and then east onto Peter Street; Santa will be on hand in the park by the arena after the parade, 1 to 3 p.m., free, downtown St. Clements, 519-749-5730, p.p.hergott@sympatico.ca SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Free Family Skate with Santa Sponsored by the Lions Club of Kitchener, Waterloo Regional Crimestoppers, Piller’s Grand River Financial Solutions, and the City of Waterloo; free hot dogs and hot chocolate (while supplies last); new this year: Christmas shop for children to ‘buy’ gifts for their families; Santa will be on the ice from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m., 12 to 2 p.m., free, RIM Park, 2001 University Ave. E., Waterloo Dreidelfest Family Chanukah Party Presented by the Waterloo Region Jewish Community Council; games, crafts, gelt, dreidels, latke and doughnut bars, an ugly Chanukah sweater contest and more; RSVP at www.dreidelfest. ca, 3 to 5 p.m., $10 individual/ couple, $15 per family (pay at the door), Kitchener Market, 300 King St. E., Kitchener TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 Art Explorations Tuesday evening workshops in art fundamentals and creative encouragement for ages eight to 13; budding artists learn the fundamentals of art and tools of the trade in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture; suitable for all skill levels, with new projects introduced each day; all materials are included; registration required: kwag.ca, 6 to 7:30 p.m., $15 per class plus HST, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener, L_[ THPS' kwag.on.ca WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 Cine Babies A movie program for new parents, friends and family to attend with their infants in a baby- presented with lowered volume, dimmed lights and convenient amenities; see a new movie every week and stay connected; Wednesdays; for updates, visit www.princesscinemas.com/ cine-babies, 1 to 3 p.m., regular admission (babes in arms, free), Princess Twin Cinemas, 46 King St. N., Waterloo, 519-884-5112, wendy@princesscinemas.com