This edition is sponsored by:
Friends of Friends Connection Expo
Connection Expo | September 20 | Guelph Farmers Market
Running a yoga studio, sports league, volunteer group, artist collective, mentorship program, or service club? This is your afternoon to grow your membership!
Get a table for $50 (charities) or $70 (businesses & clubs) and connect with community members actively looking to join you. Here’s what you get: a prime spot at our Connection Expo, pre-event marketing from us, an afternoon of focused visibility, and direct access to people seeking out your club!
Free admission for attendees.
Submit your Interest Form by Sept 1st: tally.so/r/q4E42G
Connection Expo | Saturday, Sept 20 • 12–4 PM • Guelph Farmers Market
What’s up in Guelph
Aug 26th to Sep 1st
Hey Guelphites!
So many events are popping up in the city the next few weeks! Be sure to get out there and check them out!
If you are a local business or know of a local business owner and want get in front of over 7600 local Guelphites, please email us at hello@whatsupguelph.com!
Thanks!
Daily Snapshot
WEDNESDAY – August 26
FAMILY & KIDS
— Music and Story Circle 10am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Bouncing Babies 10-10:30am @ Guelph Public Library Bullfrog Mall Branch (Free) (Info)
— Shake, Rattle and Read 10-10:30am @ Guelph Public Library Westminster Square Branch (Free) (Info)
— Baby Book Club 10-11am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Family Storytime 11-11:30am @ Guelph Public Library Bullfrog Mall Branch (Free) (Info)
— Bouncing Babies 11-11:30am @ Guelph Public Library Westminster Square Branch (Free) (Info)
— Evening Art 6-7pm @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Info)
LGBTQ+
— Queer Parent Hangout – In Partnership with Out on the Shelf 10:30-11:30am @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Info)
— OUT² Youth Group – Screen Printing Totes 1-3pm @ The Grove Hubs (Free) (Info)
MUSIC
— Marshall Veroni and Kaleigh Kerr 8-10:30pm @ La Poche Bar (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Dungeons and Dragons Drop-In 6-7:30pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Info)
— Guelph Board Game Nights: Medium to Heavy Edition 7-10pm @ The Round Table Board Game Cafe (Free) (Registration and Info)
— Trivia Night 7:30pm @ Fixed Gear Brewing (Free) (Info)
— Guess the Song Trivia 8pm @ Brothers Brewing Co. (PWYC) (Info)
STANDUP & IMPROV
— Open Mic Comedy Night 8-10pm @ The Albion (PWYC) (Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Linocut Workshop 2-5pm @ Ground Floor Arts 112C Wyndham St. N (Paid) (Registration and Info)
— Paint Night 6:30-8:30pm @ St. Louis Bar & Grill (Paid) (Registration and Info)
THURSDAY – August 27
FAMILY & KIDS
— Music and Story Circle 10am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Messy Outdoor Art 10-11:30am @ Guelph Public Library West End Branch (Free) (Info)
— Snake Ssstorytime 10:30-11:30am @ Guelph Public Library Scottsdale Centre Branch (Free) (Info)
— Story Time & Crafts 11am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
FOOD & DRINKS
— Tea in the Garden 2-4pm @ McCrae House (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Summer Ice Cream Nights 6-8:30pm @ Halton County Radial Railway 13629 Guelph Line (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
GARDENING
— Tree Walk at Ignatius with Reep Green Solutions 6-7:30pm @ Loyola House at Ignatius Jesuit Centre – 5420 Hwy 6 North (Free) (Registration and Info)
LGBTQ+
— Trans Drop-in 5-8pm @ Out on the Shelf Library (Free) (Info)
MUSIC
— Stan Chang 7-10pm @ Manhattans (Free) (Info)
— Rubbadub 8pm @ Brothers Brewing Co. (PWYC) (Info)
— CJ Cooper 8pm @ The Green (PWYC) (Info)
SENIORS
— Senior Social Meet-Up 10:30am-12:30pm @ Guelph Public Library Westminster Square Branch (Free) (Info)
SHOPPING
— Gold & Silver Pop-Up: Discover the Value of your Jewellery, Coins, & Silver 12:15-4:45pm (Free) (Registration and Info)
— Ward Night Market Pop-Up! 6-10pm @ Old Frosty Freeze 70 Wyndham St S (Free) (Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Intro to Derby Info Night 7pm @ Centennial Arena 376 College Ave. W (Free) (Info)
TALKS
— Climate Change and the Municipal election with Evan Ferrari 2:30-4pm @ Goodness Me! Natural Food Market Meeting Room (Free) (Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Books and Hooks 1-5pm @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Info)
— Handmade Soap Workshop 6pm @ Strawberry Sunshine Candles & Beyond 15 Surrey St W (Paid) (Registration and Info)
— Paint Night 6:30-8:30pm @ Kings Sports Bar (Paid) (Registration and Info)
ZEN & YOGA
— Lunchtime Yoga 12:15-12:45pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Registration and Info)
FRIDAY – August 28
DATING
— One Last Summer Night Speed Dating Ages 27-39 7-9pm @ Royal City Brewing Co. (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
FAMILY & KIDS
— Music and Story Circle 10am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Story Time & Crafts 11am @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Story Circle – Indigenous Reading & Storytelling Program 11am-12pm @ Children’s Reading Room 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N (Free) (Info)
— Guelph Ribfest Magical Midway Ride 4-11pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
FOOD & DRINKS
— Guelph Ribfest 4-11pm @ Riverside Park (Info)
— Tea in the Garden 2-4pm @ McCrae House (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
HISTORY
— Bootlegging History Tour 7:30pm @ Italian Canadian Club Parking Lot 135 Ferguson St (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MUSIC
— Sidewalk Balfolk Session 4-7pm @ La Poche (PWYC) (Info)
— Beautiful Noises 7pm @ Shakespeare Arms (PWYC) (Info)
— Fourth Friday: Nora Joy 7-9pm @ Guelph Civic Museum (Donation) (Info)
— Stan Chang & Gary Taylor 7-10pm @ Manhattans (Free) (Info)
— Sophie Gault and Kiely Connell with Suitcase Sam 7-10pm @ La Poche (PWYC) (Info)
— Grace Fast and Lucas Williams 8pm @ The Green (PWYC) (Info)
— Live Band Karaoke 9pm @ Brothers Brewing Co. (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Magic: The Gathering – Friday Night Magic 5:30pm @ The Dragon (Paid) (Registration and Info)
— Guelph Storm vs Peterborough Petes 7pm @ Sleeman Centre (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
STANDUP & IMPROV
— Jeff Leeson: Only Gonna Say This Once Comedy Tour 8-10pm @ Guelph Little Theatre (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
TALK
— Guelph Black Heritage Society – Bloom & Belong Summer Drop-In for BIPOC Youth 4:30-6:30pm @ Heritage Hall (Free) (Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Gouache Workshop 12-2:30pm @ Ground Floor Arts 112 C Wyndham St. N (Paid) (Registration and Info)
— Teen: Beach Sun Catchers 2-3pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Info)
— RPG Miniature Painting 5-9pm @ The Dragon (PWYC) (Info)
— Paint & Sip 7-10pm @ Williams Fresh Cafe (Paid) (Registration and Info)
SATURDAY – August 29
ANIMALS
— Guelph Humane Society Cat Adoption Event 12-3pm @ Farm to Paw Unit 3 – 951 Gordon St (Paid) (Info)
FAMILY & KIDS
— Family Story Day in The Garden 10 -11:30am @ Guelph Enabling Garden, Riverside Park (Free) (Info)
— Guelph Ribfest Magical Midway Ride 11am-11pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
FOOD & DRINKS
— Guelph Ribfest 11am-11pm @ Riverside Park (Info)
— Tea in the Garden 2-4pm @ McCrae House (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Kelseys MS Fundraiser 7-11:30pm @ Kelseys Original Roadhouse (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
HISTORY
— Guelph Correctional Centre Grounds Tour 11am @ 785 York Road (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MOTOR SHOWS
— Gregg Mitchell Memorial Classic Car Show 9am-3:30pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MUSIC
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Fresh Water Funk 12-1:30pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – FOG Blues & Brass Band 2-3:45pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Hawthorne 3:45-4:15pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer 6:30pm @ Guelph Little Theatre (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Stone the Radio 6:30-8pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Stan Chang & Gary Taylor 7-10pm @ Manhattans (Free) (Info)
— Jupiter Hollow + Derev + Mortrem 7-10:30pm @ Sonic Hall (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Sean Castillo 8pm @ The Green (PWYC) (Info)
— Queen of Covers 8pm @ Fixed Gear Canteen (PWYC) (Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Practically Hip 8:30-11pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons 8:45pm @ Guelph Little Theatre (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
SHOPPING
— Guelph Farmers’ Market 8am-1pm @ 2 Gordon St (Free) (Info)
— Guelph Outdoor Handmade Market Summer Series 10-am-4pm @ Royal City Park (Free) (Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Eramosa River Trail park run 9-10am @ Eramosa River Trail (Free) (Registration and Info)
— Guelph Royals vs Hamilton Cardinals 7-10pm @ David E. Hastings Stadium (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAINING
— Books and Hooks 9am-5pm @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Info)
SUNDAY – August 30
FAMILY & KIDS
— Hobby Con Guelph Trading Card Show 9am-3pm @ The Guelph Estate (Free) (Registration and Info)
— Guelph Ribfest Magical Midway Ride 11am-7pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— 2026 Rotary Duck Race 3pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
FOOD & DRINKS
— Guelph Ribfest 11am-8pm @ Riverside Park (Info)
HISTORY
— Guelph Arts Council – Historic walk 10am @ John McCrae Birthplace 108 Water St (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MOTOR SHOWS
— Gregg Mitchell Memorial Classic Car Show 9am-3:30pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MUSIC
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Group Therapy and the OCD Horns 12-1:30pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Blackwater Trio 2-3:30pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Krista Blondin 4:15-5:45pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Ribfest Guelph Live Music – Tokyo Giants 6:15-7:45pm @ Riverside Park (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
SHOPPING
— Sunday Antique Market 8am-4pm @ Aberfoyle Antique Market (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
— Books & Bevs 1-4pm @ Spring Mill Distillery (PWYC) (Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Trivia Night 8pm @ Shakespeare Arms (PWYC) (Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Bullet Journaling for Artists and Creatives 1-4pm @ Ground Floor Arts 112C Wyndham St N (Paid) (Registration and Info)
ZEN & YOGA
— Guelph Yoga & Wellness Festival 8am-4:30pm @ Frank Hasenfratz Centre 700 Woodlawn Rd. W (Paid) (Registration and Info)
MONDAY – August 31
FAMILY & KIDS
— Side-by-Side Creations: Worry Pets 6:30-7:30pm @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Registration and Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Learn to Play Duplicate Bridge 12:45-4pm @ Kortright Presbyterian Church (Paid) (Registration and Info)
THEATRE
— Zombiefest – a theatrical heels dance performance 7pm @ Guelph Youth Music Centre (Paid) (Tickets and Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Books and Hooks 9am-12pm @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Info)
— Paint Night 6:30-8:30pm @ Wild Wing Eastview (Paid) (Registration and Info)
TUESDAY – September 1
FAMILY & KIDS
— Baby Messy Art 10-11am @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Info)
Shake, Rattle and Read 10-10:30am @ Guelph Public Library East Side Branch (Free) (Info)
— Craft Club: Pipe Cleaner Pencil Toppers 2:30-3:30pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Registration and Info)
SPORTS & GAMES
— Trivia Tuesdays 8pm @ The Wooly Pub (Free) (Registration and Info)
WORKSHOP & TRAININGS
— Drop-in Knitting and Crochet 2:30-3:30pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Info)
— Unlock the Heart of Your Story: Discover Your Character’s Want- Vocamus Writers Workshop 6-8pm @ Vocamus Press 255 Woolwich St (PWYC) (Info)
ZEN & YOGA
— Afternoon Pilates 12:15-12:45pm @ Guelph Public Library Main Branch (Free) (Registration and Info)
This edition is also sponsored by
Royal City School of Ballet and Jazz
Registration days for fall dance classes!!
Sunday, August 30th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Tuesday, September 8th from 5:00-7:30 pm
Thursday, September 10th from 5:00-7:30 pm
Registrations can also be done online, or another time arranged with the studio for you to drop by. Contact us for details.
Royal City School of Ballet and Jazz has been providing a high quality dance education in Guelph since 1979 for ages 3 to adult.
All students are welcome, whether they have a professional dance career in mind, wish to pursue examinations or want to take dance classes purely for enjoyment, exercise and the challenge that dance training presents.
A solid technical foundation in classical ballet and modern jazz has always formed the core of RCSB’s dance programme. RCSB also offers the dance styles of acro, lyrical contemporary and musical theatre.
Royal City School of Ballet and Jazz was voted Guelph’s best dance studio in Guelph today’s 2024 and 2025 Reader Favourites program!!
519-836-8971
info@danceroyalcity.ca
Business Spotlight
Bushido Kids Karate
This week’s Business Spotlight is Bushido Kids Karate, a long-running south-end Guelph dojo helping kids build confidence, discipline and self-defence skills.
Located at 2-200 Southgate Drive, Bushido offers traditional Okinawan martial arts for ages 4 and up, from beginners to more experienced students. With fall registration underway and a free uniform special for new students, it’s a timely local option for families looking for an after-school activity that teaches more than just sport. You can check them out here on their website.
Cafe of the Week
This week’s Food Spot of the Week is Cavan Coffee, a south-end coffee shop and roastery reopening after renovations on August 29. Located at 1467 Gordon Street South, Cavan is a great pick for anyone who wants a proper local coffee stop instead of another chain. With fresh-roasted beans, espresso drinks and a cozy neighbourhood feel, it’s worth keeping on your radar for a weekend coffee run. You can check them out here on their website.
Around Guelph This Week
Guelph Ribfest is this weekend — Ribfest returns to Riverside Park from Aug. 28–30, with ribbers, live music, a midway, and the Rotary car show. Bring a water bottle, as water won’t be sold on site.
More free downtown parking is available — The City’s new “3-for-free” program gives visitors 3 hours of free parking in select downtown lots through Oct. 31, including Macdonell Lot and Market Parkade on certain days.
Guelph’s election race is officially set — Nominations have closed for the 2026 municipal and school board election, and residents can now check the certified candidate list, ward info, and voting options.
Teens ride free until the end of August — Youth ages 13–17 can still ride Guelph Transit for free through Aug. 31 with a registered OnYourWay fare card.
Guelph keeps its AAA credit rating — S&P Global has reaffirmed the City’s AAA rating for the fifth straight year, which the City says helps with borrowing costs as major infrastructure projects continue.
New memorial being unveiled at York Road Park — A permanent memorial for people lost to drug poisoning will be unveiled on Aug. 27 near the covered bridge, with naloxone training also available.
Guelph Storm draft drama — The Storm’s first-round pick, defenceman Declan McNally, won’t be reporting to the team after being selected seventh overall.
