Self-Guided Walking Tours & Activities

A) ART WALK - Booklet & Video

Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area, in partnership with the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, has reignited a passion for Downtown with an outdoor museum of art, murals and outdoor pieces on buildings. As you venture out to shop, dine, or stroll, we hope you find joy in these installations. 

Let the attractive book, published by Downtown Kitchener BIA, guide you to the art features throughout our beautiful city. Or, better yet, let Warren be your video guide to some of the destinations (click play> to watch the video).

Download the 90-page detailed guide

B) HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR - Video

Join Warren Stauch, a well-known retired Geography teacher, historian and creator of shunpiking tours, as he takes us on a guided video tour in Kitchener. Take two hours to do it all, or break it up into shorter walks throughout the winter. Warren's step-by-step video tells you all the great stories hidden behind each landmark.

Click Play> to watch the video. You can start and stop the video anywhere along the way. 

C) STOREFRONT WINDOW WALK

For the second year in a row, the businesses of Downtown Kitchener have provided their window space as part of the Holiday Walking Tour. The Downtown Kitchener BIA team has decorated store fronts along King Street, Ontario Street and Queen Street.  We hope this gift of brightness brings joy to everyone that walks in our community. Be sure to take photos and share on social media by tagging @DTKitchener.

View the photo gallery below to see a few storefronts decorated in 2020.

NUTCRACKER GALLERY

Discover the mystery behind the nutcracker - guarding its family from evil spirits and danger. It bares its teeth to the evil spirits and is a messenger of good luck.

At the NE corner of Charles Street & Benton Street, just behind the "pedestrian' public art sculpture, peek in the window to see this festive collection of three-foot-high wooden nutcrackers hand painted and decorated by Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artist members and other featured artists.

Each nutcracker and its artist will be featured each day as part of our 25-day Advent Calendar. 

View the virtual Nutcracker Gallery and artist directory complete with contact links.

ICE-STOCK DEMONSTRATION

All day Saturday as well as Sunday morning December 4 & 5,  at the Christkindl Market village of huts on Gaukel Street

It's an upcoming Official Winter Olympic Sport. Originally seen in paintings from Germany in the 1600's, Ice-Stock is now played worldwide, including right here in Kitchener. Meet members of the National Team that have brought home Gold and Silver for Canada. It is a new sport being introduced at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Ice-Stock is a cross between Curling and Bocce - come talk to some of the team members and you decide!

Read More about Ice-Stock in Canada
Website for the National Federation