Waterloo Park — Attraction in Kitchener

This place is an absolute gem! I had a wonderful walk with my tween for 30 minutes in this park looking at the light displays and mechanical elves! Some of the lights are put together to appear as a series of movements. For example, a gingerbread cookie looks like it is doing cartwheels. See my videos for more details.

Event time: This winter event runs from Nov. 30-Jan. 4 from 5-10:30 pm.

Cost: The event is free! They have spots mounted on walls where you can donate with your credit card (if you wish).

Selfies: Yes, there is a designated space for taking family pictures (with your own camera). See my pic with the square white light.

Can you drive in the park: Yes, you can drive into the park. However, once you have reached the center of the park, you can't continue to drive through it. It is for walking only to see the light displays. Cars park in lots within the park or outside of it, but you can't drive through all of the lights. You can only drive on the road inside the park that leads up to the parking lot inside the park). The majority of the light displays are for walking only. See the Wonders of Winter website for more parking info.

Washrooms: Yes, they are open for this Wonders of Winter event in the park. They are fairly close to the food building. Check out my pic for more info on the times they are open.

Food: Yes, they have hot chocolate, hot apple cider, popcorn, & ice cream in a waffle cone. They have a dedicated building for this. See my pics for pricing. They accept Visa, Mastercard, & debit.

Parking: Yes, there were 1-2 lots within the park and one on the outside edge. It appeared to be free to park. I parked along Young Street West. You can drive into the park or walk along the walking paths. I saw people with strollers walk where the cars were driving in and out.

Playground: Yes! They have a merry-go-round (separate spot in the park behind the food building), slides, a tall, spiral tube slide (guessing 12-18 feet tall), regular slide, playground zipline (small for 6-12 year olds it looks like), and an belt bridge.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes, there are wheelchair accessible parking spots. The walking paths seemed to have steps leading up to the food building, but once you are parked, it is all wheelchair accessible. If you walk in from Young Street, you will likely want to use the internal road to get in that the cars and strollers use. The other walking paths leading in from Young Street W. use steps. If you come in from the opposite side of the park, it will be completely...

The park offers a variety of attractions and amenities, making it a popular destination for both residents and visitors.

Natural Beauty: The park features lush greenery, scenic walking trails, and picturesque landscapes. It's an ideal spot for nature walks, picnics, and relaxation.

Wildlife and Farm Animals: Waterloo Park is home to a small zoo that houses a variety of farm animals, including llamas, goats, and peacocks. This makes it a great educational spot for families with children.

Playgrounds and Recreational Facilities: The park has multiple playgrounds for children, as well as sports facilities like tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields.

Waterloo Park Pavilion: The pavilion is a popular venue for community events, concerts, and gatherings. It offers a beautiful view of Silver Lake, a small body of water located within the park.

Historical and Cultural Sites: The park includes several historical landmarks and monuments that highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Waterloo region.

Seasonal Activities: Throughout the year, Waterloo Park hosts various seasonal activities and events, such as winter skating on the park’s outdoor rink and summer festivals.

Whether you're interested in outdoor recreation, educational experiences, or simply enjoying a peaceful day in nature, Waterloo Park has something to offer...

A perfect example of how OVER-MANAGEMENT of parks destroys our valuable green spaces. The city has cut down roughly HALF of the trees in the park (mostly mature trees) and ruined the last remaining forest trails that were present in the park with their most recent project.

The city shouldn't be striving to "illuminate" every square inch of the city. We need NATURAL areas in the city. Parks shouldn't be illuminated at night. Not every trail needs to be for cyclists.

Apparently the trees were cut down to "improve the view" for the residents living in the apartment buildings across the street -- buildings which didn't exist 10 years ago. Thus, the creation of those apartment buildings has already contributed to the destruction of the park.

It's a shame that the city can't see the damage that it's doing to our green spaces, denying people the right to have some public land in the city that isn't molested by humans. A park is supposed to be an un-illuminated green space with trees. It isn't supposed to look like a...