Inspiration can strike anywhere – but it's what you do with that inspiration that counts.
Three years ago, retired music teacher Tim Moher was driving down Belmont Avenue from Kitchener to Waterloo when he decided to stop in Belmont Village. If you haven't been, Belmont Village runs along Belmont Avenue between Glasgow Street and Union Boulevard (or from Catalyst137 to Arabella Park Beer Bar, if that helps).
The strip is unique in the region: a mix of small, independent stores and a variety of bakeries, eateries and bars situated in a residential neighbourhood. "It had such untapped potential," said Moher, "it was the perfect spot for a music festival." From there, he started building out what would become the Belmont Village Bestival.
Now entering its third year, the Bestival is expanding to include events on Friday night in addition to the main day of events on Saturday. "I really want to help bring music and art forward in the region and capitalize on the uniqueness of the businesses on Belmont," added Moher. The Friday night events include a hip-hop night at Arabella Park Beer Bar, live music with Giselle Sanderson at Italian restaurant Casa Rugantino and a sound bath at Midtown Yoga.
While music is the focus of the festival, the main event on Friday night isn't a music one at all. "My arts mind goes multi-directional," said Moher, "and I was inspired by a group called Cambridge Authors started by author Tara Mondou to create Bestival Reads." Bestival Reads will take place inside Catalyst137 where you can meet and socialize with local authors and learn about their books and how they write.
Day two of the festival on Saturday includes two stages of live music, a stage for arts and dance and family art activities and music in Gildner Green and Argyle Park. For the first time this year, Belmont Avenue will be bookended by two live music stages: the Main Stage at Belmont and Union and the RBC Stage at Glasgow and Belmont. Red Circle Brewing will also be running a biergarten next to the RBC Stage. There are performers for everyone including My Son the Hurricane, Romeo Sex Fighter, Waterstreet Blues Band and Hugo Alley (who happened to play the True North Festival in 2018).
"Toronto has the Beaches and Roncesvalles," added Moher, "and Waterloo Region has Belmont Village."
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I see and hear that...the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre has their Secret Show IV this Friday, Sept. 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. featuring magicians, mind readers and some amazing variety acts. For all you celiacs and those avoiding the gluten, the first annual KW Gluten Free Festival is taking place this Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Breslau Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Looking forward to next week, Doors Open Waterloo Region is on Saturday, Sept. 1 with tours of spaces including TextNow in Evolv1, Ctrl-V (the virtual reality arcade), North, OTTO Motors and more.
