Road closures downtown as Kitchener Blues Festival begins

Kitchener Blues Festival in 2018. (Erin Anderson/CityNews Kitchener)

By Erin Anderson

Posted Aug 5, 2026 03:13:39 PM.

Last Updated Aug 5, 2026 03:13:44 PM.

Road closures will be in place in the downtown core as Kitchener Blues Festival returns for another year.

A ticketed fundraising concert kicks off the festival Thursday night in Victoria Park. Bill Durst, Sass Jordan, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds are set to perform.

The money raised helps the festival put on three full days of free music Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is celebrating 26 years of bringing the blues to Kitchener and attracting thousands of music lovers to our community.

Beginning Thursday, College St. will be closed from King St. W to Duke St. W, while King St. W will be closed from Water St. N to Young St.

Starting Friday, Young St. will be closed from King St. W to Duke St. W.

The affected roads are scheduled to reopen Monday by 9 a.m.

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