FIFTH ANNUAL CHERRY FESTIVAL AT CHERRY PARK
July 5, 2025 welcomed the fifteenth annual Cherry Festival at Cherry Park in Kitchener. Despite a high of 30°C and next to no cloud cover, over 1,400 people from Waterloo Region flocked to the park to enjoy all the festival had to offer.
Attractions included the Cherry Train ride for children, a carousel swing ride, mini putt, rock climbing, an inflatable fun house, and more. The festival also hosted more than 70 vendors, 12 performance acts across two stages, and even a wrestling ring, right in the middle.
“It started in 2008… just a small barbecue and a few games, things like that. Then they decided to add on, and build it and try to make it great,” Dan Rudow, chair of the Cherry Festival Organizing Committee, said.
Rudow, a forklift operator at his day job, and about 100 other neighbourhood volunteers made the festival possible. Rudow finds the work rewarding.
“It’s a fun thing to do with the neighbours, and I just wanted to provide a nice neighbourhood for my daughter to live in,” he said.
The greatest attraction at the 2025 Cherry Festival was, of course, the cherries. Ice cream, pies, tarts, brownies, jam, squares and more were available.
“[People] should volunteer if they think they can do better,” one patron said. “Besides, it’s moving fine!”
And once the festival goers got their goodies, satisfaction was high.
“The crust is good, the flavour’s good. Not too sweet, not too tart. I dig it,” TJ, another attendee, said.
He and his partner, Amelia, were enjoying their slices in the sun as a distraction.
“Today’s her due date. So, we’re just eating cherry pie, waiting for a baby,” he said.
TJ and Amelia were joining a long tradition of family stories and the Cherry Festival.
“Kids have grown up coming to this, and now they’re bringing kids of their own. It’s a really satisfying thing just to be part of something fun,” Rudow said.
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James Sullivan
