Pembroke’s popular Waterfront LIVE! free concert series has returned to the Riverwalk Amphitheatre for another summer of music by the Ottawa River. Presented by the City of Pembroke’s Parks and Recreation Department, the 2026 season kicked off June 19 and runs nightly through September 6.
Shows start at 7 p.m. every night except Tuesdays, offering a mix of local Ottawa Valley talent across rock, folk, jazz, acoustic, and other genres. This year’s lineup features returning acts like Stereo Typical and Randa, newcomers such as Ghost Buskers, and the 2 CMBG Pipes and Drums from Garrison Petawawa. Other performers include The Blender Project, Strings And Ivory, Red Head Redemption, Bernadette Kelly, and Treena Hein.
On Tuesdays, the series takes a break for Movie Night in the Park, with free outdoor screenings at 9 p.m. starting July 7. The first film will be ‘How to Train Your Dragon (2025)’, and the city will show family-friendly G, PG, and 14A rated titles through the season. Moviegoers are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the amphitheatre for the open-air shows.
Admission is free for all events, but the city encourages attendees to bring non-perishable food items for St. Joseph’s Food Bank. The food bank has served Pembroke since 1986 and relies entirely on donations from residents, businesses, and organizations.
The Riverwalk Amphitheatre, part of Waterfront Park, opened on Canada Day 2000 as the community’s Millennium Project. It seats about 600 people across eight levels overlooking the river. Full schedules are available on the city’s website.
