The Freedom Marching Project

03/19/2026

🚨 Important Vendor Scam Alert 🚨

We want to make our community aware of a scam that has come to our attention.

Someone is currently sending emails claiming to be part of the Momma’s Cookout Market Team and requesting payment for a “vendor fee.”

Please know:

We are NOT collecting any vendor payments for 2026

Emails from [email protected]
are NOT affiliated with our team

Any requests to send money to [email protected]
are fraudulent

If you receive a message like this, please ignore it.

⚠️ If you have already sent money:
• Contact your bank immediately
• Report it to your local authorities

We have reported this incident and are taking steps to protect our community.

We’re incredibly sorry this is happening and appreciate everyone staying alert and looking out for one another 💛

If you’re ever unsure, please reach out to us directly before making any payments.

— Freedom Marching Project / Momma’s Cookout Team

03/17/2026

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Tuesday March 17, 2026 - After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone Momma’s Cookout & Music Festival until 2027.

Earlier this year, we had secured our date and location at Carl Zehr Square and were actively planning for 2026. On March 2, the city of Kitchener informed us of a large-scale event being planned with the city in the downtown core on the same day and in close proximity to the Cookout.

Since then, we’ve been meeting internally and with the City to explore possible solutions. As those conversations developed, it became clear that hosting both events at the same time would create a direct overlap in audience, vendors, and performers.

For a community-led festival like the Cookout, attendance directly impacts our vendors and partners. Moving forward under these conditions would have placed them at a disadvantage — and that’s not a position we’re willing to put our community in.

The Cookout has always been about community, culture, and creating space for people to gather. That commitment remains unchanged.

While the full festival will pause this year, we’re taking time to regroup and explore smaller community activations in honor of the Cookout throughout 2026.

Link to full statement in bio.

🎶 One event that is still happening:
Let’s Take It Back — April 10 @ Room 47 (Uptown Waterloo)
We’d love to see you there.

🎟 Tickets available now — https://shorturl.at/sGAdm

Let's Take It Back FB Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1TC2iUXySk/

We are grateful for the continued support of our artists, vendors, partners, and community members, and we look forward to bringing Momma’s Cookout & Music Festival back in 2027.
—
Freedom Marching Project

03/05/2026

This one’s for the grown crowd.

If you remember singing Destiny’s Child, TLC, Aaliyah, Nelly, Jay-Z, or Justin Timberlake at the top of your lungs, you already know the vibe.

We’re officially On The Way to the Cookout, and the journey begins with Let’s Take It Back — a live 90s & early 2000s R&B, Hip Hop, and Soul experience.

On April 10, Momma’s Kitchen hits the stage at Room 47 in Uptown Waterloo bringing the songs we all grew up on.

✨ Smooth vocals
✨ Nonstop hits
✨ The whole room singing every chorus

Doors open 7:30 PM
Show starts 8 PM
Band wraps around **10:30 PM — perfect early night… unless you stay for the after-party.

👇 Tag the friend you used to sing these songs with in the car.

🎟 Tickets available now:
https://shorturl.at/sGAdm

One festival. One community. One family.
And we’re all on the way to the Cookout.

📽️ | .joshveer |

90's & Early 2000's R&B x Hip Hop x Soul Experience

01/18/2026

Big ups to the for coming out and rocking the crowd at the Titans game last night.

01/18/2026

We had one job and came.out and got it done.

01/06/2026

VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

Momma’s Cookout & Music Festival is where community comes together — through family, food, music, tradition, and connection.

Inspired by the universal tradition of the cookout, our festival celebrates what we all share:

Belonging
Celebration
The joy of being together

Over the past two years, 6,000+ community members have gathered at The Cookout — and now, we want YOU to be part of this unforgettable experience.

OUR VENDOR MARKETPLACE FEATURES:

Culinary Vendors
Sharing flavours and food traditions from around the world — Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and across the Americas (North, Central, South & Latin) — or right here at home.

Artisans & Makers
Unique, handcrafted goods rooted in creativity, care, and personal expression.

Clothing & Accessories
Original clothing and accessories designed and created by independent makers.

Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Local brands that reflect the energy, creativity, and diversity of our region. Limited vendor spaces available!

⚠️ Limited vendor spaces available!

🗓️ Festival Date: Saturday July 11th, 2026
🧭 Festival Location: DTK (Downtown Kitchener)
👉 Apply now: https://linktr.ee/FreedomMarchingProject
🗓 Deadline: Sunday, March 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Questions? We’ve got you covered:

Artisans, Makers, Clothing, Accessories & Small Businesses:
Contact: Tamara Cooper
Email: [email protected]

Culinary Vendors:
Contact: Winslow Taylor
Email: [email protected]

Come grow with us, connect with thousands of festival-goers, and be part of something special.

Let’s build this Cookout — together.