The Freedom Marching Project

🚨 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

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