You can’t talk about fall in Waterloo Region without mentioning Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest! The largest Bavarian festival in North America brings weeks of celebration with traditional German food, music, dancing, and, of course, plenty of beer! Whether you’re there for the keg tapping, schnitzel, or to dance in your best dirndl and lederhosen at the Festenhallen’s, we’ve got you covered! Check out the best Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest events running from September 27 – October 19 this year.
LET’S GET ZIGGY ZAGGY!
Willkommen Platz 2024:
Dates: Friday, October 11 – Sunday, October 13, 2024
Location: Carl Zehr Square (200 King Street West, Kitchener) & along King Street from Ontario Street to Kitchener City Hall
Downtown Kitchener transforms into a bustling Bavarian Village. Enjoy German cuisine, drink a stein in the biergarten, and shop at the local vendor market. Plus, there will be live performances!
Check out the schedule:
Biergarten & Circle K Stage Hours:
Friday, October 11 – Sunday, October 13, 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Entry into the Willkommen Platz Biergarten is free this weekend!
Vendor Market Hours:
Friday, October 11 – Sunday, October 13, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Click here for full weekend details.
Wunderwagen:
Dates: September 27 – October 13, 2024
Location: Waterloo Region
The Wunderwagen is back! The fourteen foot mobile stage brings the best local bands and entertainers to different neighbourhoods, restaurants, and community events. Sway to the beat, sing along, and dance on your own front lawn to classic favourites and current hits!
Visit Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Facebook and Instagram channels to find out where the Wunderwagen is cruising this year!
Oktoberfest Family Series:
40th Annual Oktoberfest FREE Family Breakfast
Date: Saturday, October 5, 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
Take your family and friends and enjoy a free breakfast at Bingemans. Experience the perfect morning meal with a hot stack of pancakes, maple syrup, Piller’s sausages, Wellesley fresh apple cider, and Tim Hortons coffee/tea.
Click here for full details.
KIDtoberfest 2024:
Dates: October 11 – 13, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location: Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St W, Kitchener
Perfect for families with kids aged 3-10 (or kids at heart!), KIDtoberfest features traditional music and dancing, Bavarian activities, and live performances!
Click here for full weekend details.
Dogtoberfest:
Dates: Saturday, October 12,11:00 am – 6:00 pm and Sunday, October 8, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.
Location: Gaukel Block, Gaukel Street at Charles Street West, Downtown Kitchener
Nutram Pet Products has partnered with Dog Friendly K-W, and Global Pet Food so that you and your dog can take part in training advice, pack walks, contests and other furry shenanigans at Kitchener-Waterloo’s Dogtoberfest!
Click here for the full event schedule.
Click here for family FUN Oktoberfest activities!
Festenhallen 2024:
There are many ways to take in Oktoberfest. With different Festhallen venues each offering their own experience, and dozens of Family and Cultural Events to choose from, there is something for everyone! Walk through the doors of a festhalle and enjoy the authentic cultural atmosphere.
Oktoberfest at The Concordia Club:
The Oktoberfest may be what the Concordia Club is best known for nowadays!
Concordia, aka Canada´s ‘Home’ of Oktoberfest, seats nearly 4,000 guests. The Concordia Club has established the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world right here in Kitchener-Waterloo. It’s a can’t miss event if you’re looking to experience the festival.
Click here to see the full event schedule.
Oktoberfest at KoolHaus (Bingemans):
Celebrate Oktoberfest at KoolHaus this fall, where tradition and entertainment collide for the ultimate Gemütlichkeit experience!
September 27: Matthew Good and Haus Band, the Golden Keys
September 28: Simple Plan & Haus Band
October 4: The Sheepdogs & Haus Band
October 5: The Reklaws, Family Breakfast, and Kinderfest
October 11-12: Dorfrocker from Germany & Haus Band, plus the Ultimate Bavarian Feast (Oct 12).
Click here for the full event schedule.
Oktoberfest at Habsburg Haus/Transylvania Club (Alpine Club):
Get fest’n at the Alpine Club’s Habsburg Haus/Transylvania Club for Oktoberfest! Expect traditional German cuisine like schnitzel, sausage, cabbage rolls, and the famous apple strudel. A highlight is the addition of Transylvania Club pig tails. Entertainment includes performances by Wildbahn, the Alpine Dancers, and the Transylvania Club Dancers.
Click here to get the full event schedule.
Oktoberfest at Hubertushaus:
During Oktoberfest, the organization is known as Hubertushaus. Founded in 1954, the club rolled out its first Oktoberfest barrel in 1984. Club members are dedicated to preserving the German language and maintaining German customs and traditions. That includes hunters’ day, fish-fry events, Schlachtfest, Jägerball, and Bogenschuetzenfest – an archery competition and long-running Oktoberfest cultural event that takes place on the Thanksgiving weekend.
Click here to get the full event schedule.
Oktoberfest at The Schwaben Club:
The Schwaben Club is now in Breslau! The Schwaben Club has over a dozen different German beers, award winning German food (featuring cabbage rolls, schnitzel, pretzels and black forest cake just to name a few), an engaging live band, an outdoor Biergarten reminiscent of Europe, and authentic entertainment throughout the evening. This means you will definitely experience what the spirit of GEMÜTLICHKEIT truly means.
Click here for the full event schedule.
Explore Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest 2024!
Click here to visit Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest for ALL the details. HAPPY FESTING! Looking for MORE fun things to do in the Waterloo Region this October? Visit our October Social Series on ActivaLearn!
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We hope you enjoyed exploring our list of fun things to do at the year’s Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest! Stay tuned to ActivaLearn for more updates and highlights in our upcoming editions. If any of these caught your eye, be sure to let us know on @builtbyactiva on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to be featured.