Tour Operators & Groups

Tour Operators and Groups: Plan your visit to Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest!

2024 Festival

Known for its vibrant atmosphere, lively celebrations, and authentic Bavarian experiences, the sounds of accordion music fill the air and steins of cold beer wait for the first notes of Ein Prosit at Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. Be Bavarian amongst visitors from near and far gathering to celebrate at one of the city’s five Festhallen and Willkommen Platz.

Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda are excited to see visitors don their Tracht, raise a stein, polka around and enjoy delicious Bavarian cuisine from our German Clubs/festhallen and local restaurants and food vendors downtown. 

This year’s festival runs from September 27 to October 19 with the main festivities taking place on Thanksgiving weekend from October 11 – 14. Weekend highlights include:

– Official keg tapping at 12 p.m. on Friday October 11 in the Willkommen Platz, followed by live music, dancing and a vendor market in downtown Kitchener
– Dinner and entertainment at the Festhallens throughout the weekend
– Wrapping up with the Thanksgiving Day Parade on Monday October 14 at 9:30am, followed by the Mayor’s Market in Uptown Waterloo from noon until 4 pm. 

Festhallen

Experience Bavaria right here in Kitchener-Waterloo and book a traditional German dinner at one of the region’s Festhallen:  

Habsburg Haus – senior friendly, emphasis on displaying German culture, live music by Wildbahn as well as performances from their own Alpine Dancers and Transylvania Club Dancers. You won’t want to miss is the apple strudel – handmade by Alpine Club members.

Hubertushaus – delicious German cuisine, senior friendly, live music, availability fills up quickly as the club is renowned for its Rollbraten-pork tenderloin barbeque on a rotisserie served with home-made spaetzle and homemade tortes.

Schwaben Club – senior friendly, limited bus access / parking, focused on comradery and tradition.  With a selection of 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, guests experience what the spirit of GEMÜTLICHKEIT truly means.  

Concordia Club – large venue, live music, delicious German cuisine, Concordia developed Oktoberfest “on a major scale”

KoolHaus (Bingemans) – all ages, live music featuring German and Canadian acts throughout the Festival, ample parking, where tradition and entertainment collide

Locate the local Festhallen with our handy map: https://www.oktoberfest.ca/festhallen/#festhallen_map

Advanced ticket purchase is mandatory for groups and we suggest reserving your table as soon as possible.  

Family Days at the Festhallen  

Sunday, October 13 is family day at three of our local Festhallen – Concordia Club, Schwaben Club, and Hubertushaus – making this a perfect time to enjoy the festive ambiance for all ages. Just note, Schwaben and Hubertushaus close at 3:30 p.m. while Concordia keeps the party going until 6 p.m. All other German clubs are closed on this day.  

On Thanksgiving Monday, Concordia Club and Habsburg Haus are the only Festhallen open and serving up traditional German fare. We highly recommend booking tickets in advance, noting that both clubs are open from 12 – 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday. All other German clubs are closed on this day. 

Willkommen Platz

The beating pulse of the K-W Oktoberfest action in the heart of downtown Kitchener.  The Willkommen Platz is open Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

Mainstage entertainment includes The Golden Keys, Walter Ostanek, Weiss Blau throughout the day, and even country sensation Nate Haller after sun set as Oktoberfest Goes Country on Sunday, October 13.  

Visit the vendor markets for local souvenirs including Idle & Wood Candle Co’s Oktoberfest-themed candles (with a portion of proceeds going to our local food bank), and local hot-sauce sensation Ginger Goat Hot Sauce who’s preparing a spicy mustard in collaboration with K-W Oktoberfest.  

Inside the biergartens, Erdinger and six of our Ontario craft bier partners will be slinging brews which pair perfectly with Oktoberfest Beer Nuts, traditional schnitzel, sausage on a bun and even the new Oktoberfest poutine as you raise a stein and polka around. The space will be buzzing until well after the sun sets. 

With a VIP access badge purchased from K-W Oktoberfest, your group will enjoy stage views from an exclusive upper-level vantage point, VIP bar access, seating, and washroom access inside City Hall.  To purchase a VIP access badge for your groups, please contact tourism coordinator Mandy Sinclair.

K-W Oktoberfest Merchandise

Order essential swag – hat and feather and 2024 limited-edition festival pin – for your guests in advance then pop by Hans Haus to collect. Find Hans Haus in the Willkommen Platz (200 King Street West, Carl Zehr Square) near the main stage.

The shop is open Thursday and Friday 3 – 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Find the Willkommen Platz on King Street from Queen Street to Water Street. This area will be car-free.  

Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade will be even bigger in 2024 with more floats, inflatables and bands. Well-known, American sportscaster Jack Armstrong, the voice for the Toronto Raptors on TSN and NBA TV Canada, will be the 2024 official Grand Marshal for this year’s parade.  

Book a bleacher seat in advance for $10+HST for your group prior to arrival as the parade travels up Weber Street from Frederick Street and finishes at Bridgeport Road around 11:30 am. Accessible seating to be reserved in advance.  

Portable toilets will be available and along the parade route.   

For bus parking during the parade, please email Mandy Sinclair, tourism coordinator, for details.

Beyond Oktoberfest Festivities

Wander through the St. Jacob’s Market and get an early taste of Oktoberfest with a stop at the Apple Fritter Co (it’s worth the wait), grab some meats and cheeses from the deli section to create a charcuterie board later in the day (or take a taste of the market home), and top off with some preserves from Kitchen Kuttings.  

On Saturday October 12, the market will also be hosting its first annual Polka and Play and Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda will be there to celebrate, along with the Oktoberfest WunderWagen.  

While there, stop by the log house housing the Mennonite Story and learn about another German-speaking community in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Opt for a hop-on guide to tour through the surrounding “Mennonite country”.  

Explore the restaurant scene by sampling the Oktoberfest menu at BeerTown in Uptown Waterloo or the newly opened Canadian Brewhouse in Kitchener, or venture out of town to sample traditional German cuisine at Metro Restaurant, Crowsfoot or the Old Heidelberg House.  

Delve into local history at the Schneider Haus National Historic Site (open 11 – 4:30), the home of some of the area’s earliest non-Indigenous settlers, Joseph and Barbara Schneider. Visit the restored Georgian-style wood-frame home, spring house, the wash house, the bake house, woodshed, and the privy as part of your visit.

Hotels

Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo

The Walper Hotel

Delta Hotels Waterloo

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kitchener Southeast 

Holiday Inn Express – Waterloo / St. Jacobs 

Staybridge Suites – Waterloo / St. Jacobs 

FAQ

Parking

Please contact Mandy Sinclair, Tourism Coordinator, to discuss coach bus parking near the Willkommen Platz and Thanksgiving Day Parade route.

Washrooms

With VIP access to the Willkommen Platz, guests have access to washroom facilities within City Hall. Portable toilets will be located along King Street.  

For Thanksgiving Day Parade, portable toilets will be located next to the bleachers.  

Drop-Off

Please contact Mandy Sinclair, Tourism Coordinator, to discuss drop-off and pick-up locations for the Willkommen Platz and Thanksgiving Day Parade.