Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest |
|
|---|---|
Elizabeth Witmer MPP taps keg to open Oktoberfest (October 11, 1996)
|
|
| Frequency | Annually, surrounding Canadian Thanksgiving |
| Location(s) | Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Years active | 55 |
| Inaugurated | October 14, 1969 |
| Attendance | 700,000 |
Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest is a big yearly festival in the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, Canada. It lasts for nine days. This festival is like the famous German Oktoberfest. People call it Canada's Greatest Bavarian Festival. It is the second-largest Oktoberfest in the whole world!
The festival happens every October. It starts on the Friday before Canadian Thanksgiving. It then runs until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. About 700,000 people visit the Waterloo Region, Ontario for this event each year.
While the festival is known for its traditional drinks, it also has many other fun things. You can enjoy cultural shows and entertainment. The most famous part is the big parade on Thanksgiving Day. It is the only major parade on Canadian Thanksgiving. You can watch it on CTV across Canada. Parts of the northern United States also show it. In 2016, about 150,000 people watched the parade along the streets.
The cities of Kitchener and Waterloo have a long history with German culture. Kitchener was even called Berlin before. Many Canadians with German family roots live here. Some still speak the German language. A common word you will hear is Gemütlichkeit. This German word means warm friendliness. Even the bus signs show this word during Oktoberfest!
The festival has a special mascot named Onkel Hans. He is a friendly, round man. He wears traditional Bavarian clothes called lederhosen. He also has a thick moustache and a felt hat. Pictures show him holding a traditional drink and a sausage. There is also Tante Frieda, who is his partner. She wears a traditional dress called a dirndl.
Another important person is Miss Oktoberfest. This role used to be chosen in a beauty pageant on TV. Now, a group of judges chooses Miss Oktoberfest. They look for someone who is involved in the community. They also look at her personal character.
Contents
History of the Festival
The very first Oktoberfest happened in 1967. It ran from October 11 to 14. The celebrations were held at the Concordia Club in Kitchener. About 2,000 people came to this first event.
Many festival events take place in special buildings called festhallen. In these halls, you can find traditional food and drinks. There is also traditional dancing and music, especially polkas.
Fun Events to See
There are ticketed events every night in the festhalls. These are based on the traditional Oktoberfest idea. Throughout the week, many special events happen. They are a big part of the festival.
Opening Ceremonies
The festival officially starts with a keg-tapping ceremony. This happens at Wilkommen Platz in downtown Kitchener. Before 2019, it was held at Kitchener City Hall. This exciting event takes place on the first Friday.
Pancake Breakfast
Everyone can enjoy a free breakfast in Uptown Waterloo. This yummy event happens on Saturday.
Barrel Race
Watch a fun race where people roll kegs! This exciting event takes place in Uptown on Saturday.
Oktoberfest 5K Fun Run
This is a family-friendly fun run. It is called a Turkey Trot. It happens right before the Thanksgiving Day parade. You can join in on Monday.
Oktoberfest Parade
The parade includes bands, traditional dancers, and colorful floats. It goes down King Street in both cities. CTV broadcasts it across Canada. Local radio station CKGL also covers it. In 2016, about 150,000 people watched the parade. It is a big highlight on Thanksgiving Monday.
Miss Oktoberfest
The Miss Oktoberfest Pageant started in 1969. It was held at the German Club in Kitchener. In 1970, the rules changed. The winner of Miss Oktoberfest would then compete for Miss Canada. In 1971, Donna Sawicky won Miss Oktoberfest. She then went on to win Miss Canada!
Festhall Single Night Events
- University Nights – These nights are for local university students. They are run by the local Sigma Chi fraternities. Buses run all night from University Avenue in Waterloo. They go to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium for the event. Usually, Wilfrid Laurier University's night is on Thursday. The University of Waterloo's night is on the Friday of the second weekend. Students from both schools and other colleges enjoy these nights.
- Rocktoberfest – This is a big concert with rock music. It also features more traditional music. It takes place at Queensmount Arena (also known as Altes Muenchen Haus) in Kitchener on Sunday.
