Kitchener-Waterloo's annual Oktoberfest celebrations may not be the original but they are the largest Bavarian Festival in all of North America. So if you don't have the money for a plane ticket to Munich this fall than you might want to consider heading here instead. You'll find everyone from executives working for a Canadian funding corporation to university students participating in all of the events taking place the second and third weeks of October. Here are some of the things that you can experience and some of the history of the festival.
The original Oktoberfest started in Bavaria in 1810 as the end of the celebration of a royal marriage. Throughout the years it grew and now is held annually in Munich and is accompanied by a mid-way and fair. The K-W version draws its roots from the Concordia Club and started in 1969. From those working at an Avaya dealer to those owning restaurants there have always been many German descendants in the area and they wished for a way of celebrating that heritage. Kitchener was even originally named Berlin.
Like the original, the main events of this festival are the beer celebrations. There is a keg-rolling race, university nights, and many beer tents throughout the grounds. But this is not just an event for those nineteen and older. If you've just moved to Kitchener Waterloo real estate listings with your family than you can come down and experience Family Fun Fest, Dogtoberfest, or the free family breakfast, among many other things.
This festival has grown immensely over the years and now includes musical acts, tournaments, and even a Miss Oktoberfest Pageant. So You Think You Can Tanz features German dancing troupes from all over the region and Rocktoberfest headlines some of the top recording artists in the country. There is even a Thanksgiving Day Parade for those who want to add a little bit of Canadian culture into their Bavarian experience. There is also a Gala Ball and a Fashion Show for those that would sooner arrive in a Mississauga airport limo than come on a bus trip.
This year's festival takes place from October 8-16 and takes place all around the city in seventeen different locations. If you're a Toronto naturopathic doctor or a lawyer from London and don't know your way around the city there are maps available of all of the attractions on the festival website.
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