Where to Oktoberfest in Kitchener/Waterloo

If you’ve never had the chance to attend our Oktoberfest, it is a sight to behold!  As a non beer drinker I have still found joy in the festivities! Including the incredible traditional outfits, the dancing that I am so happy to see people  keeping the tradition, the German Polka music and of course the chicken dance!  Who doesn’t enjoy getting down to a little chicken dance.  Let’s not forget the food, the region is full of pretzels, schneitzel, sausages, Oktoberfest mustard and warm beer nuts! 

Oktoberfest is a great 9 days for those in the region to get together to enjoy some good cheer before winter begins and many events are family friendly.  For a full list of events visit here

Below is a list of the region’s fest halls, what makes them unique and where to find them

Alpine Club

464 Maple Ave, Kitchener

Known for their apple Strudel, go to Alpine club for the eats and stay for the fun entertainment.  Alpine club offers traditional dancers, has their own house band and if you’re lucky, you may catch the lumberjack demonstration! 

BAYERISCHES HAUS

90 King St W – Elements Night Club

Bayerisches Haus is a community partnership with the Lions clue and will be hosting those more night club like events including Beatoberfest and Rocktoberfest, this would be the fest hall where more university students will be attending.  If you’ve never been to one of these events, make sure to wear short pants, with the amount of beer spilled on the floor from the beer drinking and polka dancing, it will wick up your pants to your knees!

Chicopee Haus

396 Morrison Rd, Kitchener

Our only fest hall located in a rustic ski chalet, this fest hall offers some really fun outdoor festing opportunities.  You can enjoy the evening relaxing outdoors on one of the Muskoka chairs by the fire pit or try your luck in the shooting range; fire a pumpkin from the trebuchet, shoot the potato guns, blast a pumpkin from the canon, or throw and axe in the range.  Gather your friends and try their 4 person shot ski too!

Concordia Club

429 Ottawa St S, Kitchener

If you’ve never been to Oktoberfest before and you’re only going to do it once, make Concordia Club your stop.  The Concordia Club is the largest ethnic German Club in Canada. The entertainment and food during the festival, as well as the rest of the year, is as unique and diverse as is the heritage of the Concordia Club.  Concordia club can hold almost 4,000 guests on any fest evening with their large fest tent.  While it is also the loudest of the venues, you are sure to have fun playing their many games, dancing with friends and strangers, they have live music all night long and also have traditional dancing entertainment.  They also put on an incredible German platter dinner, you might even catch a glimpse of Unkle Hans if you look!

Hubertushaus

1605 Bleams Rd, Mannheim

Another staple in the fest hall lineup, Hubertushaus offers some unique food specialities including Rollbratten (pork tenderloin roasted on a spit) served with Spaetzle Noodles & Coleslaw or Breaded Pork Schnitzel served with Potato Salad & Coleslaw as well as a selection of scrumptious cakes and tortes.  This year they are also hosting their 50th anniversary family event Bogenschuetzenfest.  What is Bogenschuetzenfest? This family friendly event is the longest continuous running Family & Cultural Event and will be celebrating it's 50th anniversary in 2019. Anyone with a barebow and 2 special blunt-tipped arrows may participate in Bogenschuetzenfest on Saturday, October 12th. The aim is to knock off parts of a Styrofoam eagle mounted on top of a 35' pole. On Sunday, October 13, participants can compete in the Running Boar Tournament, where the target is a 3D replica of a wild boar travelling at approximately 20 km/h. Any bow is allowed and field tip arrows.

KOENIGSTRASSE GARTEN

125 King St W , kitchener – Bobby O’Briens

With all the changes that have happened in the last few years in downtown, it has been harder and harder to find a home for the beer garden tent. Best thing about the tent is that they service beer and German fare and you don’t need a ticket to get in.  This year, that space will be hosted on downtown Kitchener’s largest patio at Bobby O’Briens, a good match.  Head downtown and watch the tapping of the keg and stop in here for a pint or two.  This tent will only be open the 1st weekend of Oktoberfest

Oktoberfesthaus

41 Ardelt Place, Kitchener

The newest Festhall, which just launched in 2019.  Promising to be one of the biggest fest halls in the festival offering authentic music and food.  The food will be provided by the Transylvania club, who with the closing of the stampede last year has lost their venue for Oktoberfest.  Oktoberfesthaus is unique in that they will be cashless, you’ll be able to buy everything you need with just a wristband, so make sure you go online to get set up to avoid the lineups

Schwaben Club

1668 King St E, Kitchener

Schwaben club is another German club that offers year round German fare, so you know that the food is incredible, they also offer German beer on tap and are one of the only fest halls to offer this during Oktoberfest.  Home of the shotski and with 2 different fest halls within Schwaben club, you are free to choose which fest hall suits you, as you progress through the halls throughout the night, they get a little more rowdy! 

Oktoberfest Koolhaus

425 Bingeman’s Centre Dr, Kitchener

Koolhaus is another large tent fest hall.  What makes Kool Haus unique is that they offer VIP lounges, you up to 5 friends can enjoy a more relaxing Oktoberfest experience with bottle service and private bar access all night.  Also offering German fare and even local craft beers, Bingeman’s knows how to cater to a crowd and this is going to be one fun crowd at Kool Haus!