North America’s Largest Bavarian Festival: KW Oktoberfest

Beer, sausage, music, games, friends – who could ask for more?! Oktoberfest truly is the most wunderbar time of the year. And while many cities put on the Bavarian bash, one reigns supreme in my books: KW Oktoberfest. Ranked as the best Oktoberfest outside of Germany by National Geographic, the nine-day festival attracts over 700 000 visitors each year. And it just so happens to take place in my home town…

For over a decade, my friends and I have proudly sported our felt hats and ventured out to the different festhallens (there are 18 of them dotted around the city) to experience some Gemuetlichkeit. We’ve sung Ein Prosit waving beer steins from side-to-side, met countless strangers via the ceremonial chicken dance (I can add Premier Wynne to my list of chicken mates this year) and wandered the streets of Kitchener-Waterloo wearing lederhosen and dirndls.

Although the festival has grown tremendously over the years, it has somehow managed to retain its authentic feel. Perhaps it’s because Kitchener (named Berlin until 1916) is still home to many Germans who religiously head out to the annual event. Some of the festival goers I met this year have been attending for over 45 years!

This year, my photog and I did a festhallen hop around the city. We visited some old haunts and discovered new gems along the way. There really is a festhall for everyone. Some venues are large and full of energy: you can expect plenty of students and unlimited beer showers (Concordia Club, Kool Haus, Altes Muenchen Haus). Concordia Club holds a special place in my heart. As the largest ethnic German club in Canada, the venue can host up to 4000 stein-lovers, has the best selection of games, is a KW reunion (if you’re from the region like I am, you’ll run into people you haven’t seen for years) and has both an authentic and youthful vibe…

Every year I find something else to love about Oktoberfest; this year it was the low-key, family-friendly venues like the Alpine Club, Schwaben Club and Hubertushaus. All three are quaint German clubs that impress with their food, entertainment and endless kegs of cold beer. But Hubertushaus stole our hearts. Nestled in the outskirts of Mannheim, we were whisked away to Bavaria as soon as we stepped inside the German-Canadian Hunting and Fishing Club. The atmosphere was indescribable: almost fairytale-like. I was so impressed by the festhall that I’m returning this weekend to share the experience with my dad (he spent a good chunk of his life in Germany and I have a feeling this club will put a smile on his face).

The festival runs from October 10th till the 18th and is a celebration that everyone should experience at least once. Here are a few insider tips to help make your festing a little more wunderbar:

• Eat: rollbraten with homemade spaetzle (Hubertushaus), oktoberfest sausage with sauerkraut (Concordia Club), apple strudel (Alpine Club) and homemade schnitzel (Berlin 95 food truck)

• Drink: beer and schnapps are the bevvies of choice. Take a quick look around venue before you line up: the hidden bars are key to getting a quick drink (e.g. the basement at Concordia).

• Dance: for me, the best part of Oktoberfest is dancing with complete strangers. Whether it’s learning traditional schuhplattler moves from an 85-year-old man or doing a sloppy elephant dance with a group of tipsy newbies, it’s all in good fun.

• Explore: with over 40 different family and cultural events – from the Bavarian Strongman Challenge (free) and the Great Oktoberfest Barrel Race to the 5K Fun Run and Canada’s largest Thanksgiving Day Parade – there’s tons to do outside of the festhallens. Oh, make sure you snap a #hansie with Onkel Hans!

Special thanks to KW Oktoberfest for our media passes. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.