Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest kicks off
Get out your dirndl, lederhosen or feathered hat and raise a stein to another Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest!
The Bavarian-themed party officially got underway Friday with a big celebration in front of Kitchener City Hall – temporarily renamed Willkommen Platz.
The moment everyone had been waiting for – the tapping for the first keg – was done this year by local boxers Mandy Bujold and Syd Vanderpool.
Click the viewer above to watch highlights from the event, hosted by our very own Leighanne Evans and Will Aiello.
Revellers could visit the vendor market, food trucks and biergarten, plus there were musical performances by The Golden Keys and the Polka King himself, Walter Ostanek.
Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda were also spotted in the crowd spreading a little gemütlichkeit.
Federal government invests in growth of K-W Oktoberfest
Several representatives for the federal government were in attendance at Willkommen Platz on Friday to announce a $200,000 investment for the growth of the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.
The goal of the investment is to bring more out-of-towners to the festival.
The financial support, through the Tourism Growth Program, has allowed the festival to develop new group tourism packages, including a partnership with GO Transit that involves two-way weekend service from the GTA to Waterloo Region.
Dubbed the 'LederGOsen Line,' the new service will continue along the Toronto-Kitchener corridor for the duration of the festival.
The investment is also supporting the addition of new events, including a road hockey tournament, which will take place in next year's festival.
For more on Oktoberfest events, musical performances and more, check out the festival’s website.
Prost to another fun-filled Oktoberfest in Waterloo Region!
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police identify Toronto victim of alleged serial killer
Toronto police have identified the woman who was allegedly killed by a suspected serial killer earlier this month.
'We've been here before': Trudeau says Canada will prioritize interests in potential U.S. trade renegotiation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that if the next U.S. president re-opens trade negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada will prioritize its own interests.
B.C. billionaire posts third large sign criticizing NDP ahead of the election
British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.
Missing father, kids spotted in New Zealand wilderness 3 years after disappearance: police
A New Zealand man who disappeared with his three children in 2021 was spotted on a farm along the country's northwest coast, police say.
BREAKING
BREAKING Deadly Old Montreal fire: police arrest two suspects aged 18 and 20
Montreal police have arrested two young adults in connection with the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that killed two people.
Former public safety minister didn't know about delayed spy warrant, he tells inquiry
Former public safety minister Bill Blair denies having any knowledge about delays in approving a spy service warrant in 2021 that may have included references to people in his own government.
'It went horribly wrong': DNA analysis sheds light on lost Arctic expedition's grisly end
Archaeologists have identified the cannibalized remains of a senior officer who perished during an ill-fated 19th century Arctic expedition, offering insight into its lost crew's tragic and grisly final days.
Winnipeggers arrested after images surface of cats being tortured, killed
Two Winnipeggers have been arrested after images and videos were posted online of animals being tortured and killed.
Partial remains of British climber believed found 100 years after Everest ascent
The partial remains of a British mountaineer who might -- or might not -- have been one of the first two people to climb Mount Everest are believed to have been found a century after their ascent of the world's highest peak, according to an expedition led by National Geographic.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
