K-W Oktoberfest began in 1969 & has grown to 17 fest halls
London to host an inaugural 5-day event at Western Fair District, Oct. 9 - 17
By Mark
Schadenberg
Kitchener has 17 fest
halls and a glockinspiel downtown, so they are certainly the
destination for Oktoberfest (Oct. 9-17) every year. In fact, the
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade receives national attention
with its Thanksgiving parade broadcasts at noon on the entire CTV
network.
The parade is actually
at 8:30 a.m. (http://kwoktoberfestparade.oktoberfest.ca/)
with Ron McLean of the famed Hockey Night In Canada as honourary
marshall. If you plan on attending the parade bring non-perishable
food items for the Onkel Hans food drive.
On Monday, Oct 12 is
the annual K-W Oktoberfest 5K Fun Run. Be sure to visit website for
the K-W festival at: www.oktoberfest.ca
The K-W 9-day run
includes about 1,300 volunteers in various committees and from
service clubs, and, according to their website, raises more than $1.5
million for various not-for-profit groups around K-W.
Read the story below,
but the famed glockinspiel, which was essentially in storage for 6
years, is now back on display after some tinkering, timing
tabulations, calibrations, work on the whistles, and paint.
LONDON
In cooperation therefore, with the Kitchener festivities, London's Western Fair District is also promoting its 5-day Oktoberfest.
In cooperation therefore, with the Kitchener festivities, London's Western Fair District is also promoting its 5-day Oktoberfest.
Kitchener, which began
its tradition in 1969, bills itself as the largest Bavarian festival
in North America, but in an era when it's more convenient and correct
to keep your party near home, the London event should be a huge
success at the Western Fair District complex.
I remember when
Woodstock once held an Oktoberfest night at the fairgrounds here as I
and other (under 19) youth were assigned tasks such as selling giant
pretzels or filling up potato chip bowls.
LONDON
Oct 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
Lots of info is a few
clicks away at www.westernfairdistrict/oktoberfest,
The Bavarian carnival
for the Forest City will feature polka band Blue Waves.
Das Bierhaus will be
the name of the Agriplex building.
From a July article in
The London Free Press:
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The
Agriplex in Western Fair District will become an official venue for
Oktoberfest celebrations on Oct. 9-10 and 15-17.
Oktoberfest
president Alfred Lowrick made the announcement Wednesday at Western
Fair, noting it’s the first time the festival has expanded beyond
Kitchener-Waterloo in its 41-year history.
“We’ve
grown to the point where it was time to expand our brand. We have 17
venues in the K-W region so London made sense because of the
geographic distance,” Lowrick said.
London
Mayor Matt Brown said he was an Oktoberfest fan during his student
days at the University of Waterloo.
“Oktoberfest
has a great brand and strong history in Kitchener-Waterloo. It will
translate well as a celebration of culture and food,” he said.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
If you're not sure if
polka music is your cup of tea (stein of beer), then Thursday, Oct 15
is the day for you with two rocking CanCon greats in Colin James and
Kim Mitchell (I truly hope he's permitted to perform the Max Webster library?). Radio station 98.1 Free FM is the sponsor, but the
admission is not free, but just a paltry $15 in advance. My favourite
of the two is Mitchell and he is on stage at 8 p.m., with the Colin
James show at 10:30.
The Oktoberfest Classic
harness racing card is on Saturday, Oct. 17.
With the venue in mind,
there's always lots of activity around the Western Fair District as
that venue will also include:
Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23,
24 . . . – Yuk Yuk's Comedy
Oct. 10 – Weekly farm
market
Oct. 10 – Giant
mom-to-mom sale
Oct. 12 – Live
harness racing
Oct 14 – Lambton
Shores Predators at London Nationals (Jr B)
Oct. 16 – 18 –
London public library book sale
Oct. 16 – Elgin
County Kennel Club dog show
Oct. 24 – 50+
Lifestyle Expo show
Every Day – Fun at
the Casino
LINKS:
Kitchener
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
Brokerage
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
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