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Oktoberfest Needs You!

Have you ever thought about the logistics in hosting over 700,000 Festival-goers during an 9-day international Festival promoting the spirit of Gemuetlichkeit?

Although K-W Oktoberfest Inc. (a not-for-profit community corporation) employs seven full-time staff, the Festival would not be possible without the dedication of more than 450 year-round volunteers and 1,300 community and service club volunteers to stage Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival -- Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. Since 1969, our constant growth and success promoting a unique German heritage experience is a testament to the thriving relationship and pride between the Festival and the community.

Become a part of an exhilarating experience and share in the spirit of Gemuetlichkeit!

We are always ready to welcome dynamic people who wish to promote Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. Interested potential volunteers can submit applications right up to August 1st to be included in the current Festival year. Applications received after August 1st will be held until early spring for the following Festival year. Our Volunteer Coordinator will then set up an interview that allows us to connect you with a volunteer position suited to your interests and skills.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest’s Volunteer Program was awarded “Best Volunteer Program” by Festivals & Events Ontario in 2008.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest enjoys the involvement of many different committees.

REFERENCE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

The Volunteer Process

Because Committees are actively engaged in planning throughout the year, they normally meet for a few hours every month to administer committee business and stay abreast of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest initiatives. Volunteers are asked to allocate a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer time per committee to the Festival each year.

As a new Festival volunteer, you will need to:

• attend a Volunteer Orientation workshop
• provide us with a Police Records check (approx. cost is $10 every five years)
• because of entering licensed festhallen, you must be at least the legal age of majority (19 years)
• depending on the function of the committee, you may be required to wear German tracht (dirndls, lederhosen, etc.)

If you are interested in volunteering, we invite you to simply print and fill out the Volunteer Application Form , then fax or mail it to us (fax number and address indicated on form). For more information, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteers@oktoberfest.ca.

If you are already a Festival volunteer, please feel free to encourage and invite family and friends to become volunteers.

The Volunteer Program is supported by: