Willkommen Platz

Join us Thursday, October 5th to Sunday, October 8th as Downtown Kitchener transforms into a bustling Bavarian village like you’ve never seen it before – along King Street from Queen Street to City Hall, and down Gaukel Street to the Willkommen Platz Craft Biergarten in the Gaukel Block at 44 Gaukel Street!

Raise your stein in the craft biergarten, savour authentic German cuisine from one of our food vendors, shop our local vendor market, or sing along in front of the stage at one of our live performances – Oktoberfest is bringing the best of it to DTK!

Craft Biergarten Hours: (Gaukel Block – 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener)
Thursday, October 5th – 4pm – 11pm (Oktoberfest Block Party – 19+ ticketed event)
Friday, October 6^th – 12pm – 10pm (Official Keg Tapping 12noon-1pm)
Saturday, October 7^th – 12pm – 10pm
Sunday, October 8^th – 12pm – 6pm
*entry into the Willkommen Platz Craft Biergarten is FREE Friday, Saturday & Sunday for ALL ages!

King Street Vendor Market Hours: (along King Street from Queen Street to City Hall)
Friday, October 6^th – 10am – 7pm
Saturday, October 7^th – 10am – 7pm
Sunday, October 8^th – 10am – 6pm

Craft Biergarten VIP Tent

Craft Biergarten

Get the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Uber Experience as a Willkommen Platz Biergarten VIP – sponsored by Snyders of Hanover! Premium view of the Schneiders Stage, heated tent, and complimentary flights of pretzels from Snyders of Hanover. Hate standing in line? Get quick access to the VIP Erdinger Bar and runners who will fetch your food order! Schmect Gut!

VIP Hours: 
Thursday, October 5th – 6pm – 11pm
Friday, October 6th – Noon – 10pm
Saturday, October 7th – Noon – 10pm
Sunday, October 8th – Noon – 6pm

Oktoberfest Block Party

K-W Oktoberfest kicks off the 2023 Willkommen Platz in Downtown Kitchener, October 5th with the Oktoberfest Block Party! Featuring country-rock band The Road Hammers and authentic Bavarian entertainment straight from Germany, Dorfrocker! Local fan favourites The Golden Keys and The Western Swing Authority bring their high energy shows to make this a party you don’t want to miss!

🗓️Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 4pm-11pm

🎶 4:30-5:30pm – Golden Keys (side stage), 5:30-6:30pm – Dorfrocker (Schneider’s stage), 6:30-7:30pm – Golden Keys (side stage), 7:30pm-8:15pm – The Western Swing Authority (Schneider’s stage), 8:15-9pm – Golden Keys (side stage), 9-10:30pm The Road Hammers (Schneider’s stage)

📍Willkommen Platz in Downtown Kitchener- Gaukel Block (44 Gaukel Street parking lot)

🎟️Get your tickets (only $20!) at oktoberfest.ca/tickets! This is a 19+ event.

🧡Event in support of Oktoberfest Cares!

🤠Presented in partnership with Country 106.7

DOGtoberfest

presented by Nutram Pet Products

Dates & Times: Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 8 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

You heard it right – our four-legged besties now have their own Oktoberfest event. In partnership with Dog Friendly K-W and supported by Global Pet Food! Join us in Carl Zehr Square (Kitchener City Hall) for trick training advice, pack walks, Sniffscape, plus contests and other furry shenanigans! Pssst…it’s also free to attend!

Parking: DTK has free parking on weekdays after 5 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday in municipal surface parking lots. CLICK HERE for a parking map. Visit downtownkitchener.ca/parking for a full list of locations.