Fest Your Way
Plan your Perfect Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Experience!
Whether you’re gathering your friends for a night at a Festhalle or bringing the family to the Willkommen Platz, there’s more than one way to Fest.
K-W Oktoberfest is a vibrant four-weekend Festival bringing the heart of Bavarian culture to life in Kitchener-Waterloo from September 25 – October 17, 2026.
Get your tickets. Plan your journey. Make a weekend of it.
How Will You Fest?
Fest with Friends
Make a night of it. Or make a weekend of it.
Gather your crew and experience the heart of Oktoberfest at one of our Festhallen. Enjoy Bavarian food, live entertainment, music, dancing and plenty of Gemütlichkeit.
With a variety of events and experiences happening throughout Oktoberfest, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Popular dates are already selling out, so get your tickets now and make plans to fest!
Fest with Family
Make a day of it. Make memories together.
Bring the family to Willkommen Platz and experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Oktoberfest in Downtown Kitchener. Enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, family-friendly activities and plenty of Gemütlichkeit as the celebration takes over Carl Zehr Square and King Street. Admission is free, and the Biergarten is family and dog-friendly. Join us October 9–11, 2026, and get ready to fest!
Getting to Your Fest
Take GO. Connect locally. Fest.
Coming from the GTA or beyond? GO gets you to Kitchener. From there, local transit options can help you continue your journey to Oktoberfest festivities across Kitchener-Waterloo.
Take the Kitchener line GO train to Kitchener GO Station, then transfer to GRT (Grand River Transit local bus network serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge), ION (light rail transit system, which runs between Waterloo and Kitchener) or taxi to reach your event destination.
Kids 12 and under ride GO Transit for free, and GO offers convenient Weekday Group Passes and Weekend Passes to help make your trip even more affordable.
Kitchener GO is located at Weber Street and Victoria Street and is the primary arrival point for many visitors travelling to Oktoberfest.
Check your route before you go. Transit routes, schedules and service can change.
GO Transit Tickets and Passes
Where are you Headed?
WILLKOMMEN PLATZ
From Kitchener GO
Walk: ~10 min
Transit: ~8–9 min | Drive: ~5 min
ALPINE CLUB
From Kitchener GO
Transit: ~18 min | Drive: ~10 min
CONCORDIA CLUB
From Kitchener GO
Transit: ~22–28 min | Drive: ~15 min
HUBERTUSHAUS
From Kitchener GO
Transit: ~37–40 min | Drive: ~20 min
SCHWABEN CLUB
From Kitchener GO
Transit: ~55 min | Drive: ~10–15 min
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
From Kitchener GO
Parade starts at Weber St. W. & Frederick St. and ends at Weber St. W. & Bridgeport Rd.
Walk ~2 min to closest view at Victoria St. N.
~12 min to the start at Frederick St.
Prefer a Direct Ride?
Local taxi and regional rideshare options are available from Kitchener GO and throughout the region
WATERLOO TAXI
(519) 888-7777
CITY CABS
(519) 747-7777
UNITED TAXI
(519) 888-9999
Getting Around Waterloo Region
Your Fest doesn’t stop when you arrive.
GRT and ION can help connect you from Kitchener GO and other arrival points to your Oktoberfest destination.
Check your route before you go. Transit routes, schedules and service can change. Use the GRT trip planner for the most up-to-date route information.
Driving & Parking
Your Fest doesn’t stop when you arrive.
Parking varies by event and location. Before you leave, check your destination, available parking and for event-related road closures.
COMING FROM THE EAST
Toronto, Cambridge & surrounding areas
Take Hwy 401 West → Exit 278 → Hwy 8 West → Downtown Kitchener
COMING FROM THE WEST
London, Stratford & surrounding areas
Take Hwy 401 East → Exit 278B → King Street East → Downtown Kitchener
Make a Weekend of Oktoberfest
Why make it just one night? Turn your Oktoberfest plans into a weekend getaway and experience everything Waterloo Region has to offer.
Start with a night of Bavarian food, live music and Gemütlichkeit at one of our Festhallen, then stay overnight and wake up ready to explore. Grab brunch, discover local shops and attractions, enjoy a walk through one of our beautiful parks or check out more of the events happening throughout the Region.
Eat | Stay | Play
Make your weekend plans easy with Eat | Stay | Play – a collection of local restaurants, accommodations, attractions and experiences offering something special during Oktoberfest.
EAT | From schnitzel and bratwurst to local favourites and international flavours, discover great places to eat before, during and after the Fest.
STAY | Skip the drive home and stay close to the action. Choose from downtown hotels and accommodations throughout Waterloo Region.
PLAY | There’s plenty to see and do beyond the Festhallen. Discover local attractions, events, entertainment and experiences that make Waterloo Region worth staying a little longer.
Explore Waterloo Region
Make the most of your visit and discover more of what makes Waterloo Region such a great place to explore. From food and drink to arts, culture, shopping, outdoor adventures and local attractions, there’s plenty to add to your Oktoberfest itinerary.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).