The Heffner’s Guide to Oktoberfest

For the Heffner Family, Oktoberfest is the best time of the year!

The festivities that occur from October 6th to the 14th take the family back to their German roots and allow them to share in their heritage with all members of the community. Kitchener-Waterloo has the second largest Oktoberfest celebration, next to the original fest held in Germany. Here is a list of activities and events that the Oktoberfest experienced Heffner Family encourages you to check out:

A Blooming Affair Fashion Show: October 4
The Blooming Affair Fashion Show celebrates beauty, fashion and style, showcasing the areas’ leading independent retailers. We are especially excited to see the show take place at the new LOT42 location. Our favourite part about the evening is the raffle, with proceeds benefiting a local charity. This year the worthy charity of choice is Children’s Witness Centre.
Craftoberfest: October 6-7
Craftoberfest is a new addition to our family’s Oktoberfest celebrations! Craftoberfest features local art, local foods, and unique German and harvest-inspired craft beer and cider made by invited partners from across the province.
Family Day at the Schwaben Club: October 8
Our family has been members of the Schwaben Club since we first came to Canada, so Family Day at the Schwaben Club is a family staple in our Oktoberfest festivities. The daylong event features dance groups (which used to feature a young Willy Heffner), polka bands, food, kid friendly activities and fun for the whole family.
The 5K Fun Run: October 9
The 5K Fun Run is a great pre-workout before a big Thanksgiving Dinner! Many of our staff, friends and family take part in the race. This year you can run for a cause by making a pledge towards Big Brother Big Sisters Waterloo Region.
Thanksgiving Day Parade: October 9
After long debate over whether to bundle up or not our family loves to head out early to reserve our spot along the curb for Canada’s largest Thanksgiving Day parade. As we sit with our hot chocolate we are always entertained by the magnificent floats, performers, dance groups, bands and festival ambassadors’, Onkel Hans, Tante Frieda, Ziggy unt Zaggy Steiner and Miss Oktoberfest.
Festhallen: October 6 -21
Schwaben Club, Hubertushaus, and, Concordia Club are a few of our favourite locations to celebrate Oktoberfest. The food, beer, music and dancing make for a fun night and reason to wear our traditional lederhosen and dirndl!