🇩🇪 Did you know that our province hosts one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the world?! Because of the large population of residents with German heritage, our festivities have grown in scope and popularity into one of the largest Bavarian festivals outside of Germany. Feel the gemütlichkeit (warm feelings) with our Guide to the Best Oktoberfest Family Events in Southern Ontario… dance to the polka, eat a huge pretzel and raise your glass. Prost! 🍻
Canada’s Wonderland: Oktoberfest
Date: Select dates until September 21, 2025
Get the party started at Canada’s Wonderland in September with authentic German-themed food and beverage specials, plus traditional festival bands.
Friday Harbour: Harbourfest
Date: September 19-21, 2025
Celebrate Harbourfest at Friday Harbour on the shores of Lake Simcoe, surrounded by the beautiful colours of Fall with the tastes and sounds of Germany.
Oktoberfest Muskoka
Date: October 23-26, 2025
Immerse yourself in the tastes and sounds of the Oktoberfest Muskoka festival with music, food and beer at local breweries and restaurants.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Date: September 26 — October 18, 2025
K.W. is the grand poobah of Oktoberfest parties, second only to Munich! Their website has an event calendar that’s chock-full of events sure to bring the autumnal merriment, including such family-friendly options as:
- Willkommen Platz
Date: October 10-12, 2025
Get the party started at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener, with free entry for all ages (including dogs!) to the biergarten, where you can savour authentic German cuisine from food vendors, shop at the local vendor market and or sing along with live performances. - FARMtoberfest
Date: October 10, 2025
Hosted by Farm Food Care Ontario, FARMtoberfest is a new family-friendly exhibit that brings the best of Ontario’s farms to the city streets of downtown Kitchener. - KIDtoberfest
Date: October 10-12, 2025
Held at the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, KIDtoberfest combines traditional music and dancing with Bavarian activities and performances by family favourites! - DOGtoberfest
Date: October 11-12, 2025
Free to attend, walk your four-legged besties to DOGtoberfest, where pup and their people can take part in trick training, pack walks, contests and more furry fun. - Thanksgiving Parade
Date: October 13, 2025
On Thanksgiving Monday, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade with floats, inflatables and bands! Be sure to dress for the weather.
Bingeman’s Kinderfest
Date: October 4, 2025
The outdoor Bavarian-themed Fall festival Kinderfest is back for a one-day party with inflatables, games, petting zoo, children’s entertainment, and some oom-pah-pa surprises! Bingeman’s also hosts an Oktoberfest Family Breakfast that morning, in support of the Grand River Hospital Foundation.
Schwaben Club Family Day Sundays
Date: October 6 & 12, 2025
Bring the kids to this daytime family party, with kids crafts, live music by the Golden Keys and plenty of Chicken Dances!
Oktoberfest Family Days at Concordia Club
Date: October 12-13, 2025
Party in your lederhosen at this classic beer hall, where minors 16 years of age or younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by parents/guardians with tickets.
Family Day at Hubertushaus
Date: October 12, 2025
Kids can get involved in the spirit by tapping a root beer keg! There’s also great food, games and polka music for the whole family.
Family Day at Habsburg Haus
Date: October 13, 2025
Spend Thanksgiving Monday enjoying some fun and food, and treating the kids to balloon animals and face-painting. Kids under 12 are free but still require a ticket (use the code UNDER12).
Oktoberfest in Berlin
Date: October 18, 2025
Located at the Woodside National Historic Site, this is an Oktoberfest celebration for the history books! Travel back in time to when Kitchener was known as Berlin, with Victorian-era games and plenty of delicious German food and drink.
Gobble up more Thanksgiving Weekend events in Toronto and the GTA here!
