Official
Opening Ceremonies will be live streamed from the Region of Waterloo
International Airport on Friday, September 25 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Mayors from all three Cities and the Regional Chair will take part in a
historic single ceremony to declare the festival open. Festival-goers
can also visit one of many “Micro-FESThallen” running in local
restaurants during the festival dates. They will be featuring live
Oktoberfest entertainment and Bavarian-themed food specials and beer
pairings. The program is designed to support local businesses impacted
by COVID-19. On Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest LIVE event
will stream Oktoberfest-themed entertainment, such as The Golden Keys
and other Festhalle favourites, as well as family-friendly programming.
This free event will allow viewers to celebrate the Spirit of
Gemütlichkeit at home while practicing physical distancing or
celebrating within their bubble. Bavarian-inspired food will be
available for takeout from a number of Festhallen and local restaurants.
The event is proudly supported by Schneiders, a long-time festival
sponsor, and is a fundraiser for the Onkel Hans Food Drive, benefitting
the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Since
the inception of the Onkel Hans Food Drive, Kitchener-Waterloo
Oktoberfest has helped raise non-perishable donations and funds
equivalent to 1.4 million pounds of food. “We are pushing ahead with
them in mind, knowing we can work together to keep people safe and
support the recovery of our local economy and tourism industry,” said
Executive Director Alfred Lowrick. “If
the past five months have shown us anything, it’s that our community
continues to find innovative ways to come together safely,” said
festival president Tim Beckett. “With that spirit in mind,
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest was determined to move forward to find a
safe way to continue the tradition. This format allows people to decide
how to join the festivities safely - either in a restaurant or gathered
at home - with those close to you. It’s like the Superbowl, but with
really good polka music.” To
help create an Oktoberfest-at-Home experience, a limited number of
Oktoberfest-In-A-Box kits are available for purchase and will feature
Oktoberfest souvenirs and products from local businesses. Special
edition Oktoberfest masks and pins are also available at Oktoberfest.ca. This
new direction is motivated in part by the important role the festival
plays as an economic driver for the local economy, something that is
important now more than ever. “We
have been consulting frequently with Region of Waterloo Public Health
officials. Our main priority is to ensure the health and safety of our
community and our volunteers,” said Lowrick. “We also feel a sense of
responsibility to the local businesses involved in creating the festival
experience, and the not-for-profit groups who benefit from fundraising
programs. “This
has been a challenging year for everyone as we adjust to new norms made
necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward on an innovative
version of K-W Oktoberfest is welcomed and uplifting news.
Determination, creativity and energy are the hallmarks of the
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest team so, ‘the show must go on,” said
Mayor Dave Jaworsky, City of Waterloo. "Kitchener-Waterloo
Oktoberfest is a storied tradition in our region that has been bringing
our community together for more than 50 years," said Kitchener Mayor
Berry Vrbanovic. "While it will be a different experience this year, I'm
happy we'll still get a chance to celebrate one of the most anticipated
events of the year. While following health and safety guidelines, we
can continue the Gemütlichkeit spirit of this exciting tradition in our
community." With
this new direction and focus, some of the traditional festival events
will be postponed until further notice, including the Miss Oktoberfest
Gala Ball, A Blooming Affair Fashion Show, the KWO 5K Fun Run, the Women
of the Year Awards. The current Oktoberfest Ambassador, Erin Wetzel,
will continue in her role into 2021. The
Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, which attracts over 150,000
spectators annually, will also be postponed for 2020, but the
celebration will continue with a one-hour parade special on CTV, looking
back on the 50-year parade history and how the festival has evolved
over the years. The broadcast will air on CTV on Monday, October 12 at
noon across Southwestern Ontario. This
new format for the 2020 festival is made possible in part due to
funding provided by the Province of Ontario and Heritage Canada. -30- From Stephen Murdoch, Enterprise Canada PR
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