Oktoberfest anticipation building
Posted Aug 24, 2011 05:18:24 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has announced an extension of its long-standing partnership with Molson Coors and, with that, also unveiled a series of new events around this year’s festival.
The partnership with Molson Coors is a tradition dating back more than 30 years and the beer maker has signed on for another five years with the festival.
“We’re very happy to be signing this five year agreement because it helps to stabilize our festival and they’re just a great partner to have,” Oktoberfest president Vic Degutis says enthusiastically of the new contract.
Along with the extension of that agreement, Oktoberfest will also introduce its own lager beer this year, a brew that will only be available in festhalls. The authentic, German-style recipe is being developed by Creemore Springs Brewery in partnership with Molson Coors.
Among the festhallen where that new beer will be available is Chicopee Haus, one of several new venues signing on this year. New homes have also been found for the Transylvania Club and Cambridge Rotary Haus this year, while Bingemans will feature a new Oktoberfest tent.
The 9-day festival would not be complete without the traditional Thanksgiving Day parade and even that time-honoured event is getting a bit of a makeover.
“We’ve had more new floats, new bands, new excitement around the parade (than we’ve had in 10 years) and we’re really very enthused,” Degutis gushes. “We have a group, the Trilby Mummers, coming in from Pennsylvania. They’ll actually be around for the whole opening weekend and will be one of the features of the parade this year.
Also new this year is the Stein and Dine, a multi-course meal prepared by celebrity chef Roger Mooking and paired with a selection of beers.
Degutis was also excited to point out that two-time Olympic medallist (triathlon) Simon Whitfield will take part in this year’s Tour de Hans 100 kilometre cycling race.
And even Onkel Hans will have some company, as Oktoberfest officials claim to have tracked down two long lost nephews of the venerable festival mascot, all the way from the mountains of Bavaria.
“Ziggy and Zaggy Steiner are going to be joining us for the festival and you’re going to see them everywhere,” Degutis says with a laugh. “They say they’re here to party with 700,000 of Onkel Hans’ closest friends and I think they’re going to do a pretty good job of contacting all of them.”
Degutis says ticket sales are 25% ahead of the pace they were at this time last year.
This year’s festival runs October 7-15.
