Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest 2009

[Zana]

Ok more than a tad off topic of tomatoes....but I know there are more than a few members of Tomatoville that enjoy a good party....even on a large scale. LOL

So once again I'm putting the offer out there to anybody interested in attending the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA. Our Oktoberfest is second only to the original in Munchen/Munich in size! More than 750,000 people will visit the different events and venues here in town during the 9 days of the Bavarian Festival.

Why is there an Oktoberfest here in Kitchener - Waterloo? A bit of a history lesson is in order to explain. Kitchener prior to 1916 was known as Berlin. It was changed in 1916 during WWII to Kitchener (after Lord Kitchener, a British General) in order to show a more patriotic support of the war. Most of Waterloo County was settled mostly by German speaking immigrants - both Amish Mennonites and German immigrants since the early 1800's. When I moved here in 1961, the Twin Cities of Kitchener-Waterloo (yes, we are like Minneapolis-St. Paul - Twin Cities) was still about 60% German - direct immigrant, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or more generation German. Until the 1950's if you wanted a job in banks, retail or offices you had to be bi-lingual in German and English in Kitchener.

There are allot of cultural and family events going on....not just "partying". LOL. Check out ww.oktoberfest.ca for more information.

It starts with the official Keg Tapping Ceremony at the Kitchener City Hall Square about 11am on Friday, October 9th and finishes when they put seal the Keg back up on Sunday, October 18th. The Kiwanis Club of which I am a member runs the second largest Festhalle (think huge beer tent - except its inside in an Olympic size hockey arena) - just a "wee party"....we're only licensed for 2300 people! We have over 30 charitable groups helping us out to staff our Festhalle. We are unique among the Festhallen, in that all our staff are volunteers.

All proceeds go back into supporting those groups and far more projects within our community and beyond....including a large Kiwanis project, partnering with UNICEF to help with Children with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean (the second worst hit area in the world, after Africa). Last year we were able to contribute $10,000 to the project and hope to do similarly this year.

The first weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend and Columbus Day Weekend in the States. We can also arrange packages of hotel and Festhalle tickets for groups if anybody desires.

I think Remy and some of the tomato cohorts in partying from the Buffalo-Niagara-Western-New-York Tomato Tastefest were going to try to be there. And I believe even Mischka mentioned in the past that he has a fondness for beer and might want to sample a few brews....lol. So PM if you are interested.

BTW....most likely I'll be working the front door par usual, dressed in my fuschia dirndl! (Think "Heidi" costume for those not familiar with German style ethnic wear/ Tracht.) However, I'm trying to finish up some new ones before we open....but if you do show up ask for me at the front door. Even if I'm not there at that moment, they can page me on the walkie-talkies, as I'll be somewhere in the Festhalle (As Vice-Chair, I take up residence in the building for about 2 weeks it seems. I'm home only to grab a nap and check email.)

Ein Proesit!

[clara]

Prost or Prosit, Zana, enjoy your time at the Oktoberfest! You had told me about the spectacle some months ago and therefore I was already thinking of you, as here in München/Munich the Oktoberfest has just begun. For me Munich is too far away, for Ami it's a bit nearer... clara

[Zana]

Ein Proesit, ein Proesit....der Gemuetlichkeit....Ein Proesit, Ein Proesit der Gemuetlichkeit! Eins....Zwei....Drei....G'suffa! Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi... Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi... Proest!

Well.....I'm feeling like I'm part Zombie, part Easter Island Statue....not exactly coherent, and moving with the flexibility of a rock. The good news is that the 2009 Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is over again for another year.

Got home this afternoon from tear down at the Festhalle and decided to eat something before crawling into bed....something that wasn't schnitzel, wurst, sauerkraut, kartofelsalat, or struedel. So defrosted a big prime rib steak, fired up the grill and went at it. Then I crashed and got up not that long ago. For some reason its taking me waaaaaaaay too long to type this...having to make waaaaaaaay too many corrections since it doesn't appear that my fingers are in anyway connected to my brain....and seeing straight is still not in the cards. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, yes, the post-Oktoberfest fatigue factor! After 18 to 20 hour days for the past 12 days, I'm not quite feeling up to my normal speed.....gee, ya think?

Last night about 2 hours before close, I was talking with one of the Provincial liquor inspectors. Looked at him and said "almost over". He laughed and said "Are you counting down?" Told him, "Darn straight....1 hour and 58 minutes to go officially before we can start to kick them out the door.....oops....escort them out...encourage them out....clean up and head to bed, only to be back for 0800 for teardown." He laughed. I told him I'd booked most of Tuesday to sleep....and god forbid anybody should try to wake me. LOL

Preliminary calculations indicate our Kiwanis Club and more importantly the more than 40 volunteer/non-profit groups that helped us by partnering with man-power to run our Festhalle are going to be happy with the bottom line. Last year we were able to donate over $75,000CDN from proceeds to the groups that assisted us. Plus more to other projects. We're hoping it will be close to that this year. So as tired as I am....and my fellow committee members that work all year to put it together....its definitely worth it.

And for all those that attended, a heartfelt thank you. I did see a few other tomato/pepperheads who had me paged to meet them at the front door. I wasn't working it for the first time in 10 years. I did manage to see one materhead on the first Saturday night that was probably as colourful as a Brandywine! Ah yes....beer, good food and getting schnapped on schnapps!

Proest Everybody! I'm going back to bed now.

[amideutch]

I'm letting the youngsters take over on the fest thing. My daughter went to Octoberfest this year and said if you didn't get to a tent by 10:00 forget about getting a table. Huge turnout this year as is every year. Don't know how you do it Zana.
This week the city I live near (Kaiserslautern) is having their "Octoberfest". So that will keep the local police and medical services busy. Ah yes, the younger days's when one could party all night, get 3 hours sleep and do it all over again. Ami