Forget PSL season. It’s schnitzel and stein season here in Waterloo Region as the 56th annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest kicks off. 

In this episode of Tech About Town, KW Oktoberfest President Allan Cayenne and Ambassador Allie Steffler join us in the studio to discuss the festival's evolution, rich cultural heritage, and impact on the community.

Allan and Allie share insights into Oktoberfest traditions, their personal journeys into the festival, and the exciting new developments for this year's celebrations. They also dive into the best food to try, their favourite festival moments, and how the event brings people together. It’s an episode that made me want to line up at Concordia Club for beer nuts, schnitzel, and sauerkraut. Maybe that’s we’re I’m publishing this episode from, you never know.

ANYWAYS—whether you're a longtime festival-goer or a newcomer, this episode captures what makes Oktoberfest (and Techtoberfest) one of our favourite times of the year.

Grab a pretzel, raise a stein, and join us as we celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest!

Episode rundown

0:45 - Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is more than an excuse to eat schnitzel and polka in public.

1:09 - Introducing today’s guests: KW Oktoberfest President Allan Cayenne and Ambassador Allie Steffler, ready to share their Oktoberfest wisdom.

2:07 - Allan and Allie describe their traditional outfits in all their Bavarian glory. Lederhosen and dirndls are in full effect!

3:28 - Allie discusses her role as Oktoberfest Ambassador, sharing what it means to represent the festival in style.

4:55 - Allan takes us through the history of Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo.

7:50 - Alex and Allan swap stories about their first Oktoberfest experiences—because everyone remembers their first polka.

9:44 - The group talks traditions, from button collections to the best places to polka. Turns out, nostalgia pairs well with pretzels.

10:55 - Allie shares the joy of introducing her friends to Oktoberfest for the first time. Their reactions? Pure festival magic.

12:04 - Alex recounts a story about a friend meeting their future spouse at Oktoberfest—proving love can strike over sauerkraut.

12:40 - Plans for the Welcome to Platz event, bringing back the buzz to King Street and Carl Zehr Square.

13:54 - A sneak peek at Kidtoberfest, where little ones get their own taste of the Oktoberfest fun.

16:01 - The delicious rundown of Oktoberfest food, from schnitzels to sausages. 

18:09 - Allan discusses Oktoberfest’s evolution to ensure it remains welcoming to everyone, with or without a beer stein.

21:51 - The role of festivals like Oktoberfest in bringing communities together, especially when we need it most.

26:02 - Techtoberfest: Communitech’s tech-flavoured take on Oktoberfest, blending innovation with a little Bavarian spirit.

27:31 - Shoutout to Holly Pearson, former Miss Oktoberfest from Communitech, keeping the tech-community connection alive.

28:17 - Techtoberfest events preview: Panels, pitches, and plenty of buzz at the Investor House.