5-star Reviews start with these Group Tours in Waterloo Region
Authentic German gemütlichkeit experienced in festhallen and on your plate. A village where history, culture, and Canada’s largest year-round farmers’ market provide a unique glimpse into a simpler time. Tropical views providing a beautiful backdrop for a walk amidst thousands of fluttering butterfly wings. An annual holiday market that transforms an entire downtown city core into a Bavarian-inspired festival.
Discover unique stops that should be included in your next group excursion through southern Ontario and let Explore Waterloo Region help you plan a rave-worthy tour!
Steins and Strudel – Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
North America’s largest Bavarian festival takes place each fall in Ontario’s Waterloo Region.
Kitchener Waterloo Oktoberfest invites people from near and far to Be Bavarian for a day and immerse themselves in the region’s one-of-a-kind celebration of German heritage.
Tour operators looking for the best time to plan a trip to be part of the festivities should circle the 2nd weekend of October on their calendar (which is Canadian Thanksgiving and a long weekend). Holiday weekend events that are perfect for the group travel market include:
- Willkommen Platz: Take in the traditional Keg Tapping that marks the official opening of the Oktoberfest festivities. Downtown Kitchener becomes a bustling outdoor Bavarian village complete with a biergarten (beer garden), authentic German cuisine, vendor market, and live musical performances.
- Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade: Taking place on the holiday Monday in the morning, groups can arrange reserved bleacher seating to watch this nationally televised parade with its floats, inflatables and bands!
- Concordia Club Festhallen: Known as the Home of Kitchener Waterloo Oktoberfest, Concordia Club has a seating capacity of 4,000. Sunday and Monday of the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend they open their doors from noon until 6pm for special Family Day events featuring music, dancing, food and fun.
TOUR PLANNER TIP: For tours visiting Waterloo Region outside of the festival dates, Explore Waterloo Region can work with you to plan Oktoberfest-themed experiences that provide an authentic flavor of the festival that are sure to be Wunderbar!
Mennonite Culture, Shopping and Markets: The Village of St. Jacobs
St. Jacobs welcomes groups to discover this culturally rich village located in southwestern Ontario.
Home to the largest population of Old Order Mennonites in Canada, you’ll often see families traveling through St. Jacobs by horse and buggy. Just 2 miles from the village is the St. Jacobs Market District that includes many hotel options and close proximity to group dining restaurants including the new Stockyards Brewhouse Restaurant and Jacob’s Grill.
St. Jacobs offers plenty of group travel inspiration including:
- St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market: Visit Canada’s largest year-round indoor/outdoor farmers’ market to see hundreds of vendors selling a variety of items from food to art, collectibles and more.
- The Mennonite Story: Located in an 1839 log house built by Mennonite settlers, groups can learn about the area’s Mennonite/Amish history. Speakers and step-on guides are available for customized bus groups and tours.
- St. Jacobs Country Playhouse: This 400-seat theatre in the Market District produces Broadway musicals, comedies and dramas year-round and is part of Drayton Entertainment – one of Canada’s most successful professional theatre companies.
- Waterloo Central Railway: Offering unique heritage train experiences throughout the year, as well as custom charter ride options for groups through the scenic countryside from St. Jacobs to Elmira and back.
- Sparkles in the Village: This annual holiday event takes place in St. Jacobs for two weekends each November. Village shops extend their hours so visitors can shop into the evening amid thousands of twinkling lights. There are also special events and entertainment, making Sparkles a true holiday experience!
Tour a Tropical Paradise: Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Thousands of free-flying butterflies are ready to welcome groups into the 10,000-square-foot indoor tropical garden at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
Groups can enjoy a nature interpreter-led journey through the conservatory. Tour operators should note that the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is a great year-round attraction with plenty of motorcoach parking. Spring and summer visits can include outdoor strolls along the walking paths through the wildflower meadow and the pollinator garden. During cooler months the conservatory is a tropical paradise – it’s like a trip south without the flight and expense!
TOUR PLANNER TIP: For operators looking for a nearby food and beverage option, Four Fathers Brewing Co. welcomes groups to see what’s on tap and to explore the menu in their group-friendly taphouse. Four Fathers also offers plenty of parking for motor coaches.
History, folklore and traditions: Kitchener’s Christkindl Market
For four days each year in early December, downtown Kitchener is transformed into its annual Christkindl Market. This Bavarian-inspired festival pays homage to holiday markets in Germany, which date back 700 years.
Under the twinkling lights lining Kitchener’s downtown core, visitors can sample festive flavors at the Essenshalle (which means ‘dining hall’ in German), grab a warm cup of hot chocolate or spiced gluhwein, and browse local vendors selling unique items from wooden huts along King St.. Performers also take to an outdoor stage to entertain the crowds.
Indoors, Kitchener City Hall transforms into a bustling European Christmas market with over 90 vendors. Browse a variety of arts, crafts and toys, Christmas and home decor, clothing, jewellery, food and more. The Christkindl Market is an opportunity to experience a bit of Bavaria in the heart of Waterloo Region!
TOUR PLANNER TIP: The holidays in Waterloo Region provide plenty of additional festive inspiration for group tours including Gift of Lights (a drive through holiday light tour), the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market’s evening Holiday Sip n’ Shop market, and Christmas in the Castle at Castle Kilbride. Contact our team at Explore Waterloo Region for even more ideas!
Busloads of 5-star reviews start here! To find out more about tours, group dining options and accommodations for your trip to Waterloo Region, contact the team at Explore Waterloo Region and let them help you plan your customized group tour!
