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Kitchener-Waterloo by minibus: markets, Oktoberfest and Stratford

Kitchener-Waterloo makes a lovely few days away: a farmers' market, small towns and a theatre town, all within the hour. With a minibus and driver, everybody gets to relax, including whoever usually does the driving.

Oktoberfest, minus the parking

Every autumn, from late September until the middle of October, Kitchener-Waterloo celebrates Oktoberfest. Much of it happens around Carl Zehr Square and along King Street; Willkommen Platz sets up there over Thanksgiving weekend, and Thanksgiving Monday brings the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Downtown streets close on those days.

Being dropped off and collected at an agreed corner beats circling for a spot, and everyone gets home without a designated driver.

Minibus with side door open for boarding
Minibus with side door open for boarding

A morning at St. Jacobs

Twenty minutes up the road, St. Jacobs Farmers' Market has bus parking reached through its north entrance from King Street, and market staff wave vehicles in. Give yourselves at least three hours, and choose a Tuesday or Thursday if you can, when it's quieter. Pre-booked groups get a welcome from May to October.

Flying into Kitchener

Places your group will want to see

  • Victoria Park — Historic downtown park and lake
  • THEMUSEUM — Interactive museum on King Street, downtown
  • Woodside National Historic Site — Boyhood home of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King (Parks Canada)
  • Waterloo Region Museum and Doon Heritage Village — Regional history museum with a living-history village
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest — Festival held each year from late September into mid-October; the Thanksgiving Day Parade runs on Thanksgiving Monday
  • St. Jacobs Farmers' Market — Year-round market just north of Kitchener; bus parking via the north entrance off King Street; pre-booked groups greeted May to October

Neighbourhoods groups stay in

  • St. Jacobs
  • Cambridge / Highway 401
  • Fairway Road / Highway 8
  • Uptown Waterloo / university district
  • Downtown Kitchener (King Street)

Gorges, matinees and bigger days

Elora Gorge is about 35 minutes away and Stratford about 45, close enough for a matinee and dinner before heading home. Toronto takes 75 to 90 minutes, and Niagara Falls about an hour and three-quarters, a full but manageable outing.

Staying local

The Waterloo Region Museum pairs with Doon Heritage Village, a living-history village. Woodside National Historic Site was Mackenzie King's boyhood home, and THEMUSEUM on King Street keeps a mixed-age group busy. Bingemans hosts conferences and events for 10 to 2,000 guests, and the Rangers play in front of up to about 7,200 at the Aud.

Victoria Park, with its lake, is a pleasant stretch between stops. If your party is split between hotels in downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo, one vehicle can gather everyone on the way out; just list the addresses when you ask for a quote.

Your questions

Where does the driver meet us at Waterloo airport?

Region of Waterloo International, in Breslau, doesn't publish a pick-up point or staging area for groups, so the operator agrees one with you in advance. It's about 13 km by road to Kitchener City Hall, roughly 20 minutes.

Is Pearson an option instead?

Yes. It's about 95 km along Highway 401, typically 60 to 75 minutes, so one vehicle can bring the whole group straight to Kitchener.

Some of us are coming by train. Can you collect them?

Kitchener station on Weber Street West has GO and VIA Rail services, so it's an easy extra stop on the way in.

More trips we can arrange

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