Photo: Kitchener Ontario Decorated Maibaum

For 9 days each year, Kitchener Ontario hosts the largest Bavarian Style festival in Canada and North Amerca.

Many years before Kitchener Ontario received its name, it was established by German Mennonite farmers who worked and inhabited the land. Kitchener Ontario was originally named Berlin, and officially became a city in June 9, 1912. The name of the city was changed to Kitchener in 1916 due to the outbreak of the first world war. The celebrates its German heritage with annual events such as the Bavarian style Oktoberfest.