Revellers get ready to party as the keg of beer is ceremonially tapped for the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest at the Alpine Club festhall. (Handout)

They will soon be rolling out the barrel (of beer) and yelling the familiar chant: "Zicke zacke zicke zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi," in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Loosely translated as "down the hatch," revellers will chug beer then finish up with a round of polkas before roaring into another rousing chorus of Ein Prosit, the Bavarian drinking anthem. Everything will be wunderbar as K-W's Oktoberfest -- the biggest outside of Munich Germany -- immerses Canadians in Bavarian culture.

So guys, don your lederhosen, suspenders and felt hats, and gals break out your dirndl dresses with fitted bodices and flowing skirts, and join the party.

They'll tap those kegs and let the good times roll with polkas, including the chicken dance, and pilsners to wash down tonnes of sausages, pigtails, schnitzel, sauerkraut and strudel for the nine-day event from Oct. 8 to 16.

Canada's version of the German festival, which began as a Bavarian wedding celebration 200 years ago, attracts 700,000 people.

"We want everyone to share with us the spirit of Gemuetlichkeit (good times) and our unique Germanic heritage," said Don Craig, an Oktoberfest past-president.

Revellers can join the party at 16 festhalls and take in more than 40 family and cultural events to assist charities. Events include a car show, "idol" contest, concerts and seemingly non-stop parties of singing, dancing, eating and enjoying frothy beverages.

The ceremonial tapping of the first keg of beer takes place at 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 8 at the Kitchener Civic Square). This year's Miss Oktoberfest, selected from entrants across North America, will help kick off festivities with the help of Onkel Hans. A huge orange-costumed character wearing a Prosit hat, Hans leads a dance line wherever he goes.

At 8:15 on Thanksgiving morning, some 150,000 people will line a 5-km route through the Twin Cities for the Oktoberfest parade, which features floats and marching bands from Canada, the U.S. and Germany.

-- For K-W Oktoberfest details, contact oktoberfest.ca; 1-888-294-HANS (4267). Hans Haus (17 Benton St., downtown Kitchener) is the festival headquarters with festhall tickets, souvenirs and clothing.

FAIR GAME

The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show -- one of Ontario's oldest and best fall fairs -- marks its 170th year from Oct. 5 to 11.

There will be concerts by the Barenaked Ladies, Lonestar and JoDee Messina, and appearances by celebrity chefs Lynn Crawford, Anna Olson and Rob Rainford, said general manager Karen Matthews.

High above the bandshell, Yves Milord's Flying Fools will perform their "hilarious" show -- diving into a small pool of water three times per day. There will be agricultural displays, craft exhibits, food vendors, art demonstrations, talent competitions, midway rides, grandstand entertainment and "perennial favourites" such as monster trucks, the tractor pull and demolition derbies. For kids, there's Farmz on Wheels, an "interactive, computer farming extravaganza," along with skateboard and BMX competitions.

And don't miss the deep fried butter that's "really yummy" with a secret batter recipe, Matthews said.

At Flavourfest, more than 35 local agricultural products will be offered for sale.

Events take place at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds in Simcoe. For details, contact norfolkcountyfair.com and 519-426-7280.

FORGET FAST FOOD

A Food and Wine Festival featuring "slow food" takes place on Oct. 3 at Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, north of Woodstock. Visitors can "wind their way through the tables loaded with tastes of local food, specially created by local chefs and foodies" and paired with Birtch Farms wines. The farm also holds a Pumpkin Festival Oct. 23-24. Contact birtchfarms.com or 519-469-3040.

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