Oktoberfest is taking over a Rangers game this Friday. And the first puck won't be dropped by a player.
It'll be dropped by Onkel Hans, the mascot who's been the face of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest since 1974.
On Friday, October 2, 2026, the Kitchener Rangers host the Saginaw Spirit for Oktoberfest Night at 7 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud). Tickets start at $30.
Picture the walk in. Your kids are each holding a can of soup for the city bus parked out front. Fans are showing up in lederhosen and dirndls. Then Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda step onto the ice for the first puck.
If you've just moved to Kitchener-Waterloo, this is one of those nights that shows you what living here feels like.
Why is Oktoberfest showing up at a hockey game?
Because they're two of Kitchener's longest-running traditions, and Oktoberfest Night puts them in one building.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest started in 1969. It calls itself the largest Bavarian festival in North America. In 2026 it runs from September 25 to October 17.
The Rangers have played at The Aud since 1963. The building opened in 1951 and seats more than 7,000 people for hockey.
Who are Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda?
If you didn't grow up here, you might not know these two yet.
Onkel Hans is the official mascot and goodwill ambassador of K-W Oktoberfest. He was created in 1974. You'll see him on pins, t-shirts and beer steins all festival long.
Tante Frieda is his companion and joins him at select festival events.
Onkel Hans is known for stopping for a handshake or a photo. If you spot him Friday, ask.
What's the night like with kids?
It's a hockey game first, so the kids get the noise, the speed and the goal horn.
Here's how the night goes:
- Before the game: Drop your food donations at the bus outside Entrance 13.
- Puck drop, 7 p.m.: Onkel Hans, Tante Frieda and the K-W Oktoberfest team do the ceremonial puck drop. Be in your seats for this part.
- During the game: Oktoberfest-themed entertainment, games and prizes run all night.
- Shirts: The Rangers made limited-edition Oktoberfest shirts with Civilian Screen Printing. Some get given away during the game, and a small number are for sale at Rangers Authentics.
- More gear: The Lions Club is selling Oktoberfest merchandise in the North Concourse.
Dressing up is optional, but the Rangers are asking fans to come in lederhosen and dirndls. If your little guys have anything Bavarian in the closet, Friday is the night for it.
How does the Stuff-a-Bus food drive work?
Friday's game is the first Stuff-a-Bus stop of the 2026 Onkel Hans Food Drive. A Grand River Transit bus parks outside Entrance 13, and the goal is to fill it.
Bring non-perishable food. If you miss the bus, there are donation boxes at every entrance. Everything goes to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
In 2019, the Onkel Hans Food Drive raised more than 67,000 meals for over 34,000 people in the region.
Let your kids carry the cans and hand them over. It turns a hockey game into something they helped with.
Kitchener Rangers Oktoberfest Night: the details
| Date | Friday, October 2, 2026 |
| Time | 7 p.m. puck drop |
| Game | Kitchener Rangers vs. Saginaw Spirit |
| Where | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), 400 East Ave, Kitchener |
| Tickets | From $30 on Kitchener Live, on sale as of October 1 |
| Bring | Non-perishable food for the Stuff-a-Bus food drive |
| Wear | Lederhosen and dirndls encouraged |
| Box office | 519-578-1570 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Kitchener Rangers Oktoberfest Night? Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. at The Aud in Kitchener.
Is it sold out? No. Tickets were still on sale on Kitchener Live as of October 1, 2026, starting at $30.
Who drops the first puck? Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda, the K-W Oktoberfest mascots, along with members of the K-W Oktoberfest team.
Who is Onkel Hans? The official mascot and goodwill ambassador of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, created in 1974.
Is it good for kids? Yes. It's a regular Rangers game with Oktoberfest games, entertainment and prizes added, and kids can help with the food drive.
What should you bring? Non-perishable food for the Stuff-a-Bus food drive, which supports the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
