Local Culture
The Concordia Club: Kitchener’s German Club and Oktoberfest Festhalle
The Concordia Club is a German-Canadian cultural club at 429 Ottawa Street South in Kitchener, founded in 1873 when Kitchener was still called Berlin. It runs The Schenke restaurant, hosts weddings and events, and is one of the best-known festhallen of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, which the club helped start with its 1967 Centennial celebration. In 2026 it still has about 20 cultural groups and a 250-acre recreation property near Baden.
By George Dmitrovic, Realtor with Keller Williams Innovation Realty. Updated October 2026.
The Concordia Club at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 429 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener |
| Founded | 1873, in Berlin (now Kitchener) |
| Members | People with roots in all German-speaking regions of Europe |
| Groups | About 20, including choir, dance, bowling, tennis and soccer |
| Restaurant | The Schenke, serving German food |
| Oktoberfest | A main festhalle since the club’s 1967 Centennial celebration |
| Outdoor property | The Concordia Farm, a 250-acre recreation site near Baden |
A Short History
The Concordia Club dates back to 1873, when German settlers made up a large share of Berlin’s population. It began as a singing society and grew into a full cultural club over the next century and a half.
German clubs in Berlin and Kitchener had a hard time during the two World Wars, when anti-German feeling ran high and the city itself changed its name in 1916. The club kept going through those years and is still active today.
In 1967, as a project for Canada’s Centennial, the club held a large Oktoberfest party under a circus tent. According to past president Werner Schlueter, its success led the Kitchener Chamber of Commerce to turn it into a citywide festival. That became Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.
Visiting the Concordia Club
The Schenke restaurant
The Schenke serves traditional German dishes such as schnitzel and Leberkäse, and it’s open to the public, not just members. Check the club’s website for current hours before you go.
Oktoberfest at Concordia
Every October, the club becomes one of Oktoberfest’s festhallen, with beer tents, oompah music and dancing. Tickets and dates are posted on the club’s site and on the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest website. Buy early, because the popular nights sell out.
Events and the Concordia Farm
The club rents its halls for weddings and parties. In summer, members use the Concordia Farm near Baden, with swimming and wading pools, a pavilion, volleyball courts, picnic areas and camping sites.
Tips for an Oktoberfest night
- Book a ride. Parking near the club fills quickly, and you won’t want to drive home. Plan a taxi, rideshare or bus.
- Bring ID. Evening events are for adults, and you’ll be asked for proof of age.
- Go early in the week if you prefer a smaller crowd.
- Look for family events. Oktoberfest has daytime events for kids too, so check the schedule if you’re bringing the family.
Joining the club
Members get access to the cultural groups and to the Concordia Farm in summer. If you’d like to join, ask the club office who can become a member, what it costs and how to sign up.
Living Near the Concordia Club
The club is on Ottawa Street South in central Kitchener, between Courtland Avenue and the Conestoga Parkway. The nearby neighbourhoods, like Mill-Courtland, Rockway and Country Hills, have a mix of postwar bungalows, older two-storey homes and townhouses, often at prices below the city’s newer suburbs.
Kitchener’s German roots are still easy to see, from street names to the clubs that remain. If you like the history, read how Berlin became Kitchener or the story of the Walper Hotel. If you’re thinking of moving to the area, see the most affordable areas to buy.
This guide was first written by Will Kummer in 2021 and updated by George Dmitrovic in 2026.
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The Concordia Club: Your Questions Answered
Quick answers about Kitchener’s Concordia Club.
Where is the Concordia Club in Kitchener?
At 429 Ottawa Street South, in central Kitchener near Courtland Avenue.
When was the Concordia Club founded?
In 1873, in Berlin, the town that became Kitchener in 1916.
Did the Concordia Club start Oktoberfest?
It played a big part. The club held a large Oktoberfest celebration in 1967 for Canada’s Centennial, and its success led the Chamber of Commerce to make it a citywide festival.
Is The Schenke restaurant open to the public?
Yes. You don’t need to be a member to eat at The Schenke. Check the club’s website for current hours.
What is the Concordia Farm?
A 250-acre recreation property near Baden owned by the club, with pools, a pavilion, volleyball courts, picnic areas and camping.
