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Kitchener-Waterloo

26 facts about Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

Ever wondered how many pretzels get eaten at Oktoberfest? How many kegs are tapped? Here is a look at Oktoberfest by the numbers.
Colin Butler · CBC News ·

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is the biggest Bavarian culture festival outside of Germany and its celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, but just how big is K-W Oktoberfest? 

Here is a breakdown by the numbers:

1. Length of festival: 9 days

2. Visitors: over 700,000

3. Estimated economic activity generated by Oktoberfest: $21 million

4. Money collected by non-profit organizations during Oktoberfest: $1.5 million

5. Number of non-profit organizations that benefit from Oktoberfest: 50

6. Number of volunteers: 1,780

7. Estimated number of spectators on the Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade route: 150,000

8. TV viewers nationwide who tune to watch the Oktoberfest parade: 1.8 million

9. Places to sit (in the beer halls): 18,870

10. Number of pretzels consumed: 25,000

11. Number of sausages consumed: 51,750 

Number of sausages consumed: 51,750.- Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

12. Number of official keg tappings: 40 (40% are tapped in first few days)

Here, Premier Kathleen Wynne helps K-W Oktoberfest president Harry Vogt with the official tapping of the keg that marks the start of the festival. 

13. Price of a 12 oz. beer: $4.75 - $5.75

14. Number of free rides given away by Grand River Transit: 14,000 - 18,000

15. Estimated cost of free rides: $40,000

16. Number of police RIDE programs during Oktoberfest: 16

17. Number of police officers conducting RIDE spot checks: 150

18. Number of impaired drivers arrested (in 2012): 5

19. Number of drivers who received a roadside suspension (in 2012): 6

20. Provincial funding for RIDE programs during Oktoberfest: $23,000

21. Number of officers in the Oktoberfest police unit: 70

22. Number of arrests for public intoxication (in 2012): 17

23. Number of cases of alcohol poisoning: Waterloo Region EMS does not track alcohol poisoning cases

24. Number of Waterloo Region EMS staff on-hand: 2 paramedics working 12 hour shifts

25. Number of Parade Entries: 168 parade entries -- 12 bands, 35 floats, and 121 special entries

26. This year's Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade grand marshals: Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod of BodyBreak fame.

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