Bingemans pulls out of official Oktoberfest venues

Kitchener-Waterloo's Oktoberfest organizers announced Friday that Bingemans facilities will no longer be an official venue for the annual autumn event.

"Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is disappointed by the recent decision by the Bingeman family to leave the Oktoberfest Festhalle family, we thank them for being one of our founding members and visionaries back in 1969," organization president Margo Jones said in a release.

The recreation and party facility will continue to participate in festival-related events but will not be an accredited ​Oktoberfest festival hall location.

"The KW community, our volunteers, our festhallen and sponsors expect us to be relevant and responsive to changing expectations," Jones stated.

According to the statement, 13 sanctioned Oktoberfest Festhalle venues will host concerts and events in the 2017 festival, which runs Oct. 6 -14.

"We can hardly wait for October 2017 and we look forward to 2018 when we will celebrate our 50th Anniversary," Jones said.

Bingemans still planning events

The decision is a surprise given Bingemans is an original partner of K-W Oktoberfest.

Mark Bingeman said there were "many continuous discussions" with Oktoberfest before making the decision.

"Bingemans Oktoberfest activities will continue to be the highlight of Oktoberfest, as it has been for the last 48 years," Bingeman said in a statement. "This year we are looking forward to an even bigger and brighter future."

Bingemans will now offer other events, like Kool Haus, a statement said. Craft beer is likely to be part of the events at Bingemans, staff said.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is sponsored by Molson Coors Canada.