The 23 buildings including a general store, workshops and a sawmill. There is also a model of an original Russian Mennonite village and a replica of an 1856 railway. To get to the site, go down King St, turn right on Fairway, left at Manitou St and left again at Homer Watson Blvd. Admission is $5, less for students, seniors and families. It's open daily from May through August and on weekdays during the winter. Special events are often held on weekends. The Centre in the Canada Square On the corner of Queen and Ellen St s is the performing arts complex, with an art gallery and a theatre.
Homer Watson House & Gallery One of Canada's first notable landscape painters is the subject of this quite small, specialised museum. Watson once lived here, and there are various pieces relating to his life and work. The museum at 1754 Old Mill Rd is open every afternoon from April to December (but is closed Monday). Organised Tours For getting around to some of the area attractions like St Jacob's or Elora, consider the quite reasonably priced half and full day van trips offered by Visa Traveller.
Special Events Some of the major events held here are: May Mennonite Relief Sale It is a large sale of home-made foods and crafts and also includes a quilt auction. It's held on the last Saturday in May in New Hamburg, 19km west of Kitchener- Waterloo. June Summer Music Festival This festival is four days of free or low-cost outdoor music concerts held at the end of June at venues around the downtown area. August Busker Carnival An annual festival of street entertainers which takes place in late August. Some of these performers are very good and the whole thing is free. October- Octoberfest The event of the year, Oktoberfest, the biggest of its kind in North America and said to be the largest outside of Germany, attracts 500,000 people annually.
The nine-day festival starts in early to mid-October and includes 20 beer halls, German music and foods, and dancing. A huge parade wraps up the festivities on the last day. For more information, Upon arrival, visit one of the reception areas for a map, tickets, information and all the details on how to tie on your stein so you don't lose it. Reservations for accommodation during the festival should be made well in advance. For getting around, there is a free bus in addition to the usual city buses in Canada. Hostels Backpackers' has a basic hostel here, the Waterloo International Home Hostel Albert StY, very close to the University of Waterloo.
