The Waterloo Region Chapter of Les Marmitons looks forward to hosting you for the 2026 LMI Gala, June 25th to June 28th. We are excited to be able to invite you to our home here in Waterloo Region - the crossroads of innovation and tradition – famous for our Germanic Roots and Oktoberfest celebrations, our bountiful local agriculture and farmer's markets as well as bustling city centers complete with a truly fantastic food and bar scene. There’s something for everyone throughout our rich region!
Guests will be able to stay at the beautiful Hampton Inn & Suites, which will be our ‘host hotel’ for this weekend, as well as at the Homewood Suites next door –which is an all-suite base where our AGM and LMI Board Meeting will be held. The Hampton Inn is also where we will offer our departing Sunday breakfast before you return home. These beautiful properties are just 5-minutes down the road from the largest indoor/outdoor year-round market in all of Canada – the St Jacobs Farmers Market and both hotels are only an hour drive from Toronto's Pearson Airport and just 15 minutes from the Region of Waterloo International Airport. These hotels are conveniently located next to each other for ease of access and a variety of accommodation options.
Waterloo Region is comprised of several scenic towns, vibrant cities and quaint villages and we look forward to showing them all off throughout the weekend! Our Gala Banquet will be held on Saturday evening at the independently-owned Cambridge Hotel – just 20 minutes away from where guests are staying – and will be offering a tantalizing 7-course tasting menu for our evening by Chef and cookbook author Aaron Clyne.
We highly encourage you to join us early for our optional Thursday events, including an exclusive wine tasting led by our chapter's internationally-acclaimed wine experts and the chance to see something truly special and unique to our chapter – the state-of-the-art culinary facilities at Conestoga College’s Waterloo Campus – where our members have the incredible opportunity to cook out of for our regular events. Here you’ll get a chance to tour the newly renovated labs and kitchens and enjoy a Welcome Cocktail Evening with some of our favourite guest chefs and college partners for cocktails and a multicultural spread of fare at their teaching restaurant ‘Bloom’. We promise that this year's early bird event is a very special evening that is not to be missed!
Friday night will be one you won’t forget as we raise a stein in ‘Prost!’ at the historic Kitchener Concordia Club, and ‘willkommen’ you to the original home of the region’s Oktoberfest festivities. The evening will consist of traditional music and dancing, keg tapping’s, Germanic food and drink, special guests, games and even a visit from Onkel Hans himself! You will get to experience first-hand the magical celebrations that make us the second largest Oktoberfest outside of its origins in Munich, Germany.
Between our exciting main events you’ll find plenty to fill your time with here in our backyard – walking tours, food labs, brewery visits, wine synergy classes, day trips and much more. Our region and the surrounding areas offer a world-class selection of things to see and do – visit one of the picturesque villages, take in a classic Shakespearean show at the famous Stratford festival, visit locally Michelin recommended destinations – or if you’re feeling really adventurous, travel out to the African Lion Safari and get up close and personal with some of the world’s most interesting wildlife – there’s no shortage of options to make your trip memorable here in Waterloo.
We can’t wait to host our brethren and guests from across North America’s chapters of LMI and show off our incredible home and all it has to offer.
See You Soon!
Benjamin Klooster & Michael Kohlmaier
2026 Gala Committee Co-Chairs
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