The new president of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest says the festival is in need of a reset.

Tim Beckett, a former Kitchener fire chief who is now the fire chief in Mississauga, has been named the next president of the local Bavarian festival. He replaces outgoing president Margo Jones.

In a release about the organization's annual general meeting, Beckett outlined his vision for the festival.

"Currently we are in need of a reset, to ensure that the festival remains a community highlight for the next 50 years," Beckett told the meeting.

"We must restore Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest as the destination festival, ensuring that we can attract fest-goers locally, regionally, provincially, nationally and internationally. We are Canada's greatest Bavarian festival, and there is no reason we can't be seen as Canada's greatest festival," he said.

Beckett said to do that, they need to work on partnerships with the municipal governments, fest-halls as well as service organizations and volunteers.

Oktoberfest runs from Oct. 11 to 19 this year.