CAMBRIDGE — Little Karl Kiefer devoured everything his mom Hannelore cooked.

From sauerbraten pot roast to spätzle noodles, it was all so tasty.

"Does it schmeck?" Hannelore always asked after the first bite.

The Preston boy, just three when the family left the little German village of Wolfartsweier and boarded a boat for Canada in 1955, always replied the same way.

"It schmecks," he said.

Which brings us to Oktoberfest in Cambridge.

This is the fourth year that Cambridge is officially a part of Kitchener-Waterloo's great Bavarian festival with an accredited festhall this Friday and Saturday night run by the city's Rotary club at the Cambridge Newfoundland Club.

And Cambridge City Hall has its own keg-tapping over the noon-hour on Wednesday, a day before a midday ceremony at Waterloo Public Square and two days before opening ceremonies for the 45th Oktoberfest at Kitchener Civic Square.

So, the question was put to big Karl Kiefer, Cambridge city councillor and new grandfather of a baby princess named Maelle.

Oktoberfest in Cambridge — does it schmeck?

"Oktoberfest in Cambridge definitely schmecks," said Kiefer, who attended the first three Rotary-run festhalls under the Cambridge Bavaria Haus banner.

"Every year, it's gotten bigger. The part I'm enthused about is the keg-tapping because it coincides with the Cambridge Farmers' Market. It's a wonderful combo."

Kiefer's parents, Walter and Hannelore, aren't around any more. But his Uncle Otto, who helped bring the family to Preston, plans to attend the keg-tapping, as he did last year.

Onkel Hans looks part felt and is on Twitter. Onkel Otto is heartfelt and looks fitter.

"A spry 85," Kiefer said of Otto.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig will have to be spry to make noon-hour keg-tapping in Galt. He's due back from a trade trip to Germany on Wednesday.

But he has been doing Oktoberfest research, with Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, on a visit to the festival in Munich.

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"The steins are bigger," said Craig in an email to The Record on Monday as he rode a century-old monorail system in Dusseldorf.

"The grounds in Munich are very much like the main midway at the Toronto CNE — only with beautiful beer halls (11) down the sides."

Munich has rides for kids and a giant Ferris wheel, too.

"It's a very festive and engaging atmosphere," he said.

So is the annual Thanksgiving Day parade along King Street starting in Waterloo at 8:30 on Monday morning. As many as 150,000 watch the parade each year. The parade grand marshal is to be announced Tuesday.

The full K-W Oktoberfest event runs Oct. 11-19 at 16 festhalls. Accordion legend Walter Ostanek plays Altes Muenchen Haus — old Queensmount Arena — on Sunday night.

Kiefer's parents never could get him to play the accordion.

It just didn't schmeck for young Karl, who preferred pucks over polkas.

"They tried," Kiefer said. "I was better with a hockey stick in my hand."

- Body Break fitness duo are marshals for K-W Oktoberfest parade on Monday