Federal Conservative leader Stephen Harper made an appearance at the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade Monday morning.

His campaign bus arrived at the parade staging area in Kitchener at around 8 a.m., with undercover officers and security staff keeping a close eye on the crowd.

Harper shook hands with Peter Braid, the Conservative candidate for Waterloo, as well as parade volunteers, and posed for photos.

​Instead of traditional Oktoberfest lederhosen, Harper wore a navy blue sweater with a Canada banner across the front.

According to the K-W Oktoberfest parade rules and regulations:

"The Parade is not to be used as a forum for protests or demonstrations of any kind. Violators will be subject to immediate expulsion from the Parade. Entries should be consistent with the theme and spirit of the Parade."

According to police, Harper was expected to make a campaign stop at Martin's Family Fruit Farm later in the morning.