KITCHENER — One of the founders of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has dropped out.

The festival announced Friday that Bingemans has decided to no longer run an accredited festhall, although it still plans many Oktoberfest events, just not under the official K-W Oktoberfest banner.

K-W Oktoberfest is "disappointed" by the decision, festival president Margo Jones said, adding the organization thanks Bingemans for being a founding member in 1969.

"It certainly was not an easy decision," Bingemans president Mark Bingeman said in an interview. "It was certainly vetted and discussed for well over a year."

Bingeman said some of his company's Oktoberfest plans "may have conflicted" with K-W Oktoberfest's direction.

"Times are changing and people's tastes and expectations are changing, and we feel it's important to be relevant to what today's consumers are wanting and desiring, especially from the entertainment standpoint," he said.

"Bingemans has had Oktoberfest since the onset and we will certainly be continuing with all of our Oktoberfest activities and, quite honestly, likely some new ones as well."

The company will continue to operate an Oktoberfest hall, just not under the K-W Oktoberfest banner.

"We have an over-4,000-person venue, the Kool Haus, which will still be occurring and we'll still have fantastic entertainment," Bingeman said. "The product offerings will certainly change and be more tailored to consumer demands."

Festhalls pay K-W Oktoberfest fees to be accredited.

"It's no different that being a franchise," Bingeman said. "The expectation is you're going to do (certain) types of things.

"Our goal is to produce a fantastic product that consumers want. That drives attendance, that drives ticket sales, that drives the success. You know, there's a reason we're not in the roller-skating business anymore."

Bingemans can't use the K-W Oktoberfest logo but can still use the term Oktoberfest.

"Oktoberfest is certainly a very generic term that restaurants use and everyone uses," he said.

Bingeman is not knocking K-W Oktoberfest.

"The K-W Oktoberfest products are certainly great for many consumers," he said.

K-W Oktoberfest, which will mark its 50th year in 2018, remains solid, executive director Dave MacNeil said.

"We're disappointed, but you tighten your boots and you keep going," he said. "You hate to see partners leave, but I think we've got a strong festival brand and strong partners and we look forward to carrying on the Oktoberfest tradition.

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"When you get the prime minister and the premier come and tap the keg, you know you've got a good brand."

Attendance last year was strong, MacNeil said, estimating it at around 700,000.

This year's festival, set for Oct. 6-14, will have 13 accredited festhalls.