Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Logo

It’s such a fantastic season in Cincinnati… Oktoberfest.  There are so many amazing celebrations around town worth your visit, but you can’t mention this traditional German celebration without mentioning Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest celebration.

About Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

This is an Oktoberfest that is only rivaled by the original celebration in Munich, a 16 day festival that can attract crowds in the millions.  While our festival “only” brings crowds of around a half a millon, the festival has been going on in Cincinnati’s downtown for 40 years now, and is beloved by her city like no other festival in my opinion.

We are a city of German heritage… I think we all know that.  Much like the celebrations of St. Patricks day, and Cinco De Mayo, our Oktoberfest lets everyone celebrate a heritage, even if you personally are not of German origin.  Call it an excuse… call it whatever you want… it’s a blast.

This years celebration runs from September 18-20 along fifth street, and features German Entertainment, Food and of course my favorite part…

The Beer

There might be a “bigger beer” sponsor for the festival, but Sam Adams isn’t the end all, be all for beer in Oktoberfest.  After the extreme lack of local beer love at this years Taste of Cincinnati, it’s nice to see that there is no lack of local love from our Oktoberfest.  They have added a “Brewer’s Alley” area that will house 40 different craft and specialty beers… only part of the 80 beer varieties that are going to be available this year for drinkers.  This is up from the 60 that we could find last year…a move that is clearly in the right direction!  This year, in brewer’s alley you’ll find the following local options:

  • Braxton Brewing Company – Crankshaft IPA
  • Braxton Brewing Company – Oktober Fuel Oktoberfest
  • Ei8ht Ball Brewing – Tarnished Dry Hopped Golden Ale
  • MadTree – Happy Amber
  • MadTree – Lift
  • Mt. Carmel – Amber
  • Mt. Carmel – Harvest Ale
  • Old Firehouse – Blood Orange Wheat
  • Tap and Screw – All Jacked Up
  • Tap Room 21 Oktoberfest (This is a beer made at Rivertown…so I’ll include it here…)
  • Urban Artifact – Finn Berliner Pale Ale
  • Wiedemann’s Oktoberfestbier
  • Wiedemann’s Special Lager

The Events

I won’t go into a ton of detail… if you want more information you can always go over to the official website to learn more about the event, but I will let you know some of the notable events that are happening during the festivities.

  • Live German music, all weekend for many different bands
  • Running of the weiners (dogs that is…)
  • The Worlds Largest Chicken Dance
  • Beer Stein Race
  • Beer Barrel Roll
  • Stein Hoisting Championship
  • Brat Eating Championship

Something for everyone?  I think so.  Go.  Support this city.  Drink Beer.  Eat Sausages. Have a pretzel.  Do the chicken dance.

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