Celebrating Oktoberfest in Cincinnati 
As summer winds down and the month of September rolls into town, there’s one thing on everyone’s mind: Oktoberfest. More specifically, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, a tradition in our great city that began in 1976 as a block party near Fountain Square, designed to attract visitors to Downtown and celebrate the city’s deep German heritage. Since its humble beginnings, the event has grown to be recognized as North America’s largest Oktoberfest (and the 2nd largest in the world), attracting 500,000 annually. In this blog, we’ve compiled the most important details for enjoying this event and celebrating the right way!
The first step to enjoying Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati is arranging a safe, reliable and sober ride with a chauffeured car service, such as A Savannah Nite Limousine Services. Whether you’re attending alone, with a date or a group of friends, it’s important to invest in your health and safety. After a long evening of drinking at Oktoberfest, no one should get behind the wheel of a car. Let our professional chauffeurs take care of you, from drop-off to pick-up.
The event takes place Sept. 20 – 22 in Downtown Cincinnati, taking up six blocks of Fifth Street, from Vine Street to Sentinel. Entrance to the event is free.
Entertainment
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati USA, presented this year by Sam Adams and Hillshire Farm, features authentic German entertainment on seven stages throughout the event site.
Gemuetlichkeit Games
Kicking off the Friday evening festivities at 5:00 p.m. on Fountain Square, watch the Gemuetlichkeit (goodwill) Games—including the Beer Stein Race and Beer Barrel Roll, and starring local media!
Opening Ceremonies
Join Oktoberfest goers on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 11:30 a.m. for the official 2012 opening ceremonies and keg tapping on Fountain Square. Sam Adams founder Jim Koch will be tapping the keg!
Samuel Adams Stein Hoisting Championship
Raise your Beer! How long can you raise your beer stein? The Samuel Adams Stein Hoisting Championship, a contest of grit, determination, strength and the desire to drink the contents of the stein, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5:00 p.m. on Fountain Square after a series of preliminary events hosted at local bars and pubs. The winner will be crowned the Samuel Adams Stein Hoisting Champion.
Samuel Adams hosts “Stein Hoist Heard Round the World”
Sam Adams will be hosting quite possibly the world’s largest stein hoist. In conjunction with the Oktoberfest celebrations in Boston and Denver, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati toasters will join Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams, for the “Stein Hoist Heard Round the World” at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 on Fountain Square.
Cincinnati.com Glockenspiel
Returning in 2013 will be the larger-than-life-sized Cincinnati.com Glockenspiel — an actual working clock with a Hudepohl bar on the ground level and a stage above the bar. Every hour on the hour when the clock strikes, the music will kick in and entertainers will emerge on the stage to ring in the hour with dances, toasts and souvenirs for the crowd. Expect celebrity guest entertainers during certain hours too! The Glockenspiel will be located at the Hudepohl Beer garden at Fifth and Broadway.
7th Annual Hillshire Farm Running of the Wieners
Before the Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati festivities begin, one dachshund will be named, “King of the Wiener Dogs!” Friday, Sept. 20, 12 p.m. in Fountain Square.
World’s Largest Chicken Dance
One of the favorite events at Oktoberfest is the World’s Largest Chicken dance. One of the ways this celebration distinguishes itself from the others is the chicken dance – thousands of dancers have congregated every year since 1994 when Cincinnatians set the record for the largest Chicken Dance in the world. Will you join them this year?
Look for Oktoberfest’s Top Dog – Fritz
No event is perfect without a mascot, and this year Fritz, an authentically German Dachshund that just can’t get enough of these fun German festivities, will return. Fritz will be making appearances at the Running of the Wieners race, chicken dance and many other Oktoberfest locations.
World Brat Eating Championship
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the top ranked competitive eater in the world, will return in 2013 to participate in this fourth annual World Bratwurst Eating Contest. These weapons of mass digestion will show Zinzinnati USA the true meaning of intestinal fortitude!
Beer
These fine brews will be at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.
Beck’s Fest Tent
Beck’s Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Beck’s Pilsner – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Hoegaarden – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Shock Top – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Stella Artois – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Budweiser
Bud Light – $5 Bottle
Bud Light Lime – $5 Bottle
Budweiser – $5 Bottle
Budweiser Select – $5 Bottle
Michelob Ultra – $5 Bottle
Christian Moerlein
Exposition – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Fifth and Vine – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Helles – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Over the Rhine Ale – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Erdinger
Hefeweizen – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Great Lakes
Burning River Pale Ale – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Dortmunder Gold – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Elliot Ness Amber Lager – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Hofbrauhaus
Hefeweizen – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Hudepohl
Amber Lager – $4, $10 large w souvenir mug, $6 large refill
Delight – $4, $10 large w souvenir mug, $6 large refill
Oktoberfest – $4, $10 large w souvenir mug, $6 large refill
Magic Hat
Magic Hat #9 – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Magic Hat Hex(Oktoberfest) – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Miller
Coors Light – $5 Bottle
Genuine Draft – $5 Bottle
Lite – $5 Bottle
Rivertown
Dunkel – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Helles Lager – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Samuel Adams
Boston Lager – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Spaten
Dunkel – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Franziskaner Dunkel – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Optimator – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Premium Lager – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Warsteiner
Konig Ludwig Weissbier – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Premium Dunkel – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Premium Verum – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Yuengling
Lager – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Light – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Oktoberfest – $5, $11 large w souvenir mug, $7 large refill
Food
According to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, grazing gourmets created the following statistics with their gluttonous consumption at a previous Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati. These numbers were gleaned from an extensive survey of Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati food vendors:
- 87,542 metts
- 80,500 bratwurst
- 64,000 sauerkraut balls
- 56,250 sausages
- 24,640 potato pancakes
- 23,004 soft pretzels
- 20,000 cream puffs
- 16,002 strudel
- 6,000 jumbo pickles
- 3,600 lbs. sauerkraut
- 1,875 lbs. German potato salad
- 702 lbs. Limburger cheese
- 700 pigtails
- 400 pickled pigs feet
To see the most updated list of food vendors and their menu (with prices included), please click here.
Meet Your 2013 Grand Marshall
The venerable George Takei, also known as Hikaru Sulu from Star Trek, will be this year’s Oktoberfest Grand Marshall, leading the World’s Largest Chicken Dance!
Festival Hours
Friday, Sep. 20, 2013: 5 p.m.-midnight
Saturday, Sep. 21, 2013: 11 a.m.-midnight
Sunday, Sep. 22, 2013: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Oktoberfest Transport
With so many enjoying the festivities and celebrating with a lot of beer, it’s important to pre-arrange a reliable ride to and from the event. When you book a Cincinnati limo with A Savannah Nite Limousine Services, you’ll arrive to the event in style and get home safe and sound. If you’ve got a big group — even better! Our professional, discreet chauffeurs will make sure nobody has to stress about finding a safe, sober ride. Request a FREE quote on limo service by clicking the button below.