This according to a recent proclamation in German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz. First held in 1976, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has grown to be this nation’s largest Oktoberfest celebration with more than 650,000 people attending each year. The 2018 event will showcase the rich German heritage of Southwest Ohio, including German-style food, oom-pah music and nearly 100 varieties of beer. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will run Friday, September 21 through Sunday, September 23 on Second and Third Streets in downtown Zinzinnati.
Speaking of running, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati kicks off September 21 at 11 a.m. with the Running of the Wieners. This annual showdown features 100 racing dachshunds, competing to be the fast and the furriest on Cincinnati’s Freedom Way at The Banks.
Roll out the barrels! 2,000 barrels of beer are expected to be consumed at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati along with 25,000 potato pancakes, 24,000 soft pretzels and 225,000 bratwurst, mettwurst and sausages!
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will do his part, Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m. at the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati World Brat Eating Championship. Major League Eater Joey Chestnut is the eight-time champion and holds the world bratwurst eating record, inhaling 70 brats in 10 minutes at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, 2013.
Hungry for more?
Throughout the weekend, you will experience Oktoberfest Zinzinnati favorites, including the World’s Largest Chicken Dance. In 1994, the Crown Prince of Bavaria was Grand Marshal of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, helping set the world record for the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, with nearly 50,000 participants. Other past Grand Marshals include Al Hirt, Weird Al Yankovic, Davey Jones, Verne Troyer, Eddie Money, Vince Neil, George Takei, Cincinnati’s own Nick and Drew Lachey, Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, and the newest Major League Soccer (MLS) team, FC Cincinnati.
Official opening ceremonies are Saturday morning, September 22, 11:30 am, with a ceremonial keg tapping by Sam Adams founder (and Cincinnati native) Jim Koch. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is presented by Sam Adams and Amazon and produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
Need Oktoberfest Zinzinnati information on hours, directions, beers, brats, chicken-dancing or wiener dogs? Get details at OktoberfestZinzinnati.com.
Prost!