On TapThis Year
at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati USA
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, presented by Samuel Adams, is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country and the second largest in the world. With more fest tents and bier gardens than ever before, here's what's on tap for 2013:
Samuel Adams returns to serve up Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati
America’s Oktoberfest is proud to welcome back America’s World Class Beer, Sam Adams, as a presenting sponsor. From the Boston Beer Company brewery here in Cincinnati, you can enjoy some of Sam Adams’ most well known styles – including Sam Adams Lager and Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Stop by the Sam Adams Bier Garten on Fountain Square and discover your favorite.
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.
NEW! Samuel Adams hosts "Stein Hoist Heard Round the World"
And new this year, 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.
Sneak Peak Friday on Fountain Square is back
Friday, September 20, Noon-Midnight. German food, music and ice cold beer will be available on Fountain Square during the Running of the Wieners and Gemuetlichkeit Games, and will remain open until midnight for the Oktoberfest “Sneak Peak” celebration!
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, Noon on Fountain Square.
Gemuetlichkeit Games
Following the Running of the Wieners race at 1:00 p.m. on Fountain Square, watch the Gemuetlichkeit (goodwill) Games—including the Beer Stein Race and Beer Barrel Roll.
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!
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 Zinzinnatians 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!