There has been talk of moving the big downtown festivals to the new riverfront park when it is completed, but I think moving Oktoberfest to Over-the-Rhine makes a lot more sense.  It would be a way to showcase the neighborhood and offer a lot of things a riverfront location couldn't.  For example there could be brewery tours, tours of the churches, and a focus on Findlay Market.  The neighborhood is so big it's tough to decide where specifically it should be held, but I'll throw out closing off Race & Elm from Washington Park to Findlay Market.  This would allow for big stages at Washington Park, rides on Liberty St. and adjacent lots, and another stage at Findlay Market.  The alternative would be the Main St. area, which would be fine, but everyone already knows about that area and there are no breweries in that area.   

 

 

 

Discuss. 

 

 

Sounds like a decent idea, parking may be the biggest issue.

It sounds like a great idea with a three to five year lead. I think it would be best to start with one of the smaller Octoberfest that are more purely German than to bring the big bratwurst to OTR all at once. It would be a great opportunity to think also about using Music Hall and Memorial Hall.

 

Parking shouldn't be too big a deal with Central Parkway so close along with the Music Hall area parking.

That is a really awesome idea, but i dont think that OTR is to the point where everyone would feel overly comfortable there yet. It would be cool if they set up smaller Oktoberfest festivals in OTR the weeks leading up to the large festival. Get people accustom to coming into OTR.

^ I agree.  Give it a few more years.  Then, what better way to show first hand to all the suburbanites that come downtown for Oktoberfest the progress made in OTR.  That alone would go a LONG way to changing the perception of the neighborhood.

I just don't think the small-scale streets and infrastructure, of OTR, could handle such a large festival.  One of the great things about moving some of these, to the Central Riverfront Park, is that you wouldn't have to close down major streets and could possibly extend the duration beyond the typical 2.5 days over the weekend.  I also don't think that OTR could provide the needed parking (we're talking 500,000 people over 2.5 days)...nor do I want OTR to be able to handle that kind of parking demand.

 

Oktoberfest could very well become a 10 day long festival if moved to the CRP.  Even though the streets, in OTR, aren't all that heavily traveled I still don't believe you could get away with closing them down for 10 days.  You'd be limited to the weekend festival much like you are now.

 

Maybe what could be done is keep the festival where it is now, move it to the CRP when its completed...BUT still do the events you're talking about in conjunction with the festival.  Market things like brewery tours, church tours, etc...and get the people there quickly/easily via the new Cincinnati Streetcar.

you would need the streetcar to get people from the downtown parking to the Oktoberfest in OTR

^I LIKE IT!!

^^True, but if you went with jmecklenborg's idea the streetcar would then be running directly through the festival.  I don't particularly have a problem with that, but it would eat away at the already small space for the festival to operate with there.

 

The streetcar could be very instrumental in connecting complimentary events in OTR with the actual festival that goes on at the CRP or 5th Street.

Washington Park  =  Cincinnati's Oktoberfest Park (Munich has one with rides and everything)

I generally agree with rando, but weren't all the industrial expos held in that same area of Wash park and Music Hall

I think it makes the most sense down at the new park due to the scale of it, but I think it would be a good idea to have OTR events along with the big show, especially if it becomes a 10 day super event like Rando wants. After parties, brewery tours etc just a street car ride away.

 

OTR should just embrace Bockfest and make that its big beer party.

I think it makes the most sense down at the new park due to the scale of it, but I think it would be a good idea to have OTR events along with the big show, especially if it becomes a 10 day super event like Rando wants. After parties, brewery tours etc just a street car ride away.

 

OTR should just embrace Bockfest and make that its big beer party.

 

Hey, this is much more than just something that I want.  I have heard this idea mentioned at several public meetings with people who are much more important/powerful than I.  My personal wish/dream is that if we do move it to the CRP and make it a 10 day event...lets get 1 or 2 of these big beer tents:

^ Agreed.  Oktoberfest growing into a bigger event would be HUGE for Cincinnati.  If you think the crowd draw is large now, just imagine if it were recognized as the largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich.  We're talking about an insane amount of money spent on hotels, food, and beer. 

 

I do kind of like the idea of OTR hosting a mini-Oktoberfest (if it can handle it), though.  Covington and Newport already have their own on seperate weekends.  It might be cool to add a similar 3 day festival in OTR and tie those three into the bigger event at the Central Riverfront Park by having the 3 smaller festivals take place on successive weekends leading up to Cincy's. 

Oktoberfest-goers can lift steins at new beer garden

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/08/25/story7.html

 

Pull out the steins and grab your chicken hats. Beer and polka lovers can look forward to an extended Oktoberfest season.

 

With the aid of Munich, Germany’s parks department, the Krohn Conservatory will keep the Gemütlichkeit going for four extra weeks beyond the traditional Oktoberfest conclusion on the first Sunday of October. Krohn is inaugurating a German beer garden in Eden Park as part of its Oktoberfest fall flower show, something it hopes will become an annual tradition. Featuring symbols of Munich’s Oktoberfest and sponsored by Christian Moerlein Brewing Co., the beer garden will be open weekends from Sept. 13 through Nov. 2, serving up beer, pretzels, radishes and live music. Commemorative beer mugs donated by Moerlein will be sold to benefit Krohn.

 

More above in link

America's largest Oktoberfest, gets even bigger

http://www.cincinnatichamber.com/cham_a.aspx?menu_id=126&id=9264

 

With more than half-a-million people attending annually, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, presented by Sam Adams and John Morrell, has long been the nation’s largest Oktoberfest celebration, and the second largest in the world outside of Munich.  That’s why this Sept. 20 and 21, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati returns to Fifth Street downtown, bigger and better than ever to officially stake its claim as “America’s Oktoberfest.”

 

If you are going to adopt a moniker such as “America’s Oktoberfest,” you better not disappoint.  That’s why the 33rd Annual Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati is adding a number of exciting new elements in addition to maintaining beloved traditions such as the Gemuetlichkeit Games, the alpenhorns, polka music and the World’s Largest Chicken Dance - so many, in fact, it had to be extended by another city block. Now encompassing the parking lot next to the Millennium Hotel on the corner of Fifth and Race, in this space will be Oktoberfest’s largest tent, the Partyzelt – a sports bar/beer garden sponsored by Time Warner Cable.   

 

Also new this year, party like a German rock star at the HYPE Haus Party, where your admission includes food, music, Sam Adams beer samples and a VIP area with private bathrooms from 4-11 p.m. during Oktoberfest. For more details, visit HYPEHausParty.com.

 

To top it off, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati will once again get off to a running start with the wildly popular Running of the Weiners on Friday afternoon. If you have a daschund with a need for speed and a nose for the finish line, be sure to contact Brian Eagan at [email protected] or 513.762.3720.

When: Event: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Opening Ceremony Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, 10:30 a.m.

Gemuetlichkeit Games Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, noon (tentative)

 

Where: On 6 blocks of Fifth Street; from Race Street to Broadway in Downtown Zinzinnati.

Cost: Free!

Watch: the 2007 Oktoberfest video (Windows media)

 

www.OktoberfestZinzinnati.com

Official Web site of the nation's largest, most authentic Oktoberfest

 

 

That's awesome!  However, I'm not sure that I agree with the classification of Sam Adams as a local beer.  Yes, they brew some of it here, but when I think of Sam Adams, I think of Boston, not Cincinnati.

That's awesome! However, I'm not sure that I agree with the classification of Sam Adams as a local beer. Yes, they brew some of it here, but when I think of Sam Adams, I think of Boston, not Cincinnati.

 

Honestly, I always think of Cincy immediately when I think of Sam Adams. That's the truth. I think a lot of people here do.

I was just reading the latest issue of Chamber Connect, and it sounds like there are going to be a few additions to what they refer to as "America's Oktoberfest".  Among them are extending this a city block to include the parking lot next to the Millennium, which will house the largest tent at Oktoberfest for a sports bar/beer garden.  It sounds good to me.

Roll out the Barrels - Major Cincinnati-area Oktoberfests:

 

    * Germania Society, Colerain Township, Aug. 22-24

    * Mainstrasse Oktoberfest, Covington, Sept. 5-7

    * Kolping Society, Springfield Township, Sept. 12-14

    * Oktoberfest Beer Garden and Flower Show, Krohn Conservatory, Sept. 13-Nov. 2

    * Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, downtown Cincinnati, Sept. 20-21

    * Newport Oktoberfest, Newport riverfront, Sept. 26-28

    * Donauschwaben Society, Colerain Township, Oct. 3-5

 

This is an impressive list.  The downtown one is one of the best urban festivals I've ever been to, anywhere, period, and I really like the Krohn Conservatory beer garden idea.  Other good places for a beer gardens or cafes would be some of those pavillions in the parks overlooking the valleys and city.

 

But cool to see there are Donauschwaben in Cincy..this group did a lot to invigorate Chicagos Deutschtum afte WWII.

 

 

THE Oktoberfest celebration is this weekend.  I'm planning on being there on both Saturday and Sunday for some period of time.  I'll probably stroll on over after the Blogger Tour of Living that will conclude around noon on Saturday (other bloggers feel free to join).

I would post the whole thing, but its quite long. Anyway, here's some of our Oktoberfest coverage.

 

Otoberfest Zinzinnati '08

http://www.buycincy.com/2008/09/oktoberfest-zinzinnati-08.html

 

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is celebrating its 33rd year in downtown Cincinnati this weekend. It seems tradition that every year is bigger than the last, and this year's prospective 500,000 visitors, hundreds of kegs, and slew of German food has BuyCincy writers counting down the days (72 hours, or 4,320 minutes, or 259,200 seconds).

 

To alleviate your wait, BuyCincy has brought together a fantastic panel of some of our favorite Oktoberfest patrons. Timothy Holian (author of "Over the Barrel" volumes one and two), Tom Harten (co-owner and operator of Mecklenburg Gardens), Greg Hardman (owner of Christian Moerlein), Michael Osborne (brewmaster of BarrelHouse Brewery), Mike Dewey (brewmaster/owner of Mt. Carmel Brewing Company), and Chuck Boyce (brewer at Cincy's newest craft brewery, Listermann's) will be offering perspectives on Oktoberfest Zinzinnati's past and present, to name a few.

 

Oktoberfest History: Tom Harten and Timothy Holian

 

Oktoberfest began in 1810, when Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (don't worry, Therese will generally suffice). Over the course of several decades the event evolved from an honorary horse race to a festival more like its contemporary American counterpart.

 

This is not to say the two are entirely comparable, as the München festival attracts millions, lasting for several weeks. Cincinnatians seem pretty content with their own "people's fair," (which does carry the title of the largest Oktoberfest in North America) and we at BuyCincy feel that five million downtown for a month would be a bittersweet affair.

 

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati proper began in 1976 as a simple block party with ties to the regional chamber of commerce and Hudepohl, but some assert that its roots in Cincinnati are much older, and a bit grittier.

 

"It's probably been going on since Germans got here," said Tom Harten, co-owner of Mecklenburg Gardens. "Places like Mecklenburg would've had their own Oktoberfests in every neighborhood." Historian Timothy Holian elucidated this history to us both by phone and in two volumes of his book, "Over The Barrel" (both of which we strongly encourage Cincy history buffs to check out). "German immigrants had an appreciation of their own region. Keep in mind that Germany proper was nonexistent. Oktoberfest was a Bavarian holiday," Timothy said. "Lager was not just a celebratory beer, it was also a social beverage. It was an emollient: it helped Germans network, and it was an excuse for people to come together."

 

To both Tom and Timothy, this seems to be force that brought Oktoberfest to America. German clubs like "Kloppenburg" of Mecklenburg Gardens (discussed in this BuyCincy article) or the Donauschwaben used the event not to honor Ludwig and Therese, but to celebrate themselves and their homes, whether they be in Bavaria or Cincinnati. And, as Tim puts it, "You don't need a reason to party."

 

 

I'll be down there saturday, anyone else going down?

Yes, Saturday and Sunday.

Yep, Saturday and Sunday for me as well.

Saturday yes, Sunday depends on Saturday alcohol consumption

Saturday yes, Sunday depends on Saturday alcohol consumption

 

:laugh:

 

I will probably be down there both days as well. 

Oktoberfest is my absolute favorite event and time of year in Cincinnati.  I'm definitely going through a little depression this weekend because I can't come home for it :-(

Oktoberfest is my absolute favorite event and time of year in Cincinnati. I'm definitely going through a little depression this weekend because I can't come home for it :-(

 

I know how you feel. I'm stuck in Annapolis and I certainly wish I was on Fifth Street Cincinnati, USA.

.. where are your pictures from the Oktoberfest .. ?  :?

Eh, I'll get to them later.  It was fun!

I have some that I'll upload after today's photo shoot. Ronny was there yesterday (all day) and should have some great shots too :)

.. it was very nice ..  yesterday ..

.. "oooh man .. has`d das g`höört .... die Bayern , ham`se verloren ...

2:5 gegen diese verfluchten Preußen von da oben ...!!!"

 

 

.. dancing kids ... on Fountain Square ...  Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2008

 

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati announced today that George Takei will be the grand marshal for 2013. Woo!

 

Seems like it might upset some people who are really conservative since he is very openly gay. Happy to see a national celebrity as the grand marshal instead of the typical Cincinnati politician or sports figure.

 

Also, for those who don't really like the Oktoberfest celebration on Fifth Street because of the crowds and stuff, Moerlein puts up an enormous tent on the event lawn and has rows of benches and a stage. Much more enjoyable. So I would recommend going to Fountain Square for events (like seeing George Takei do the chicken dance) and then hop on over to Moerlein to actually enjoy yourself. Lines are short for beer, too.

 

September 20-22 this year.

gay?

how about not German?

:-)

Marina Sirtis is going to be at the comic book convention the week before. Cincinnati is going to be in Star Trek heaven this September.

Yeah, trying to figure out this connection?

 

BTW, thread is from 2008. 

 

Ive been back to Oktoberfest with my parents.  My ma loved it (she's German and is a big fan of festivals of any sort)....we stayed in I think Garfield Place that year. 

 

 

Here's a question. 

 

If I go this year, where do I park? 

 

Funny question because the last times Ive been i was in a hotel, so parking wasnt an issue.  This time I want to drive in from Dayton and take a freind along, but said freind does not like to walk a lot (otherwise I would park near Findlay Market and walk in).

 

Also, can I take the bus.  Im thinking of parking in Northside and taking the Hamilton Avenue bus into downtown for Oktoberfest.

 

Here's a question. 

 

If I go this year, where do I park?

 

...Also, can I take the bus.  Im thinking of parking in Northside and taking the Hamilton Avenue bus into downtown for Oktoberfest.

 

^ Although I'm not recommending parking in Northside over other options, it would be a suitable alternative.  The Metro #17 (via Hamilton Ave.), one of the most popular bus routes, will provide frequent service for $1.75/ride.  However, if you do choose to ride one of these buses into town for Oktoberfest,  realize that they will be rerouted away from their usual Government Square stops during this weekend.

What about closer parking?

Depends on how much you are willing to pay, but you should have options within 3 blocks of Fifth Street.  One obvious option is parking at the Banks.  I don't know if the Reds/Bengals are in town that weekend, but you could certainly park there. 

 

Another option would be some of the surface lots up on the east side of downtown around 7th/8th/9th and Sycamore.  There are some big lots up there.  On a weekend day I think you'll see some availability there.  Of course, if you go a couple blocks further there are even more options (the parking garages in OTR (Gateway, Washington Park, Mercer) or even the casino). 

And there are plenty of closer garages and lots to Fifth Street.  I'm sure the 4th street Pogue's garage is a popular one, and I think I've parked in the Federated/Macy's garage (7th and Vine) for Oktoberfest before. 

Bear in mind Metro frequency is less on Saturday & near non-existent on Sunday.

http://www.go-metro.com/riding-metro/Maps-and-Schedules

I forget what the rates are in the Northside parking lots on weekends.

If you come early in the day you can park right under fountain square or the 580 building for $5.00.

Oktoberfest starts today and continues through Sunday! Make sure to do something to celebrate!  :drunk:

Bear in mind Metro frequency is less on Saturday & near non-existent on Sunday.

http://www.go-metro.com/riding-metro/Maps-and-Schedules

I forget what the rates are in the Northside parking lots on weekends.

Just keep in mind that Metro DOES RUN ON SUNDAYS and that the most-ridden routes (for example, the popular #4 route) will deliver service for those who want to venture down to Octoberfest.  As for my wife and myself, we're riding the #4 from Surrey Square/Norwood into town Sunday afternoon, when both Octoberfest and the Bengals game will overwhelm our downtown.  Enjoy!

criminy, hardly anybody does the daggone dance - they just hold up their smartphones like some kind of Nazi salute...

http://news.cincinnati.com/videonetwork/2684487795001/-Mr-Sulu-leads-the-Chicken-Dance

No mention of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati here leading up to the celebration. 650,000 people attended, breaking the previous record of 600,000

 

Breaking a record in attendance isn't surprising since it's only the second time it's been a three day celebration, weather was perfect, UC Homecoming was held at Paul Brown Stadium since Nippert is undergoing renovations with celebrations happening at Oktoberfest, and the Bengals had a home game. Not to mention the progress of The Banks and general interest people have towards downtown these days.

 

I do wonder how they estimate a crowd like this at large events without admission. I can understand using an average density of people taken from photos above and multiplying by the area, but for a fluid event like Oktoberfest where people are able to go in and out as they please and possibly attend three days, it makes me wonder whether that 650,000 number accounts for each person who attended and subtracts for repeat visitors, or if multiple visitors are each counted.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/09/22/oktoberfest-zinzinnati-2014-surpasses-attendance.html

How many more years until Oktoberfest (and Taste) are moved to The Banks / Smale Riverfront Park?