Cincinnati’s history involves a rich German heritage that basically revolves around sausage and beer, and what better excuse for revelry does one need than that? Hence Bockfest, Over-the-Rhine’s annual street festival in celebration of our town’s brewing heritage and the coming of spring.
The fun kicks off Friday at 5:30 p.m. with the Bockfest Parade, which will form in front of Arnold’s Bar and Grill and feature a weird and wonderful array of bohemian delights, including a goat, faux monks and quirky floats. After an evening of hard drinking and live music at numerous participating OTR bars, drag yourself out of bed and head to Bockfest Hall at noon on Saturday for the professionally judged Bloatarian Brewing League’s Hudepohl Bock Homebrew Competition. Also, take one of Saturday’s Prohibition Resistance and Subway tours — a knowledgeable guide will show you some historical breweries and let you crawl around in some sub-basements and tunnels that you probably didn’t know existed under the streets of the Queen City. At 7 p.m., see the crowning of the Sausage Queen at Bockfest Hall, and stick around for some “Bockabilly” bands later that night.
If boozin’ isn’t your thing, Sunday is a family-friendly German Culture Day. An 11 a.m. procession starts at Old St. Mary’s Church and ends at Bockfest Hall, which will feature traditional German entertainment. Most events are free, but tickets for the tours are $30-$40. Get details about the events here.
