Glier’s Goettafest returns to Newport on the Levee for the 18th year from Aug. 2-5. Goetta is a blend of pork, beef, spices and steel-cut oats. Glier’s Meats, founded in 1946, is the largest producer of goetta in the world. The fest is anticipating crowds of 200,000 or more.
It’s not a successful summer in Cincinnati without the chance to gorge yourself on the most “Cincinnati” food item that isn’t Skyline. Imagine a county fair centered around a crispy, creamy meatloaf — that’s what you’re getting yourself into at this weekend’s Glier’s Goettafest. People travel great lengths to get their hands on the strangest, most inventive goetta creations from Cincinnati’s most beloved vendors. To keep the playing field even, each vendor must stick to a strict 3-2-1 rule: three goetta items, two non-goetta items and one dessert. You won’t find two of the same dish here.
There will be more than 50 creations including 10 new items from new vendors that are participating for the first year. Try everything from goetta balls to goetta empanadas, goetta pizza, goetta barbecue sandwich, goetta nachos, goetta hoagie, goetta fried rice and bacon goetta cheese coneys.
There will also be live entertainment, goetta games, a goetta vending machine, a beer garden and more.
5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Free admission. Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport, goettafest.com.
