It’s that time of year again: Folks are dusting off their lederhosen, Alpine hats and steins and celebrating Oktoberfest. And while Zinzinnati’s annual giant in-person fest — the second largest in the world — has been canceled due to the coronavirus, there are still plenty of ways to honor the longstanding tradition with an abundance of bier, Bavarian cuisine and festive music to fill your bellies and ears.

Some bars and restaurants are officially affiliated with the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati citywide “In Za Haus” event (visit oktoberfestzinzinnati.com for a list of all of them), and others are just celebrating the centuries old Munich holiday in all its splendor.

Here’s a few to check out:

Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Downtown’s Arnold’s Bar & Grill is one of the restaurants teaming up with Sam Adams to bring a week of German fun to Cincinnati. They are promising live music, a full German menu prepared by Guy’s Grocery Games-winning chef Kayla Robison and 10 different kinds of German beer to celebrate. The bar and restaurant will be handing out free German Alpine hats, lederhosen suspenders and steins. In addition, there will be $5 pints of Sam Adams’ Oktoberfest beer, plus Braxton Oktober Fuel, Listermann Fest Beer, Moerlein 5th and Vine Oktober Fest-Märzen, 50 West Oktoberfest, Rhinegeist Franz, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen, Bells October Fest, Great Lakes Octoberfest and Spaten Oktoberfest on tap. Photo via Facebook.com/arnoldsbar
Moerlein Lager House 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks The Lager House has a special Oktoberfest menu, featuring items like a German sausage platter and Jagerschnitzel, as well as eight German beers, which will be available until Oct. 3. They’re also welcoming folks to celebrate in their socially distanced Oktoberfest-edition backyard beer garden, which will be offering brews and a small selection of their specialty menu via a concessions window throughout three weekends: Sept. 18-20, Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4. They will also be hosting guests for the World’s Largest Chicken Dance via Zoom on Sept. 19, and the World’s Largest Toast via Zoom on Sept. 26. Additionally, the inaugural non-competitive 5K Volksmarch walk kicks off from Moerlein Lager House at 10 a.m. on Oct. 3 — the last day of Moerlein’s Oktoberfest celebration. Following the walk, Moerlein will be open for refueling. Photo via Facebook.com/MoerleinLagerHouse
Frisch’s Big Boy Multiple Cincinnati locations Cincinnati-based restaurant chain Frisch’s Big Boy, has rolled out several new seasonal menu items to commemorate America’s largest Oktoberfest, including two dishes that feature a beer cheese infused with Fat Tire ale from New Belgium Brewing. Frisch’s new Beer Cheese Burger, “the official burger of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati,” is made with a quarter-pound beef patty, covered in Fat Tire Beer Cheese and topped with onion rings, pickles, red onions and spicy brown mustard on a pretzel bun. In addition to the burger they have also added pretzel sticks to the menu, served with the same Fat Tire Beer Cheese. Photo: Provided by Frisch’s Big Boy
Germania Society of Cincinnati 3529 West Kemper Road, Pleasant Run The Germania Society of Cincinnati is hosting a two-weekend-long “Big Biergarten Experience,” celebrating with German brews, Bavarian bites, competitions and entertainment. The ticketed event continues Sept. 18-20 at the Germania Society of Cincinnati’s Pavilion. The Germania grounds span 34 acres, offering plenty of space for guests to spread out and enjoy, and the event will feature several seating spaces including the Pavilion, outdoor Biergarten and new “Bitburger bier oasis,” which offers high-top tables. Photo via Facebook.com/GermaniaSociety
Karrikin Spirits Company 3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax Fairfax’s craft distillery Karrikin is putting together an Oktoberfest party that will offer a taste of the real thing on Sept. 27. Karrikin is teaming up with local German pop-up eatery The Lübecker for Frühschoppen Sunday. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it is described as a German and Austrian cultural tradition where folks head to their local pubs, inns or taverns late Sunday mornings to gather, imbibe and sometimes munch. The celebration will have plenty of German foods to delight your taste buds, as well as several Karrikin brews, including the German-style Fest beer, Dark Lager Pilsner and two Karrikin sparkling spirit-infused Radlers. Frühschoppen Sunday will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be spread throughout the distillery’s taproom, dining room and hop garden. Photo: Twin Spire Photography
Washington Platform Saloon and Restaurant 1000 Elm St., Downtown Washington Platform will be providing a full menu of Oktoberfest comfort food and two nights of live polka music. The restaurant will serve fried pickles and oysters alongside a pretzel reuben, schweineschnitzel, and smoked salmon potato pancakes. Be sure to save room for the Pumpkin Der Funken, a funnel cake with pumpkin mousse and caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream. Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Leinenkugel Oktoberfest will be on tap. Photo via washingtonplatform.com
Funky’s Catering Order online at funkyscurbside.com Funky’s Catering is currently offering a full German-inspired take-home spread perfect for two. The menu features fried goetta balls, potato pancakes with Ohio apple chutney, wild mushroom and sauerkraut strudel, pretzel-wrapped bockwurst, a six-pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest, and miniature Bavarian cream puffs. The special is available until Sept. 27. Photo via funkyscurbside.com
Wiedemann’s Fine Beer 4811 Vine St., St. Bernard St. Bernard brewery Widemann’s is hosting a “Honkytonk Oktoberfest” with live performances by Slick Willie and the Kentucky Jellies on Friday night. Additionally, the brewery has debuted their Marzen-style Oktoberfest brew and will have food and drink specials throughout the weekend, including their Oktoburger with beer cheese. There will be more live music throughout the weekend. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Graeter’s Ice Cream and Schmidt’s Sausage Haus 5076 Natorp Blvd., Mason Graeter’s Ice Cream will be teaming up with Schmidt’s Sausage Haus for an Oktoberfest pop-up in the parking lot of their Mason/Deerfield parlor from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Sept. 18. In addition to Schmidt’s sausages and jumbo cream puffs, a special Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip cream puff will be available while supplies last. The event will support Greater’s Cones for a Cure initiative. Photo via Facebook.com/schmidtscbus
Jerry’s Jug House 414 E. Seventh St., Newport Northern Kentucky neighborhood bar Jerry’s Jug House is getting into the Bavarian spirit in honor of Oktoberfest with German brews and a special Friday night sausage grill-out. Starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, the bar will be serving West Sixth Brewing’s Dankechain Oktoberfest beer in both pints and 22-ounce collectible steins ($12; $6 for refills throughout the night). Then, beginning at 6 p.m., Jerry’s is firing up the grill and will be slingin’ a variety of sausages from Avril-Bleh Meat Market, including bockwurst, classic brats and all-beef mets. Sausages will be served on Sixteen Bricks rolls with a side of German potatoes. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Bircus Brewing Company 322 Elm St., Ludlow Northern Kentucky’s ultimate Oktoberfest party is happening at Bircus Brewing this weekend. From Sept. 18-20, the circus-themed brewery is teaming up with Tuba Pretzels and local bands for German bites, Tuba music and a specialty brew for the occasion. Tickets cost $10 for music only; $25 for music, food and a drink. Photo via Facebook.com/BircusBeer
Smoke Justis 302 Court St., Covington This bourbon and barbecue spot is celebrating Oktoberfest all weekend with $4 Sam Adams Oktoberfest pints on Friday and Saturday, and $3 Oktoberfest refills on Sunday for those who have purchased an Sam Adams stein. They will have $5 brats or metts with sauerkraut throughout the weekend as well as daily live music. Photo via Facebook.com/smokejustis
Casual Pint 130 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton Hamilton’s Casual Pint kicked off Oktoberfest on Thursday, but will be continuing the celebration throughout the weekend with drink specials, daily live music and a live stream of the World’s Largest Chicken Dance on Saturday. Prost! Photo via Facebook.com/casualpinthamilton
Wooden Cask Brewing 629 York St., Newport Newport’s Wooden Cask Brewing is welcoming guests to celebrate Oktoberfest on their brand new patio (as well as inside their establishment). They will have Oktoberfest bier for sipping, as well as German bites by Chef Beena. The specials will continue through Sept. 26. Photo via Facebook.com/WoodenCask
Fretboard Brewing 5800 Creek Road, Blue Ash This suburban brewery is celebrating the best way it knows how — with great beer and live music during its Okousticfest, from 3-11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Guests can expect an entertaining line-up of musicians including the Kyle Hackett Trio, Anna Applegate and Cincy Brass, plus a selection of their German-inspired brews and Bavarian eats from Smoked Out Cincy, with menu items including pork schnitzel sandwich, beer brats and sauerkraut balls. Photo: Brittany Thornton
13 Below Brewing 7391 Forbes Road, Sayler Park This West Side brewery is celebrating two special occasions this weekend: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati and their three-year anniversary. There will be special beer releases on Saturday and Sunday, food specials from Incline Smoke Stack and live entertainment. You can also join in on the World’s Largest Chicken Dance on Saturday when it’s livestreamed at the brewery. Photo via Facebook.com/13belowbrewery
Northern Row Brewing & Distillery 111 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine Northern Row will be hosting their very first Oktoberfest celebration over the weekend in their taproom, featuring daily rooftop pumpkin drops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and an alphorn performance from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. Enjoy Northern Row’s Oktoberfest Marzen lager or German Peach Schnapps, made with fresh, hand-pressed peaches. The food menu features apple cider-braised pork shoulder, sweet potato spaetzle, pickled apple, walnut sage grematola, and creme fraiche. Photo via Facebook.com/northernrow