Everyone's a Wiener
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Days & Hours:
Thursday, Sep. 16, 5 p.m.- midnight
Friday, Sep. 17 - 11 a.m.-midnight
Saturday, Sep. 18 - 11 a.m.-midnight
Sunday, Sep. 19 - 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Learn more at www.OktoberfestZinzinnati.com.
“Oktoberfest is one of our great city traditions,” said Brendon Cull, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “We remember some of what we missed last year and we’re excited to come back together.”
Organizers of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati®, presented by Samuel Adams, unveiled the schedule of events for the four day event. The zelebration of German food, beer, music, and traditions is held on Second and Third Streets in downtown Zinzinnati. This year’s event will open one day earlier and stay open one hour later, Thursday evening, Sep. 16 through Sunday, Sep. 19.
While all of your favorites are coming back – including the “Running of the Wieners” and the World’s Largest Chicken Dance– Oktoberfest has a number of new programs including karaoke, Socktoberfest pageant, and winning a trip to Munich.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Thursday Sep. 16, noon
The USA TODAY Sports+ Running of the Wieners
Freedom Way at The Banks
The USA TODAY Sports+ Running of the Wieners ist back and will feature 100 dachshunds racing on Freedom Way at The Banks, between Walnut and Rosa Parks Streets. Each dog will wear its provided hot dog bun costume while running approximately 75 feet, in heats of ten, to its owner waiting at the finish line. The winners from each heat will compete in a final race to determine the winning wiener! Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place dachshunds.
Registration, rules and complete details are now available. The event is free for spectators. Each owner will be provided an official Oktoberfest Zinzinnati USA TODAY Sports+ Running of the Wieners 2021 t-shirt.
Thursday Sep. 16, 5 p.m.–midnight
America’s Oktoberfest
Second and Third Streets
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is America’s Oktoberfest and Thursday night is how America celebrates Oktoberfest. The evening will feature tributes to America’s favorite rock bands. Select stages will host Amerikaraoke, encouraging guests to sing-along with the band and the audience.
Friday, Sep. 17, noon
The Gemütlichkeit Games (G-Games)
Main Stage at Second and Elm Streets
Gemütlichkeit means goodwill, cordiality or friendliness. The idea of gemütlichkeit began after the Napoleonic war in 1815 and before the Revolutionary wars started in 1848. People in Germany were tired of war and politics and decided, instead, to spend their spare time focused on family and friends.
While Oktoberfest Zinzinnati’s Gemütlichkeit Games (or G-Games) are a competition between members of Zinzinnati media, the contests remain cordial and friendly.
Events will include the beer barrel roll and the beer stein carry, in which participants carry six one liter steins, filled with Samuel Adams, to the finish line. Scores are based on time and the least amount of beer spillage.
Friday Sep. 17, 7 p.m.
Frocktoberfest/Socktoberfest Pageant
Main Stage at Second and Elm Streets
Guests dressed to impress in their German best will want to enter the inaugural Samuel Adams Frocktoberfest/Socktoberfest Pageant. Wear a dirndl or lederhosen – be authentic, get creative and you could win fun prizes from Samuel Adams.
Saturday, Sep. 18, noon
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Offizielle Zeremonien (Official Ceremonies)
Main Stage at Second and Elm Streets
The Oktoberfest Zinzinnati official ceremonies are a great way to experience the region’s rich German heritage. They feature music, beer, dancing, beer, and a procession of local German groups throughout the event. The procession will visit and dedicate each bier garten and fest tent.
Saturday, Sep. 18, 4 p.m.
The World’s Largest Chicken Dance
All Oktoberfest Zinzinnati stages
Thousands of chicken dancers have congregated every year since 1994 when Zinzinnatians set the Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Chicken Dance! It will be poultry in motion as groups and individuals representing local media outlets again lead the dance from stages throughout Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.
Sunday, Sep. 19, 2 p.m.
Samuel Adams Stein Hoist Championship
Main Stage at Second and Elm Streets
The annual Sam Adams Stein Hoist Championship is back and bigger than ever! The ultimate test of strength and endurance, competitors must hold a one-liter stein of beer, straight out, without bending an elbow or spilling any beer. One male and one female-identifying winner (and one guest each) will receive round trip airfare, four nights hotel, and $500 travel card to Munich Oktoberfest 2022, courtesy of Samuel Adams.
Preliminary Stein Hoist rounds will be held Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Sam Adams Bier Garten, Second and Walnut Streets.
Sunday, Sep. 19, 4 p.m.
The World Brat Eating Championship featuring Joey Chestnut
Braxton Stage at Third and Walnut Streets
Major league-eater, Joey Chestnut, and the World Brat Eating Championship return to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. Mr. Chestnut is the nine-time and only champion of the event. His brat eating world record is 70 brats in 10 minutes. Sam Barclay of Major League Eating will again serve as master of ceremonies. Even those with little interest in sausage or sport will eat up the witty warm-up for this gastronomical event.