Goat For It

It’s spring!

Almost.

Kind of.

Just go with it, ok?

Bockfest, Cincinnati’s annual celebration of Spring, Over-the-Rhine's brewing heritage, and bock beer, begins tomorrow, with the parade and the opening of Bockfest Hall. The revelry continues through Sunday. With so much to do, and so many goats, how to you make the most of the weekend? Check out our top 5 tips for enjoying Bockfest.

1. Go to the Parade

Cincinnati loves parades – the weirder the better. The Bockfest parade with monks, goats, wooden goats, and more monks doesn’t disappoint.

The parade starts at Arnold’s at 6 p.m. The area around Eighth and Sycamore is the perfect vantage point to catch all the action, before, during, and after the parade.

2. Drink a bock beer

Bock beer is a strong, German (duh) beer, brewed by monks to during Lent to offer nourishment during their fasting. (wink wink)

Legend has it that the citizens of Munich pronounced the beer as "ein Bock" ("a billy goat") which is where all the goat associations – goatsociations? – started.

3. Pet a goat

If you get to the parade early, you can pet goats lining up to march. Baby goats, old goats, rams – any kind of adorable goat you can imagine is there!

Goats are also part of the fun around Bockfest Hall. But please, don’t try to steal a baby goat. They frown on that sort of thing.

4. Go on a brewery tour

Bockfest isn’t just about beer, it’s also about history.

The Cincinnati Brewing Heritage Trail is offering tours of the 19th century Sohn Brewhouse during Bockfest weekend. This is the only time guests will be allowed inside before a major restoration and construction project begins. Adult tickets include a beer at Bockfest Hall!

5. Get a pretzel necklace

With all of the drinking and walking, you need to keep your strength up! But it can be hard to eat on the go AND keep track of your food after a few beers.

Enter the pretzel necklace.

The friendly folks at Servatii’s have a stylish way for you to enjoy a German snack during Bockfest – A pretzel you can wear. It’s good and good for you!

Longtime Bockfest enthusiast (and event coordinator) Aaron Sharpe has some critical advice as well. (That’s him on the left!)

Do NOT miss the parade. While there is plenty happening all weekend long at Bockfest, the parade is the highlight.

Wear a costume. Doesn’t matter what it is, but everything about Bockfest is more fun in full costume.

Don’t sleep on Sunday. Weather will be beautiful, Hot Magnolias will be playing, and one of the most entertaining Bockfest activities, the .05K takes place on Sunday.

Take a brewery tour. It’ll truly be one of the most interesting experiences you can have in Cincinnati.

Drink lots of water and pay attention to the ABV’s of the bock beers you’re drinking. They’ll add up quick!

Admission to the parade and Bockfest Hall, HQ for bock beer, music, and entertainment, is free all weekend long.

​Bockfest Hall, at Findlay Playground, 1811 Vine Street, and the adjacent outside spaces around the Brewery District will host a number of popular traditions including

• Bockfest Parade, Friday, March 3, 6 p.m.
  Steps off from Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 East Eighth Street

• Bockfest Hall Opening Hours, Friday, March 3, 6 p.m.,
  1811 Vine Street
  Opens on Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at noon

• Bockfest 5K, Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.,
  Starts from Bockfest Hall, 1811 Vine Street.

• Bockfest Brewing Heritage Trail Tours and Historical Programming
  Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5

• Bockfest Beer Games
  Saturday March 4 and Sunday, March 5

Sales for all ticketed events and packages are available now at www.Bockfest.com.