20th Anniversary Bockfest
Bockfest is a celebration of Cincinnati’s brewing heritage and the coming of spring — and the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in this Ohio city.
Sure, there are several bock beer festivals that take place around the world, but Cincinnati’s Bockfest — tomorrow through Sunday — is the oldest and largest in the United States.
Bockfest begins with a parade March 2, 2012, that starts at Arnold’s Bar & Grill (the city’s oldest saloon). The parade is led by a goat pulling a keg of bock beer and the reigning Sausage Queen.
It ends at Bockfest Hall where the ceremonial first keg is blessed, the best Parade entries are honored, and Bockfest officially begins.
The Hall is open throughout the weekend and features live entertainment, food, historic walking tours, authors and breweriana, a homebrew competition, Continental Sunday celebrations and lots of delicious bock beer.
But, Bockfest is not just limited to the Hall. It occurs in a number of participating venues in Over-the-Rhine and the central business district.
There is no admission fee for the hall and typically no admission fee for the participating venues. (If a venue charges a fee, it will be indicated on the event schedule.) A free shuttle bus runs a continuous loop around the locations.
Beer, of course, is essential — but Bockfest is about more than beer. It is the celebration of Over-the-Rhine’s rich German-American history and the neighborhood’s future.
For more about brewskis, see our sister site, Road Trips for Beer!