Bockfest is a weekend chockfull of parades and parties and history lessons - and yes, it's inspired by a beer. Hardy, sudsy, filling bock beer.
How many other cities throw a big bash to celebrate beer?
"It's very unique to Cincinnati," said Steve Hampton, executive director of the OTR Brewery District.
But there's more than just drinking going on at this party. Bockfest kicks off with a parade of misfits led by a goat and someone called the Sausage Queen, rolls into a pub crawl, then gives way to underground brewery tours and something called Continental Sunday, a celebration packed with German music and dancing. (Dressing in traditional German clothing gets you $1 off a beer during Continental Sunday, by the way.)
The point of Bockfest is to throw back a few, sure, but it's also to soak in some history, Hampton said. For instance: Bock beers were traditionally released near winter's end to celebrate the coming spring, Hampton, and German monks drank the stronger, more alcoholic beer as a food replacement during their Lenten fasts. Also, by holding Bockfest primarily in Over-the-Rhine, organizers celebrate that region's brewing history as well as its role in forming Cincinnati as a whole.
"Over-the-Rhine?s history is the region's history," Hampton said. "The city started down here."
Hampton would recommend any of the weekend's events to a Bockfest novice, of course, but his don't-miss suggestion is the Bockfest parade. Entrants can jump in line up to half an hour before the parade starts, and in the past participants have included German beer bands, goats on Segways and a woman in leather brandishing a huge whip. They stroll from Arnold's Downtown to the Bockfest Hall in Over-the-Rhine, delighting and baffling the crowd.
"It's definitely the number one most eclectic parade," he said. "For sure."
Bockfest Bathtub Raffle Drawing Happy Hour Arnold's Bar & Grill - 210 E. Eighth St. - Downtown March 3 : 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Winner drives Arnold's bathtub at Bockfest Parade March 4 at 6 p.m.
Bockfest Parade Arnold's Bar & Grill - 210 E. Eighth St. - Downtown March 4 : 6 p.m. Goat pulling keg of bock beer and reigning Sausage Queen. Continues up Main Street to Bockfest Hall/Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Hall, with blessing and tapping of ceremonial keg of bock beer. Winners for best entry in parade announced. Party follows at various venues. Shuttle available.
Bockfest Hall Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Hall - 1619 Moore St. - Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton March 4 : 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. Music by Jake Speed and the Freddies at 8 p.m. Temporarily named Bockfest Hall, Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Hall is center of Bockfest event. Renaissance celebration of bock beer and the coming of spring. Includes food, bock beer and music. Free shuttle available. Times for other participating locations TBA.
Bockfest Sausage Queen Competition Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Hall - 1619 Moore St. - Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton March 5 : 7 p.m. Finals. Gender-neutral competition. Participants judged on personality, presence and talent. Ages 21 and up.
Prohibition Resistance Tours Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Hall - 1619 Moore St. - Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton March 5 : 9:40 a.m. Two-and-half hour guided bus and walking tour of breweries through Over-the-Rhine. Refreshment available. Part of Bockfest.
Bockfest Arnold's Bar & Grill - 210 E. Eighth St. - Downtown March 4 : 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. Music by Todd Hepburn 4-6 p.m., 46 Long 6-8 p.m. and Lagniappe 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Biergarten open 4-7 p.m. with German Brass band. Six bock beers on tap with tasting menus. Special wild game menu available.
Bockfest Courtyard Cafe - 1211 Main St. - Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton March 4 : 3 p.m. - 2 a.m. Special Bockfest menu includes: Aunt Gertie's Famous Bockwurst Sandwich, smoked turkey legs, Mock Turtle Soup, soft pretzels with beer cheese and hot slaw. Selection of bock beers on tap.
Bockfest Veenie Roast Park + Vine - 1204 Main St. - Downtown March 4 : 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Takes place along Bockfest Parade route. Try grilled vegan sausages and hot dogs on pretzel buns with local kraut and relish. Sponsored by Fab Ferments, Mayday and other local businesses. Bockfest Milton's Prospect Hill Tavern - 301 Milton St. - Mount Auburn March 4 : 4 p.m. Grilled brats and metts available. Bock beers on tap.
Bockfest Continental Sunday Old St. Mary's Church - 123 E. 13th St. - Downtown March 6 : 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Celebration of city?s German-American heritage. German Mass followed by beer in rathskellar and bus to Bockfest Hall for Bockfest activities.
Bockfest Bach to Bock Brunch Memorial Hall - 1225 Elm St. - Downtown March 6 : 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Brunch catered by Mecklenburg Gardens. Includes music and overview of findings from Washington Park excavations from Gray and Pape. Part of Bockfest.
Bockfest Know Theatre of Cincinnati - 1120 Jackson St. - Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton March 4 : 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. Bock-A-Oke. Renaissance celebration of bock beer and the coming of spring. Free shuttle available.