Oktoberfest Zincinnati: Ja! the nation's largest, most authentic Oktoberfest
Published: Sep 9, 2009
Munich, Germany may be where the celebrated Oktoberfest originated, but Cincinnati, or should we say, “Zinzinnati,” now boasts the largest annual Oktoberfest celebration outside of Bavaria! Ja, ‘tis true! And entry is frei (free)!
From Sept. 19-20, the Queen City will be recreated into “Zinzinnati USA” as it hosts Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA along six blocks of downtown Cinci. First held in 1976, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA now hosts more than a half-a-million herren (men) und frauen (women) who gather to eat, sing, mischen (mingle), wear funny stockings (lederhosen), and listen and dance to polka music.
Of course, one of the best known residents of “Springfield” will attend Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA to lead and perform the Chicken Dance – none other than the renowned Homer Simpson. In fact, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati established a world record in 1994, officially confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records in its 1995-97 editions, with 48,000 participating in the World's Largest Chicken Dance.
In addition to Homer’s comedic routine, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA will feature five stages showcasing continuous live German music as well as more than 40 food and drink vendors.
Speaking of food, the following Statistiken (statistics), according to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, represent some of the Nahrung (food) that will be served:
• 80,500 bratwurst
• 64,000 sauerkraut balls
• 56,250 sausages
• 24,640 potato pancakes
• 23,004 soft pretzels
• 20,000 cream puffs
• 16,002 strudels
• 6,000 jumbo pickles
• 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut
• 1,875 pounds of German potato salad
• 702 pounds of Limburger cheese
• 700 pigtails, and
• 400 pickled pigs feet.
Other highlights this year include a private VIP party on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Time Warner Party Zelt fest tent located at 5th and Race streets ($25 per person or $40 for a couple – go to www.cincinnatichamber.com to buy tickets). And the Running of the Weiners will once again take off at noon on Friday, Sept. 18 on Fountain Square. If you have a daschund with a compunction for warp speed and straightforward sense of direction, contact Brian Eagan to enter him/her in the race at beagan@cincinnatichamber.com or call 513-762-3720.
- by Jim Brown , Cincinnati Reporter for HelloMetro
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