Cincinnati, Ohio, Gears Up for 31st Annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

September brings the official start of autumn as well as fun fall festivals to the Cincinnati area each season. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was first held in 1976 and is the most famous fall festival in the region, highlighting the Queen City's deep German roots. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati attracts over 500,000 visitors annually, making it the North America's largest Oktoberfest celebration.

John Morrell, a local favorite for hot dogs, and Budweiser are, once again, the loyal Presenting Sponsors for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2007. The Cincinnati based consumer goods manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, is sponsoring The World's Largest Chicken Dance. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati's official sponsors include: Pepsi, Cricket Wireless, Gutter Topper, Sam Adams, Spaten Munich, and Erdinger Weissbrau. Participating sponsors include more breweries such as Cincinnati's own Christian Moerlein Brewing Company and Cleveland Ohio's Great Lakes Brewing Company.

2007's 31st annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will be held the weekend of September 22nd and 23rd. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati event hours are 11am until midnight on Saturday, September 22nd and 11am until 10pm on Sunday, September 23rd.

The festival's Opening Ceremony will begin at 10:30am on Saturday with a parade down Fifth Street. Inspired by tradition in Munich, Germany, Opening Ceremony participants dressed in brightly colored German clothing, will place a flag and a seal at each vendor tent as beer vendors tap their kegs.

Downtown Cincinnati blocks off Fifth Street for six blocks, between Race Street and Broadway, for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. There are many options for parking in either downtown Cincinnati parking lots, or across the Ohio River for free in Northern Kentucky. Free options in Kentucky include Willie's Sports Café or at Fifth and Bakewell in Covington. The Southbank Shuttle takes visitors from their cars in Northern Kentucky to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati for only $1.

Food vendors serve a great deal of German food and beer each year including traditional favorites such as bratwurst, metts, sauerkraut balls, potato pancakes, Limburger cheese, and pickled pig feet. The festival recently published a 2007 menu which includes vendor names and expected food prices.

Food and beer vendors charge for their bites and beverages, but the atmosphere and entertainment at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is free of charge. The entertainment stages and festival tents will be filled throughout the weekend with live musical acts. Energetic German and Austrian Volksmusik performed by The Alpen Echoes is featured from 8pm until 11pm on Saturday and from 7pm until 9pm on Sunday night, on the P&G Stage in the Budweiser Bier Garten on Fountain Square.

An entertainment highlight each year is the large crowd that gathers for the popular German song and Chicken Dance. Strolling throughout the weekend will be The Beir Band; an award winning, 11 piece ensemble dressed in traditional lederhosen and playing a mix of standard German polkas, and contemporary rock and roll.

Gourmet food vendors, a wide variety of beers, and German-style entertainment make Oktoberfest Zinzinnati a rich tradition each autumn. Join the fall festival crowd on Fifth Street, between Race and Broadway the weekend of September 22 and 23, 2007.