Cincinnati is the home to the world's oldest Bock festival, but many Cincinnatians are unaware of this tradition. If you are one of the unfortunate who have never attended a Bockfest (or who have but can't really remember that weekend) here's a quick primer. In the 1800s, Cincinnati was one of America's most prolific brewing cities. Cincinnatians drank more beer per capita than any city in the country, and Over-the-Rhine was at one point home to more than 18 breweries. A tradition developed among the breweries to release all of their bock beer on the same day. Bock beer is a rich, complex, robust lager that marks the end of the Winter brewing season and the beginning of Spring.
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Over-the-Rhine was built primarily by German immigrants, many of whom left German states in the 1830s and 1840s due to both political and religious persecution. The result is that OTR became home to some groundbreaking congregations and the city’s oldest churches. You don’t have to travel to Europe to see stunningly beautiful sacred spaces -- just take the Over-the-Rhine Historic Church Tour during Bockfest Weekend 2010. For Tour information, which includes drink tickets good at Bockfest Hall, go HERE. |
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Download the Bockfest Guide, including schedule of events, shuttle routes, and more! |
Here's our idea of the perfect BOCKFEST WEEKEND:
Friday March 5th
Start after work at Arnold's and socialize with the eclectic Bockfest Parade participants while having a Moerlein Emancipator Doppelbock, Hudepohl Bock, or Schoenling Bock. At 6PM, get a space along Main Street to watch the Bockfest Parade - Cincinnati's most Bohemian Parade (after you watch it you'll know what we mean). At the end of the parade around 6:30PM, watch the Blessing of the Bock Beer in front of Bockfest Hall with the Bier Band. At 7PM, enter Bockfest Hall to watch the Bockfest Parade Grand Prize given out and then party with live music, eat some Bockwurst and have a Bock Beer.
Bockfest Hall this year is located in a portion of the historic Kauffman Brewery at 1621 Moore Street.
From 7PM until 1AM, hop on the continuous FREE shuttle bus and visit other participating Bockfest Bars like Arnold's, Mr. Pitifuls, Milton's, Grammer's, Below Zero, Mixx, Courtyard Cafe and Jack Potts Tavern (Yes, you can leave your car parked by Arnold's or at any other bar along the route and grab the shuttle bus back to your originating point). Rock on throughout the night at all other participating bars, check out the schedule for entertainment details.
Saturday March 6th
Start the day by reliving Cincinnati's grand brewing history by booking a reservation for one of the Prohibition Resistance Tours. Prohibition Resistance Tours start at Bockfest Hall, last around 3 hours and drop you off back at Bockfest Hall.
All afternoon, visit Bockfest Hall for free to see historic and cultural exhibitions, including authors Sarah Stephens and Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann, who will be signing copies of their new books. Plenty of Bock beer and food by Mecklenburg Gardens and Taste of Belgium will be available all day. At 8:00PM, attend the hilarious finals of the Bockfest Sausage Queen competition. After the crowning of this year's Sausage Queen, everyone is invited to get down with live music with Strawboss
From 10AM until 1AM, the continuous FREE shuttle bus will take you to all the other participating Bockfest Bars like Arnold's, Mr. Pitifuls, Milton's, Grammer's, Below Zero, Mixx, Courtyard Cafe and Jack Potts Tavern. Make sure to check out schedule for hours of operation at participating venues, and for special events.
Sunday March 7th
You can still book a reservation for one of the Historic Church Tours. Tours start at Bockfest Hall and last around 2 hours.
Sunday is German Cultural Day at Bockfest Hall. The Hall opens at 11AM on Sunday, after a traditional German Mass at Old St. Mary's. At Bockfest Hall there will be German cultural and historical events coordinated by the German-American Citizens League of Greater Cincinnati. Authentic German music will be provided by the well-known German-American band, the Polka Dots Band, and German dancing will be presented by the Enzian Tanzgruppe dancers and the Donauschwaben Schuhplattler dancers. GACL President Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann will be available (also on Saturday) to talk about OTR history and sign copies of his books, including his recent work: German-Americana: Selected Essays.
For those of you looking for a little more, Arnold's and Courtyard Cafe will feature a special Bockfest menu and live music.
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The word "bock" means goat in German. The connection to beer comes from a legendary Renaissance-era drinking contest between two beer-brewing monks. The bock beer's high alcohol content is said to have caused the loser of this competition to fall over, which he blamed on an errant goat that had entered the saloon. The winner chided his prostrate friend and told him that the only goat that knocked him down was in the beer. Today, that goat is still in the beer and prominently featured in Bockfest themes.
The modern resurrection of Bockfest occurred 18 years ago when residents and supporters of Over-the-Rhine resurrected one of this city's great traditions. Every year, Cincinnati's coolest, underground festival celebrating bock beer, the Renaissance era, Over-the-Rhine, and the coming of Spring begins with this city's funkiest parade.
For Bockfest information or questions please contact Michael Morgan at the OTR Foundation (513) 721-1317 or at MMorgan@otrfoundation.org
