Bockfest Returns for 23rd Year - Saturday March 6-8, 2015

Celebrate the coming of spring, historic Over-the-Rhine, and Cincinnati’s brewing heritage at the oldest and largest Bockfest in the United States.

Bockfest™ 2015 – Celebrating 23 Years

Bockfest™ occurs during the first full weekend of March. It begins with a parade on Friday evening that starts at Arnold’s Bar & Grill, Cincinnati’s oldest saloon. The parade is lead 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, great food, historic walking tours, authors and breweriana, a homebrew competition, 5K, Continental Sunday celebrations and lots of delicious bock beer. Bockfest™ is not just limited to the Hall. It occurs in a over a dozen participating venues in Over-the-Rhine and downtown, and all events are free to the public (except for the tours and the 5K). A free shuttle bus runs a continuous loop around locations, including Garfield Suites which is offering a special Bockfest™ Rate for festival goers.

Bockfest™ Hall and Festival Tent

BockfestHallBockfest™ Hall and the Bockfest™ Festival Tent are the center of the weekend’s activities. They open Friday March 6, 2015 at 5PM as the Bockfest™ Parade is beginning to form on 8th Street. The Hall is located at the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company Event Hall at 1619 Moore Street (directions). The Parade ends at the Hall, where the weekend’s festivities get started with the official blessing of the beer and awarding of the best parade entry. Throughout the weekend, the Hall and Festival Tent feature live music, bock beer and food. On Saturday, they host a celebration of local bock beers along with the Bloatarian Brewing League’s bock home brew competition, and is the starting point for the Prohibition Resistance Tours.

In addition to live music, Saturday evening includes the final round of Sausage Queen competitions and the crowning of Bockfest™ Royalty 2015. Continental Sunday is family-friendly entertainment that celebrates Sundays in Over-the-Rhine in the 1800s. The day features a variety of authentic German entertainment provided by participating German-American societies, German food, and beer specials. Sunday also brings the return of the steins, breweriana, authors, exhibitions, and tours.

All events at Bockfest™ Hall and the Festival Tent (except for tours) are free and open to the public.

Bockfest venues are located throughout Over-the-Rhine and downtown Cincinnati, and are easily accessed from I-75 and I-71.

http://www.bockfest.com/