Raise those mugs and fill them with the best bock beer around, because Bockfest is gearing up for this year's return of the goats.
The annual festival celebrating Cincinnati's brewing heritage and all things bock beer is returning for its 31st year March 3-5. And it will contain a variety of events for all ages, from the parade to the 5K to the Bockfest Beer Games.
Ready to get your bock beer on? Here's everything you need to know before you go to Bockfest.
When and where is Bockfest?
The 31st Bockfest will run March 3-5 at a number of participating locations in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Admission, music and entertainment at Bockfest Hall and other official venues is free.
This year, the festival is being sponsored by Sonder Brewing.
The full list of participating Bockfest locations is coming soon, according to bockfest.com.
What exactly is bock beer?
Bock beer is German in origin. It's complex and hardy, with a relatively high alcohol content.
Cincinnati was a brewing city in the 1800s, and Over-the-Rhine was the center of beer production and consumption. According to Bockfest, bock beer is traditionally brewed for special occasions, with a particular link to spring due to German monks drinking it as a substitute for food during Lenten fasts.
Bockfest was created by the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company to celebrate the brewery’s introduction of Christian Moerlein Bock, according to organizers. The company eventually decided to make the launch of the bock beer into an entire festival.
When is the Bockfest Parade?
The annual parade, traditionally led by a goat pulling a keg and the reigning Sausage Queen, will start to form in front of Arnold's Bar & Grill at 210 E. Eighth St. at 5 p.m. Friday, March 3.
By 6 p.m., the parade will begin its route.
Anyone is encouraged to enter the parade, and organizers are especially looking for people who will create a float or have a unique entry. The Best of Bock will receive a special custom trophy that will be presented at Bockfest Hall at the end of the parade. These are the other awards up for grabs:
- Best Costumed.
- Best Animal.
- Best Music.
- Best Group.
- Best Bar or Restaurant.
- Best Brewery or Home-brew.
- Best German Theme.
- Main Street Choice Award.
Only registered participants are eligible for parade awards.
When is the Bockfest 5K?
The annual Bockfest 5K will be held Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m., and proceeds support the Brewery District and the Brewing Heritage Trail.
Virtual registration closed Feb. 23.
The race will begin and end in front of Bockfest Hall. The route will then travel up West McMicken Avenue, and turn and head down Central Avenue and turn on Dunlap Street before the finish in front of Bockfest Hall, where there will be a post-race party. This year's Bockfest Hall is at Findlay Playground at 1811 Vine St.
What's on the schedule for Bockfest?
Here's what's on the schedule for each day during Bockfest.
- Bockfest Hall: 5-11 p.m. at Findlay Playground, 1811 Vine St.
- Parade: Starts at 6 p.m. in front of Arnold's Bar & Grill, heads up Main Street to Bockfest Hall.
- Live music: 5:30-10:30 p.m., Bockfest Hall Stage.
- Bockfest Hall: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Findlay Playground, 1811 Vine St.
- Bockfest 5K: Starts 10 a.m. from Bockfest Hall.
- Bock Beer Experience: Noon to 6 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Historic brewery tours: Noon to 5 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Heritage Series: 1-4 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Beer games: 2-5 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Live music: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; 3-4:30 p.m.; 5-6:30 p.m.; 7-8:30 p.m.; 9:30-10:30 p.m., Bockfest Hall Stage.
- Bockfest Hall: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Findlay Playground, 1811 Vine St.
- Goat yoga: 10 a.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Historic brewery tours: Noon to 5 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Heritage Series: 1-3 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Beer games: 2-5 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
- Live music: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 1-3 p.m.; 3:30-5 p.m., Bockfest Hall Stage.
- .05K Fun Run: 3 p.m. at Bockfest Hall.
- Petting zoo: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bockfest Hall.
What's going on with the Bockfest Sausage Queen?
The Sisterhood of the Sausage, a network of former Sausage queens and princesses, hosted the popular pageant following the announcement from Bockfest organizers that it would not be a part of the 2023 festival.
A one-round version of the contest, in which entrants will be judged on personality, presence and talent, took place at Mecklenburg Gardens on Feb. 25.
The show must-ard go on:Sausage Queen royalty to host pageant after Bockfest drops it 🌭
How much are the different Bockfest ticket packages?
There are a couple of different ticket packages that are currently available for purchase.
Beer tickets - $32
Party Like a Bockstar - $59
- Three beer tickets.
- One T-shirt.
- One pint glass.
- One Bockfest pint.
- One Servatii pretzel.
Booster - $149
- Six beer tickets.
- One T-shirt.
- One pint glass.
- One Bockfest pint.
- One Servatii pretzel.
- One Brewery Tour ticket.
- One .05K Run registration (includes beer ticket and a T-shirt).
- One Bock Beer Experience tasting ticket (includes beer tasting tickets and a pint glass).
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