Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is an annual weekend festival in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Based on the original German Oktoberfest, it is billed as the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States[1] and second largest in the world,[2] although some Volksfest celebrations in Germany like Canstatter Wasen or Rosenheimer Herbstfest are larger.[3] First held in 1976, it attracts an estimated 500,000 visitors every year in late September.[4] It is held along six blocks of Downtown Cincinnati.[5] As of 2016, Oktoberfest is held on 3rd Street to clear room for Cincinnati Streetcar operations.[6]
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati claimed the world record for the largest Chicken Dance in 1994, with over 48,000 participants. It also boasts approximately 87,542 metts, 80,500 brats, 64,000 sauerkraut balls, 56,250 sausages, 24,640 potato pancakes, 20,000 cream puffs, 16,002 strudel, 6,000 jumbo pickles, 3,600 pounds (1,600 kg) of sauerkraut, 1,875 pounds (850 kg) of German potato salad, 702 pounds (318 kg) of Limburger cheese, 700 pigtails, 400 pickled pigs feet, and 23,004 soft pretzels – including giant six-pound (2.7 kg) pretzels made by Servatii Pastry Shop.[7]
Oktoberfest Zinzinatti includes the World Brat Eating Championship[8][9][10] and also the Running of the Wieners, in which pure-bred dachshunds and dachshund mixes ("wiener dogs") race in 75-foot heats, wearing hot dog costumes.[9][11][12]
In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerts were virtual instead of live. In both 2020 and 2021, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was recognized as the world's largest Oktoberfest since Oktoberfest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic two years in a row.[13][14]