CINCINNATI —  If you’re German, or just love German food, you’ve definitely heard of Schmidt’s Sausage Haus.

What You Need To Know

  • This weekend the nation’s largest Oktoberfest will convert downtown Cincinnati’s 5th street into a vibrant Bavarian village

  • There is German food, entertainment, competitions, beer and more

  • The event was first held in 1976 and has grown to be one of America’s largest Oktoberfests, if not the largest, hosting more than 700,000 people attend each year

  • The fest brings in iconic German cuisine 

Nestled in the heart of German Village, the restaurant opened in 1967, but so much more came before it. 

J. Fred Schmidt, born just north of Frankfurt, Germany, came to America and settled in south Columbus in the early 1880s. He opened the J. Fred Schmidt Meat Packing House in 1886, which ran until 1965.

J. Fred’s grandson, George F. Schmidt, opened the company’s first restaurant in 1967, just around the corner from his grandfather’s meatpacking plant in German Village. Today, under leadership from the 4th and 5th generations of the Schmidt family, the restaurant is thriving.  

“I’m so proud of it. Just so proud,” said Sandy Karram, a 4th generation Schmidt. “Coming here with my dad to work and then starting as a busser and I used to wrap silverware when I was a kid, cashier and I managed and now I work in the corporate office.”

Schmidt’s is a well-known name in meats and is sold in grocery stores around the country. They’re also a huge presence at Oktoberfests in Ohio. They founded Columbus’ Octoberfest in 1965 and are a crowd-favorite at Octoberfest Zinzinnati, which is said to be the largest in America, hosting more than 700,000 people.  

“It is one of the biggest and maybe the most fun,” Karram said. “This is going to be our 46th year. We were going to start the very first year that it started back in 1976, but my brother was getting married the exact same weekend. So we weren’t able to participate in the first year. So we’ve been there since 1977.” 

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati showcases the rich German heritage of southwest Ohio, as well as tasty samples of German-style music, dancing, and of course, food.

Some staples that the Schmidt family brings each year include their fresh pork sausage, German potato salad, sauerkraut, Bahama Mama, and their famous half-pound vanilla cream puff. Karram said they sell around 8,000 sausages and 5,000 of their famous cream puffs in three and a half days. 

Sandy said Octoberfest Zinzinnati can be described as controlled chaos. They’ve seen the fest evolve over the years. They started with a 30-foot booth and today have a 60-foot booth. 

“It’s amazing,” said Matt Schmidt, a 5th-generation Schmidt. “It’s so special, you know, it’s not just our five generations that go down there. We make friends with the people, our guests, that come up to the booth every year. And we’ve done it for years and years and years. So it’s not only our generations, but we see their generations grow up and we make friends with them, too. It’s just, it’s an awesome tradition. We love it so much.”

It’s a tradition nearly 50 years in the making and a testament to the Schmidt’s family's love for each other, love for the business, love for their customers, and for Oktoberfests. 

“I don’t think I could ever go without being at Oktoberfest,” Karram said. 

Schmidt's is booth 601, the third booth in from the corner of Fifth and Broadway.

For more information, click here.

Here’s a look at your weekend pass calendar for other events around the state.

Cleveland

Cleveland Wing Week 

  • Participating restaurants 

  • Goes through Sunday, Sept. 17th

  • Find more details here

Asian Lantern Festival 

  • The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Rainforest

  • Continues through Sept. 16th

  • Find more details here

44th Balloon A-Fair 

  • Ravenna

  • Goes through Sept. 17th

  • Find more details here 

Columbus

Luke Bryan Concert

  • Millersport 

  • Friday, Sept. 15th

  • Find more details here

The Arts in the Alley Music and Arts Festival 

  • Grove City 

  • Goes through Sunday, Sept. 17th

  • Find more details here

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival

  • Lake Snowden in Albany

  • Goes through Sunday, Sept. 17th

  • Find more details here

Cincinnati

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 

  • Downtown Cincinnati 

  • Recurring daily until Sunday, Sept. 17th

  • Find more details here

The City Flea

  • Washington Park
  • Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Find more details here

Live Music every Friday & Saturday

  • Montgomery Inn The Boathouse

  • Fri, Sept. 15, 5 p.m. – Sat, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.

  • Find more details here