CINCINNATI — Oktoberfest Zinzinnati returns this weekend for a variety of fun, entertainment and a whole lot of beer and sausage.

The largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country will take place for four days along Second and Third Streets in downtown Cincinnati. The event will be open for an extra hour each night, and it's even opening a day earlier this year.

A woman in a dirndl carries a dachshund in a hot dog costumer at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (Casey Weldon | Spectrum News 1)

Oktoberfest kicks off Thursday (5 p.m. to midnight) and will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The event closes Sunday at 9 p.m.

There’s more on the menu than just food and beer, though. There’s a whole host of entertainment and special events lined up for each night.

In all, the event took more eight to 10 months to produce. Organizers and vendors experienced supply chain issues, staffing troubles and the ever-present issue known as COVID-19. Still, Cynthia Oxley, director of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, said "they're ready."

More than 500,000 people are expected to flock downtown for the event.

“We’re proud to welcome back Oktoberfest Zinzinnati favorites, including Mick Noll’s Covington Haus, Mecklenburg Gardens, Cincinnati Grill and Servatii,” said Cynthia Oxley, director of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. “We’re also happy to see Oktoberfest staples like the Pete Wagner Schnapps Band and the Zinzinnati Bier Band on our stages.”

Below is a break down of the food, beer and events on tap for the weekend:

The Food

There are dozens of local food vendors. Some feature traditional German fare, and others are a little more contemporary. Most individual dishes range from $4 to $8.

A list of food vendor locations is available on the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati website.

• Alpine Almonds: German roasted almonds
• The Bavarian Nut Company: Cinnamon glazed nuts, spicy nuts, honey glazed cashews, salty nuts
• BeckHart German American Cuisine: Goetta bier cheese slammer, terminator hot mett/brat/mild mett, bacon bier cheese tater tots, super pretzel weenie, soft pretzel stick with homemade bier cheese, various fresh-made pork rinds
• Bessie's Homemade Noodles: Chicken noodles, beef noodles, cabbage noodles and sausage, mashed potatoes. Entrees with mashed potatoes and take-home quarts available as well.
• Buzzed Bull Creamery: German chocolate ice cream, pumpkin spice ice cream, strawberry sorbet, Death by Chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream
• The Cheesecakery: Classic cheesecake on a stick, vanilla cheesecake dipped in dark chocolate
• Chicago Gyros: Gyro döner kebab, reuben gyro, bier cheese and kraut dog, gyro dog, falafel pita, baclava
• The Cincinnati Grill: Fresh grilled brat or mett, chicken schnitzel sandwich, pickle chips, potato pancake, Oktoberfest pretzel, German egg roll
• Eli's BBQ: Pulled pork, smoked hot dogs, smoked sauerkraut, baked beans, mac and cheese
• Flying Pig Tails: Grilled ruben, smoked kielbasa, goetta bun link, limburger and onion, jumbo pretzel
• Goetta and Sweets: Royal grill goetta sandwich, grill donut sandwich, goetta quesadilla, giant cream puff (strawberry, chocolate chip or plain), black forrest cake, apple strudel
• Hey Hey: Sauerkraut balls, german potato pancake, cabbage and noodles, chicken and noodles, limburger sandwich, hot slaw
• Keystone Bar and Grill: Beer cheese and pretzels, bratwurst mac and cheese 
• Kinderhaus: Ocktoberfest chicken (half or whole), Jager schnitzel, mettwurst/bratwurst, garlic mushrooms, feather fries, goulash mitt spaetzels
• Mecklenburg Gardens: Fried pickles, Zinzinnati sausage sampler, currywurst, German sausage on a pretzel bun, pretzel stick with mustard, cream puff
• Mick Noll's Covington Haus: Super bratwurst, mettwurst, currywurst, hot dog, goetta balls, potato pancakes
• The Original Strudel Factory: Various strudels, including apple, cherry, cheese, apricot and pumpkin. Others include savories like spinach, broccoli, Beef wellington, bratwurst, cinnamon sticks
• Pennsylvania Dutch Haus: Pierogies, feathered fries, loaded fries, brats, metts, funnel cake, reuben sandwhich 
• Philly Pretzel Factory: 11-inch pretzel twist, dip, mini pretzel dogs
• Pompilios Restaurant: Sauerkraut risotto ball, sauerbraten, nuremburg sandwich, caramel apple
• Royal Berlin Chef: Goetta mac and cheese (German sausage with four-cheese pasta), chicken schnitzel-on-a-stick, German sausages, various funnel cakes, frankfurter, fried potatoes
• Schmidt's of German Village: Bratwurst or Bahama Mama, jumbo frankfurter, German potato salad, sauerkraut, jumbo cream puff
• Servatii Pastry Shop: Soft pretzel, beer cheese, cream puff, chocolate sauce, deco cookie
• Woodstock Pretzel Company: Hot pretzel, pretzel dog, pretzel brat
• Zoomer: Zoomer (cheddar mett), bratwurst, feathered fries, funnel cake, fried pb&j. goetta grilled cheese

The Events

Thursday

Running of the Wieners — noon at Freedom Way at The Banks

The Running of the Wieners features 100 dachshunds racing along a stretch of Freedom Way. Each dog will wear a hot dog bun costume while running approximately 75 feet, in heats of 10, to its owner waiting at the finish line.

Friday

The Gemütlichkeit Games (G-Games) — noon at Main Stage at Second and Elm streets

Gemütlichkeit means goodwill, cordiality or friendliness. The idea of gemütlichkeit began after the Napoleonic war in 1815 and before the Revolutionary wars started in 1848. In this version, members of greater Cincinnati media will take part in various events like the beer barrel roll and the beer stein carry.

Frocktoberfest/Socktoberfest Pageant — 7 p.m. at Main Stage at Second and Elm streets

Guests are invited to don wear dirndl or lederhosen – authentic or more creative. The winners will get prizes.

Saturday

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Offizielle Zeremonien (Official Ceremonies) — noon at Main Stage at Second and Elm streets

The event will formally kick off with a mixture of German music, beer, dancing and a procession of local German groups throughout the event. The procession will visit and dedicate each bier garten and fest tent. 

The World’s Largest Chicken Dance — 4 p.m. at all Oktoberfest Zinzinnati stages

Thousands of chicken dancers will take part in a blocks-wide rendition of the Chicken Dance. Members of the local media will lead the dance from nine stages throughout Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. The event set the Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Chicken Dance in 1994.

Sunday

Stein Hoist Championship — 2 p.m. Main Stage at Second and Elm streets

The annual test of strength and endurance asks competitors to hold a one-liter stein of beer, straight out, without bending an elbow or spilling any beer. One male and one female-identifying winner (and one guest each) will receive round-trip airfare, four nights hotel, and $500 travel card to Munich Oktoberfest 2022, courtesy of Samuel Adams.

Preliminary Stein Hoist rounds will be held Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Sam Adams Bier Garten, Second and Walnut streets.

The World Brat Eating Championship — 4 p.m. Braxton Stage at Third and Walnut streets

Joey Chestnut headlines the World Brat Eating Championship. Chestnut is the nine-time and only champion of the event. His brat-eating world record is 70 brats in 10 minutes. Sam Barclay of Major League Eating will again serve as master of ceremonies.

The Entertainment

Thursday (5 p.m. to midnight)

• Lexington Brewing Fest Tent on Vine between Second and Third streets: Trailer Park Floosies and Dreamboat Annie
• Sam Adams Bier Garten at Second and Walnut streets: Gergard Albinus Band, The Leroy Ellington Band Sam Adams Main Stage & Bier Garten at Second and Elm Streets: Final Order, That Arena Rock Show

Friday (11 a.m. to midnight)

• Braxton Fass Bar at Third and Walnut streets: Matt Walters and the Recipe, Gee Your Band Smells Terrific, 3 Day Rule
• Lexington Brewing Fest Tent: The Bavarians (7-11 p.m.)
• Sam Adams Bier Garten: The Bier Her Mini Band, Smittie’s Schnapp’s Band, The Fest Meisters 
• Sam Adams Main Stage & Bier Garten: Vereins Musikanten
• Sierra Nevada Fest Tent on Race Street between Second and Third streets: The River City Polkatz (6 p.m. to midnight) 
• Spaten Fest Test on Rosa Parks between Second Street and Freedom Way: Cincinnati Schnapps Band (11 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• St. Killian German Bier Garten on Race Street between Second Street and Freedom Way: Pete Wagner Schnapps Band (1:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
• Weihenstephan Bier Garten in Freedom Platz and Rosa Parks and Second Street: Matt Tolentino (Noon to 3 p.m.)
• Zinzinnati Bier Garten at Third and Race streets: Jeff Henry & the Necessary Evils, Billy Brown Band, What She Said

Saturday (11 a.m. to midnight)

• Braxton Fass Bar: Jeff Henry & The Necessary Evils, Cassette Junkies, DV8
• Lexington Brewing Fest Tent: Mike & Lee Duncan, Prost! Duo, The Cincinnati Brass Band Sam Adams Bier Garten: Smittie’s Schnapps Band, The Fest Meisters
• Sam Adams Main Stage: The Enzian Tanzgruppe, Prost! (6 to 11 p.m.)
• Sierra Nevada Fest Tent: The River City Polkatz, Cincinnati Schnapps Band 
• Spaten Fest Tent: Donaushwaben Schuplattlers, The Zinzinnati Bier Band (4 to 11 p.m.)
• St. Killian German Bier Garten: Pete Wagner Schnapps Band, Vereins Musikanten
• Wiehenstephan Bier Garten: The Bavarians (1 to 5 p.m.)
• Zinzinnati Bier Garten: Marty Connor Band, Kenny Welch Band, Audio Graffiti

Sunday (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

• Braxton Fass Bar: Stays in Vegas, Brat Eating Championship, Just Add Beer Lexington
• Brewing Fest Tent: Prost!, Ein Stein
• Sam Adams Main Stage: Cincinnati Civic Orchestra, Prost!
• Sierra Nevada Fest Tent: Pete Wagner Schnapps Band, The Bavarians
• Spaten Fest Tent: The Cincinnati Brass Band, Cincinnati Schnapps Band
• St. Killian German Bier Garten: Zinzinnati Bier Band (noon to 4 p.m.) 
• Wiehenstephan Bier Garten: Matt Tolentino Trio, Vereins Musikanten 
• Zinzinnati Bier Garten: ohrwürmchen mit Amy McFarland und Jay Aronoff, Doghouse
  

  Oktoberfest Map (Provided by Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber)