CINCINNATI, Ohio — For beer lovers, it’s that time of year again for Oktoberfest. And despite the pandemic, Cincinnati is making sure its festivities still go on, even if that means changing it up a bit.
What You Need To Know
- Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will be the world’s largest Oktoberfest this year
- The festival will not be held downtown this year but instead at dozens of restaurants and bars across the city as well as virtually
- Brewery owners say they hope Oktoberfest will help the already hurting food and beverage industry
While Oktoberfest in Germany may be canceled this year, Oktoberfest here in Cincinnati is still a go. And you can actually enjoy all of the events virtually and from home.
It’s a tradition hundreds of years in the making. And at Wiedemann’s brewery in Cincinnati, it’s nice to be part of the tradition again.
“Since we opened this place back in 2018, we have not been involved in Zinzinnati Oktoberfest,” Jon Newberry the president of George Wiedemann’s Brewing Company said. “But Wiedemann was, I believe was a sponsor of the original one back in the early 70s. So it’s great to bring those ties back and revive that relationship.”
Wiedemann’s was actually started in 1870 in Newport Kentucky by a German immigrant. But after the business stopped making beer in 2006, Newberry, a Cincinnati native, knew that had to change. And now being a part of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati makes it all the more special.
“If you’re in the beer industry, Oktoberfest is like Christmas,” Newberry said. “It’s great to be part of it, it’s great to keep the tradition alive because that’s what we here at Wiedemann Brewery that’s what we’re trying to do is keep the old traditions alive and revive what’s been such a big part of Cincinnati culture for 150 years.”
But because of the pandemic, the traditional festival downtown has changed. Now, dozens of restaurants and breweries across the city are participating, along with live virtual events throughout the 10 day festival, making it the world’s largest Oktoberfest this year. Newberry says while it’s disappointing to not have the full festival, this format will bring more people to his bar.
“The whole thing for us is just to get people to come out here and see what we’ve got,” he said. “We have people come all the time that tell us I’ve never been here before, this place is great! That’s what we’re hoping, we’ll get some people to come here for Oktoberfest and come back for great beer, great atmosphere and great food.”
Newberry says he’s hoping Oktoberfest will help revive many restaurants and breweries right now and encourage the community to try something new.
“Hopefully, yeah, we get people back out and shake off these pandemic blues and come out and have some fun,” he said.
For a list of all the events as well as all the bars and restaurants participating in this years Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, you can visit Oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.
