Friday February 28, 2020 - Steps off at 6PM

Starting at Arnold’s – Cincinnati’s oldest saloon – the Bockfest parade presented by Kroger and the On the Rhine Eatery is traditionally lead by a goat pulling a keg and the reigning Sausage Queen along with the official parade marshal. It travels up Sycamore Street to 12th Street to Main Street to Bockfest Hall and ends with the blessing of the bock beer. This officially marks the beginning of a weekend of festive celebration that might end in blaming a goat on your horizontal position. Goats, the German Renaissance, beer, irreverence and originality are all highly esteemed aspects of a parade entry. There are no fire trucks for the kids. In the past, entries have included faux-monks pulling a Trojan goat, futon queens, German beer bands, a four-poster bed pulled by slave labor, goats on Segways, a leather-clad whip wench with a huge whip, and patriotic chants of “drink more beer.” As usual, you can bring your favorite canine to walk with “The Bocking Dogs.”

The Bockfest Parade presented by Kroger and On the Rhine Eatery will be held on Friday February 28, 2020. The parade will start to form in front of Arnold’s Bar and Grill, located at 210 East 8th Street, at 5:00PM and steps off on at 6:00PM. The Bockfest Parade is Cincinnati’s funkiest and most entertaining parade. It can be watched from the street or from a number of participating venues along the route. 

Free 3 hour parking at the Kroger On the Rhine (just 2 blocks from the parade route) with any purchase!
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We encourage anyone to enter, especially if you create a float or have a unique entry. Registration is REQUIRED and closed Friday February 21, 2020 at 5PM. A suggested tax deductible donation of $25 is requested to offset expenses but not required, you can donate HERE.

Parade Registration

We encourage anyone to enter, especially if you create a float or have a unique entry. The overall Best of Bock receives a special custom trophy to be presented at Bockfest Hall at the conclusion of the parade, along with special awards for Best Costumed, Best Animal, Best Music, Best Group, Best Bar or Restaurant, Best Brewery or Home-brew, Best German Theme, and Main Street Choice Award, and others. There is a suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 per entry to defray costs to put on the parade (DONATE HERE) but is not required, however the FREE registration IS REQUIRED (closed Friday 2/21/20 at 5PM).

Parade Awards

Main Street OTR, where it all began! All parade prizes are provided by Merchants of Main Street OTR, incorporating original artwork "Best of Bock 2020" pint glass prizes etched with special logo by Jim Effler.

Grand Marshall: Rhonda Breeden, retiring from Arnold's  
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  1. Best Costume Entry: Graydon's The Hunt for Red Bocktober
  2. Best Goat Representation: Fibonacci Brewing Company
  3. Best Bocking Dog Entry: Bock Dachs
  4. Best Musical/Band/Dance Troupe: Red Hot Dancing Queens
  5. Best Bar or Restaurant: Revel OTR
  6. Best Homebrew/Brewery/Distillery: Sonder Brewing
  7. Best German Spirit Award; The 9th Ohio
  8. Main Street Choice Award: The Hub
  9. GRAND PRIZE---Best of Bockfest: Goatesque: Krewe of Grimm (They were present and celebrated by drinking Bock beer out of  the prized Stoneware Monk Growler, handcrafted by artist Dick Overman.)

​Please contact us at bockfest@otrbrewerydistrict.org to arrange pickup of your prize!