PARADE

Friday March 3, 2017 - Steps off at 6PM

Starting at Arnold’s – Cincinnati’s oldest saloon – the Bockfest parade 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 will be held on Friday March 3, 2017. 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.
We encourage anyone to enter, especially if you create a float or have a unique entry. Registration is FREE but REQUIRED (see form below).

Parade Registration

We encourage anyone to enter, especially if you create a float or have a unique entry. The overall Best Entry (must be a float) receives a special trophy to be presented at Bockfest Hall at the conclusion of the parade, along with special awards for The Bridesmaids (runner up entry, float or otherwise), Best Hat, Best Bocking Dog, Best Music Entry, Best Bicycle, Best Bar Representation. There are also three special awards given by the friends at the GACL for German Society members, German Presence (Best Attendance), German Spirit (Most in Tracht), and German Creativity (Most Creative). Registration is FREE but REQUIRED. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.