Bockfest Parade

Friday, March 1, 2013 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 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 1, 2013. 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 Main Street 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.

It is free to enter, however you do need to pre-register by Monday February 18th HERE.

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, Best Attendance by a German Society (given by the GACL), and Most Germans in Tracht (given by the GACL).

2013 Parade Marshalls: Pete and Marge Poole

In the past, various philosophies have been applied to selecting the Bockfest Parade Marshal. Committed to irreverence with almost religious zeal, Bockfest organizers have chosen the Mayor of Rabbit Hash, KY (who is a dog — literally), reality show contestants, various local notables, and have even considered a random drawing. However, as irreverent as the festival is, Bockfest is a celebration of Over-the-Rhine’s German-American brewing history. Amongst Sausage Queen competitions and burning snowmen and livestock pulling kegs of beer, there is a serious message about celebrating Cincinnati ‘s rich past and promoting our unique culture as a city. It is these more sober intentions that has lead to a new tradition of selecting Grand Marshals for their contribution to local German-American culture.

About Pete and Marge

Pete and Marge (Heinemann) Poole are very active in the German Community. Marge is the Secretary of the German-American Citizens League and has held this position since 2004, she is also the Editor of the German-American News, the quarterly newsletter of the GACL which circulates throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky both in libraries and some business establishments and to more than thirty societies affiliated with the GACL. The newsletter contains articles on German Heritage and also a calendar of German events throughout the tri-state area. She is also the Chairperson for the German Language Education Awards for the GACL.

Pete is the Raffle Chairperson of the German Day Weekend Celebration, held on the first weekend in June with a parade at Findlay Market on Saturday and a full day of festivities at the Hofbraeuhaus in Newport on Sunday. Raffle prizes are assorted in nature and include gift baskets and gift certificates. He also does the printing layout for the GACL Newsletter.