What you need to know, parking and more

CINCINNATI — Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is returning to the Cincinnati riverfront for this year’s celebration.

The four-day festival, which takes place from Thursday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 21, is back with a variety of entertainment, live music and, of course, beer at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove.

According to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati’s website, America’s largest Oktoberfest celebration welcomed more than 800,000 attendees to the riverfront last year.

Organizers say this year’s festival is back with expanded days and hours, a bigger entertainment lineup and the return of a massive 300-foot tent that can fit more than 1,000 guests.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s festival:

Entertainment

Those heading to Oktoberfest will be able to enjoy more than 30 different performances on various stages across the four days, including traditional German bands, crowd-favorite local bands, polka dancing and more.

There are five different stages through the festival grounds: the Zinzinnati Festhalle, River Stage, Raderberger Fest Tent, Stiegl Fest Tent and the Ampitheatre Stage.

Some of the bands and entertainment people can expect include The Polka Warriors, Zinzinnati Bierband, DV8, Zirkus Show, Audio Graffiti and many more.

Fan-favorite events

With Oktoberfest comes various fan-favorite events throughout the festival.

Here’s when attendees can enjoy those:

• Gemutlichkeit Games — Thursday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the River Stage
• The Running of the Wieners — Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the River Stage
• Stein Hoisting Competition — Friday from 6-6:30 p.m. at the River Stage
• Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 14K/7K Brewery Run — Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Festhalle
• World’s Largest Chicken Dance — Saturday 2-2:30 p.m. at the River Stage

For the full list of events throughout the weekend, click here.

Parking

The closest option for parking near Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove includes the thousands of spaces in the paid, surface lots along Eggleston Avenue, which is a short walk to the east entrance for the festival.

There is also nearby free and metered parking along Riverside Drive.

The main parking lot at Sawyer Point will be closed for event vehicles, but there are several other lots as well, including:

• Friendship Parking Lot — 1135 Riverside Drive
• Public Landing Parking Lot — 435 E Mehring Way
• Eggleston Garage — 301 Eggleston Avenue
• Central Riverfront Garage and East Parking Garage at The Banks

Public transit

Those attending the festival are also encouraged to use public transit, like the Cincinnati Connector. The free streetcar operates on a loop that spans from Over-the-Rhine, through downtown to The Banks and back.

For those riding the streetcar to the festival, they’ll want to take stop No. 1 at The Banks and then walk east on Pete Rose Way toward the festival’s west entrance.

The streetcar will have extended hours during Oktoberfest:

• Monday through Friday — 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Saturday — 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Sunday — 9:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Metro bus system and Northern Kentucky’s TANK buses will also be running. You can click here for Metro routes and here for TANK schedules.

For those using rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, there are two drop-off and pick-up zones.

The east zone is located on East Pete Rose Way from the Purple People Bridge to Eggleston Avenue, but only in the south curb lane. The west zone is on East Mehring West from Old Broadway to the Public Landing entrance in the south curb lane only.

For more about Oktobefest Zinzinnati 2025, click here.