A Family Guide to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Cincinnatians love their food, beer and street festivals. As a resident of this city, it is somewhat of an expectation that you will participate in at least one major street festival a year. We have several to choose from, but hands down, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is one of the best. Potato pancakes, lager, German music and the world’s largest chicken dance. Who can say no to that?

However, once you become a parent, your approach to this event will need to be altered a bit. As any good Cincinnati mom should do, I have been slowly introducing my kids to the magic of our street festivals over the last few years.

Here is my top 10 list of tips and tricks to survive Oktoberfest with kids.

1. Go early. If you plan your trip for when the festival first opens each day you will have all the benefits of good food and fun with the smallest crowds (and cleanest port-a-potties).
2. Be realistic about time. While I could certainly camp out on Fountain Square and eat and people watch all day, I know my kids can’t. I have learned that 2-3 hours is their maximum capacity for street festival fun and I try to honor that.
3. Dance. There are stages set up throughout the festival and kids generally love dancing. The performers also appreciate that the kids tend to get other people up and dancing as well.
4. Leave the stroller at home. I know this gives some parents an anxiety attack, but I promise that trying to shove a giant stroller through a crowd of people is going to be more work than it’s worth. Instead, refer to #1 on this list and wear the little ones or let them walk.
5. Bring reinforcements. If you have a lot of kids, you are going to want to bring more eyes to help you keep track of them. The kids are inevitably all going to have to go to the bathroom at different times or want different foods at different times. Plus, you don’t really want to be corralling multiple children if you are standing in line for something, so it’s nice to have someone else to sit with them on the sidelines.
6. Teach them the chicken dance. It’s fun and it’s everywhere at this street festival.
7. Plan ahead. The map of the food and beer vendors is available online ahead of time. Knowing what foods are important to you and your family will help you plan your limited time accordingly. The same is true for entertainment.
8. Dress them in German attire. This one has nothing to do with surviving the street festival, but nothing is cuter than a kid decked out in lederhosen.
9. Bring cash. You do not want to be looking for an ATM once you are there. Also, I highly recommend bringing a water bottle for when the kids get thirsty.
10. Drink beer. After all, it is Oktoberfest.