This weekend, Cincinnati will transform into Zinzinnati for the 2012 celebration of Oktoberfest downtown.

More than 500,000 herren und frauen (men and women) are expected to converge on a six-block area of Fifth Street to eat, sing, mingle, sport lederhosen, listen to polka music, try to speak German and perform the Chicken Dance.

Known as the largest celebration of its kind in the U.S., the 37th annual Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati features six stages showcasing continuous live German music, more than 30 food vendors and more than 50 brews on tap.

Other highlights of this year's Oktoberfest include the introduction of a glockenspiel, a clock tower with people who will mark each hour with music, the world's largest Chicken Dance led by former Reds star pitcher Tom Browning, the World Bratwurst-Eating Championship featuring top-ranked professional eater Joey Chestnut, and the stein hoist heard round the world, led by Sam Adams founder Jim Koch.

The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23, with a sneak peak on Friday, Sept. 21 on Fountain Square only. Hours are noon to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

For more info on all things Oktoberfest, including maps, the entertainment lineup, food and beer choices and other fun facts, scroll down!

Prost!

Friday, Sept. 21 from Noon to Midnight
Oktoberfest Sneak Peek

The Oktoberfest Sneak Peak returns to give visitors the chance to enjoy all the fun of the festival for three days. The Sneak Peek will be offered only on Fountain Square on Friday, Sept. 21, starting at noon and running until midnight. This Oktoberfest tailgate will include German food, beer, music from the Klaberheads and these fan favorites:

Friday, Sept. 21 at 12:00 p.m.
John Morrell Running of the Wieners
On Fountain Square, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati will get off to a running start with the wildly-popular John Morrell Running of the Wieners. Now in its sixth year, the Running of the Wieners features heats of daschunds, the official mascot of Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, competing in a “paw” race across Fountain Square. Each dog will receive its regulation “race gear” hot dog bun costume.

Friday, Sept. 21 at 1:15 p.m.
Gemuetlichkeit Games
After the Running of the Wieners, an Oktoberfest staple, beer, takes center stage during the Gemuetlichkeit Games. From the German word for “goodwill,” the Gemuetlichkeit Games will feature two events:

Beer Stein Races, in which contestants race across Fountain Square with fists full of filled beer steins to see not only who is the
fastest, but who can spill the least.

Barrel Rolling Contest, in which contestants race to roll a traditional wooden beer barrel across Fountain Square.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Oktoberfest Opening Ceremonies
The most traditionally German component of Oktoberfest and the official opening of Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati. The ceremonies begin with a colorful parade of German-American representatives wearing traditional vestments, walking to each fest tent to mark the opening by tapping the keg.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
World’s Largest Chicken Dance
Mister Perfect, Tom Browning, will lead thousands of partyin’ poultry in the World’s Largest Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest. The carousing will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at historic Fountain Square in Downtown Zinzinnati. Browning is the third Red to lead the Chicken Dance, joining Joe Morgan and Joe Nuxhall.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:00 p.m.
World Bratwurst Eating Championship
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the top-ranked competitive eater in the world, will return to Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. to defend his crown and seek a historic “three-peat” at the third annual World Bratwurst Eating Championship. The contest of intestinal fortitude will take place in the Hudepohl Bar & Bier Garten at Fifth and Broadway.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 4:00 p.m.
Reds Game
Don’t have tickets to the game? Then come to Fountain Square, the Yuengling Fest Tent or the Beck’s Fest Tent to join fellow fans and cheer on the Redlegs in this nationally-televised game against the Dodgers.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Samuel Adams Beer Hoisting Championships
This contest of grit, determination, strength, and desire to not waste one’s beer, will take place on Fountain Square after a series of preliminary events at local bars and pubs. The winner will be crowned the Samuel Adams Beer Hoisting
Champion.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m.
Stein Hoist Heard Round the World
In conjunction with the Oktoberfest celebrations in Boston and Denver, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati toasters will join Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams, for the "Stein Hoist Heard Round the World" at Fountain Square for what could be the largest toast in recorded history. Prost!

Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1:00 p.m.
Bengals Game
Who Dey! Head to Fountain Square, the Yuengling Fest Tent or the Beck’s Fest Tent to join others donned in Bengals jerseys and black-and-orange chicken hats as the Bengals take on the Washington Redskins.

Sunday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m.
Reds Game
No tickets to the game? No sweat-- come to Fountain Square, the Yuengling Fest Tent or the Beck’s Fest Tent to join fellow fans and cheer on the Redlegs in this nationally-televised game against the Dodgers.

Hourly on Saturday and Sunday
Rock the Glock
And at the turning of every hour, guests can enjoy the new Glockenspiel in the Hudepohl Bar & Bier Garten. In many German villages, there is a glockenspiel-- a clock tower with animated figures that mark the passing of each hour. The glockenspiel is the center of activity in the village and is a source of pride for the locals. For the first time, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati will have a glockenspiel as well. Except the Glockenspiel at Oktoberfest will have animation of an entirely different kind. No mechanical people here-- actual people will mark each hour at this “living” glockenspiel. The Glockenspiel will consist of a working clock, bell and stage with a bar on the ground level. The clock and bell were created by the Verdin Bell Company. When the clock strikes, the music will kick in and entertainers-- local German groups, dance groups and celebrities-- will emerge and ring in the hour with dances, toasts and souvenirs for the crowd. And surprise guest entertainers will appear to “Rock the Glock” too.
 

Alpine Almonds    Booth:  104

Alpine Bier Café     Booth:  904

Alpine Hut    Booth:  706

Andy's Mediterranean Grille     Booth:  824

Berentzen     Booth:  110

Bernhard's Bakery     Booth:  508

Coca-Cola    Booth:  204,224,300,310,504,522,714,828,914,1004

Das Kolpinghaus     Booth:  320

Eddie's BBQ      Booth:  614

Ellie's German Pastries     Booth:  306

Flying Pigtails     Booth:  806

German Grill     Booth:  616

Germania Schnitzel Haus     Booth:  510

Gernstein Deutsch Haus      Booth:  908

Heidi's Strudel     Booth:  620

Hey Hey     Booth:  808

Izzy's     Booth:  604

Jay's Grill     Booth:  906

Kaiser Schloss     Booth:  102

Keystone Bar and Grill    Booth:  708

Laszlo's Iron Skillet      Booth:  704

Lemonade      Booth:  302,512,804,1006

Mecklenburg Gardens     Booth:  314

Mick Noll's     (859) 344-0228    Booth:  304

Original Corn Roast     (859) 356-1497    Booth:  822

Original Strudel Factory     Booth:  106

Pennsylvania Dutch Haus   Booth:  324

Porkopolis Pig Roast      Booth:  118

Schmidt's of German Village      Booth:  702

Servatii Pastry Shop    Booth:  230

Strasse Haus       Booth:  606

The Cincinnati Grill     Booth:  322

Wertheim's Restaurant        Booth:  116

Still not satisfied? Visit http://www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com/ for more information.