Oktoberfest Zinzinnati grand marshals through the years
Each year Oktoberfest Zinzinnati selects one famous dignitary as grand marshal to lead the World's Largest Chicken Dance. The list of grand marshals ranges from local celebrities to legendary rock stars. Here are previous grand marshals to know.
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber named Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Director Thane Maynard the grand marshal of the 2018 Oktoberfest Zinzinnati festivities. Maynard will lead the World's Largest Chicken Dance at noon Sunday, Sept. 23 from the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Main Stage & Sam Adams Bier Garten located the corner of Elm and Second streets, Downtown.
In honor of the Bengals' 50th anniversary, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will lead this year's Oktoberfest as grand marshals.Photo by: Facebook
2016 -- FC Cincinnati led the Chicken Dance after drawing large crowds durings its inaugrual season of play in the Queen City.
2015 -- Ken Anderson was quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1971-1986.Photo by: WCPO | file
2014 -- Drew Lachey, right on stage dance the Chicken dance on Fountain Square to Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati Saturday September 20, 2014 in Downtown, Cincinnati. Drew and his brother Nick were named co-grand marshals that year. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II for WCPOPhoto by: JOSEPH FUQUA ll
2013 — The Chicken Dance was hosted and led by George Takei of Star Trek fame (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
2012 — All Star and Reds Hall of Famer, Mr. Perfect, Tom Browning led the Chicken Dance.Photo by: Getty Images
2011 — Ten-time All Star, five-time Gold Glove, National League MVP, Silver Slugger, Reds and Baseball Hall of Fame legend, Joe Morgan led the Chicken Dance this year. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
2010 — Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion and Cincinnati-native Rich Franklin led the Chicken Dance.Photo by: (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CCMA)
2009 — Homer Simpson celebrated his 20th anniversary on television by leading the Chicken Dance.Photo by: (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
2008 — Olympic track and field medalists and University of Cincinnati alums Mary Wineberg and David Payne led the Chicken Dance after returning from Beijing, China's summer games.
2007 — "Old left-hander" Joe Nuxhall, the youngest player ever to play Major League Baseball, led the World's Largest Chicken Dance. Nuxhall was the longtime Cincinnati Reds radio announce. Nuxhall died on Nov. 15, 2007.Photo by: (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
2006 — Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Chad Johnson led the Chicken Dance this year.Photo by: Getty Images
2005 — WCPO television children’s entertainers Uncle Al and Captain Windy led the World's Largest Chicken Dance and Hokey Pokey.
2004 — Vince Neil, lead vocalist for rock group Mötley Crüe, led the dance this year.Photo by: (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2003 — Rock icon Eddie Money celebrated 25 years in the music business as the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati grand marshal.Photo by: (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)
2002 — Verne Troyer, who played “Mini Me” in “Austin Powers,” led the Chicken Dance.Photo by: (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation )
2001 — Singer Tony Orlando led a throng on Fountain Square in inspiring renditions of “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ’Round The Old Oak Tree” and “America.” Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, and the Chicken Dance, were delayed by a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks this year.Photo by: (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Mindfreak Live!)
2000 — The Prince of The Monkees, Davy Jones led the Chicken Dance this year.Photo by: (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
1999 — Grammy Award-winning Weird Al Yankovic led 30,000 on kazoo for this year's Chicken Dance.Photo by: (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
1998 — Al Hirt, a 1941 graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music led the Chicken Dance this year.