30,000 kazoos lead Oktoberfest

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If you go

Thursday, September 17, 1998

BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer

JJ Gerard, evening disc jockey for WYGY-FM, carries six full steins in a beer race on Fountain Square. (Saed Hindash photo) | ZOOM |

Get ready for Oktoberfest.

The beer was spilling and barrels rolling on Fountain Square Wednesday in the traditional games leading up to this weekend's beer-drinking, chicken-dancing party.

Hundreds of thousands of people will flock to downtown Cincinnati on Saturday and Sunday for the annual festival of brew, food and fun. Festivities began Monday with the week-long Gemuetlichkeit Games on Fountain Square. Teams of local residents have rolled beer barrels, carried mugs of beer and designed pretzels, all in preparation of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.

"It's tradition," said JJ Gerard, after running the beer stein race Wednesday. The WYGY (96.5 FM) disc jockey was trying to help his team repeat as champions and hold on to the trophy, a beer stein. The winner will be named at the Oktoberfest opening ceremonies Friday.

IF YOU GO

What: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. More than 90 booths of food, drinks, souvenirs. Six stages will showcase entertainment. Where: Fifth Street downtown. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Getting there: Metro shuttles will operate from the following sites: Park & Rides in Anderson Township and Forest Park, Raymond Walters College and Western Hills Plaza. Shuttle costs are $1.50 a person. Buses run 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

A few changes are in store this year, including the addition of the World's Largest Kazoo Band. About 30,000 free kazoos will be handed out leading up to Saturday's 6 p.m. performance on Fountain Square. The traditional chicken dance will also be held, said Raymond L. Buse III, spokesman for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's Downtown Council division plans Oktoberfest.

"It's about having fun," Mr. Buse said, as well as celebrating the German heritage of many Cincinnati residents.

This is the 22nd annual Oktoberfest in Cincinnati. What started as a downtown block party to attract visitors, has grown to what is thought to be the biggest Oktoberfest in North America.

Here are just a few of the numbers expected: 500,000 revelers as well as 1,700 volunteers. Thy are expected to gobble up about 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut, 20,000 cream puffs and 87,542 metts as well as feasting on hundreds of other food items.

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