Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Organizers Plan for Record Attendance in 2013

CINCINNATI, OH--(Marketwired - Aug 20, 2013) - Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, producers of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati presented by Hillshire Farm and Sam Adams, has announced George Takei as the festival's Grand Marshal. More than 500,000 visitors are expected to converge in downtown Cincinnati from September 20-22 for America's Oktoberfest, the second largest in the world only to Munich.

Takei will preside over the weekend's festivities. His most important role will be to lead revelers in the World's Largest Chicken Dance. He has more than 40 feature films to his credit, and has received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He is best known for playing Sulu on the original Star Trek TV series in addition to the six subsequent movies that paid homage to the original show. Takei will lend his voice to the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra the same weekend of Oktoberfest as narrator for The Final Frontier performances at Cincinnati's Music Hall. 

On his appearance at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Takei, said, "On September 20-21-22, I am beaming into Cincinnati to narrate 'The Final Frontier' with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and my landing party away team has asked me to be part of Oktoberfest while I am exploring this sector of the galaxy. Join me September 21 at Fountain Square to do the chicken dance. I am boldly going where I have never gone before. Oh my!"

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati showcases the rich German heritage of Cincinnati USA with German-style music, food and beer and was first held in 1976. Approximately 1,300 barrels of beer are consumed every year at Oktoberfest equating to 18,000 12-packs or the capacity of a small microbrewery. In 2013, nine stages of continuous entertainment and more than 30 food vendors serving nearly 200 German-inspired dishes await visitors.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has been named one of the 10 top beer fests in America by USA Today. In his book Party Across America! 101 of the Greatest Festivals, Sporting Events and, Celebrations in the U.S., Michael Guerriero sums it up best; "Cincy has taken the Oktoberfest celebration to another level. The greatest Oktoberfest in the U.S. and one of the best food festivals I've ever attended."

Get your German on at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati USA. Hours: Friday, September 20, 5 p.m.- midnight; Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Visit: www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.