'C' is for chicken dance | Cincinnati.com on Astini News

There's so much going on at this weekend's 36th annual Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati that we needed an A to Z guide to cover it all. That's "Ah" to "Zett" if you're German - and this weekend, at least, everyone wants to be.

A: Apps. Don't leave home without your smart phone, because there's a new Oktoberfest Zinzinnati app (currently for iPhones only) to help you navigate the biggest Oktoberfest this side of Munich. Developed by Cincinnati.Com, it includes complete listings of a food, beer and entertainment; an interactive map; and a PhotoBooth that allows you to take Oktoberfest-themed pictures of your friends. Download it for free from the iTunes store. And don't forget to check in to Oktoberfest with Porkappolis, Cincinnati.com's location-based app, with your iPhone or Droid when you arrive to unlock the special Oktoberfest badge (www.porkappolis.com).

B: Beer, or should we say, bier. It will be flowing freely at Oktoberfest - more than 800 barrels of it, the approximate annual output of a small microbrewery. This year, 12 beer brands - including Beck's, Christian Moerlein, Erdinger, Rivertown Brewing Co., Samuel Adams, Spaten and Warsteiner - will offer nearly 40 brews on tap.

C: The World's Largest Chicken Dance. This wacky annual tradition takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Fountain Square. The world record for the largest chicken dance was set in 1994, when 48,000 people collectively flapped their arms and shook their tail feathers.

D: Dachshunds. The official dogs of Oktoberfest have their day in the fifth annual John Morrell Running of the Wieners at noon today on Fountain Square. Dogs will get decked out in hot dog bun costumes and attempt to beat last year's winner, Greta, who ran the 100-foot race in a mere 3.48 seconds.

E: Jennifer England. The actress, model and accomplished stunt woman (she's appeared in "Transformers," "G-Force" and "Smokin' Aces") beating out hundreds of other contestants to become the official St. Pauli Girl. She'll be schlepping beer and posing for photos with fans in the St. Pauli Bier Garten in Booth 423.

F: Food. More than 30 vendors will serve up close to 200 dishes, including 5 tons of potato pancakes, 2 tons of sauerkraut, 1.3 tons of jumbo pickles and 1 ton of German potato salad. And the 87,000 metts that will be cooked up would stretch more than eight miles if lined up end to end.

G: Gemuetlichkeit Games. Named for the German word for goodwill, the games feature beer stein races and a barrel rolling contest beginning at 1:30 p.m. today on Fountain Square.

H: Hashtag. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber suggests tagging your Oktoberfest tweets with chickendance. (Just put down the beer before you attempt to tweet.)

I: Information. There's plenty more Oktoberfest info at www.cincinnati.com, www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com, www.facebook.com/oktoberfestzinzinnati and www.twitter.com/cincinnatiparty.

J: Joe Morgan. The Reds great and baseball Hall of Famer is this year's Grand Marshall, which means he gets the honor of leading this year's World's Largest Chicken Dance at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Morgan is uniquely qualified for the job: Early in his career, Morgan had trouble with his swing because he kept his back elbow down too low. Teammate Nellie Fox suggested he flap his arm like a chicken to keep his elbow up, and Morgan's flapping chicken arm soon became a familiar sight to baseball fans.

K: Jim Koch. The Samuel Adams founder and Cincinnati native will make appearances and visit with beer enthusiasts throughout the event.

L: Local celebrities. A flock of famous names faced off in this year's Chicken Dance With the Stars online video competition: "Police Women of Cincinnati" stars Chantia Pearson and Rose Valentino; Cincinnati State President O'dell Owens; Mr. Clean; 2012 World Choir Games mascots Whirl and Twirl; comedian Josh Sneed; Miss Chiquita; the WLWT-TV morning show crew; and Cincinnati Cyclones mascot Twister. Fans voted for their favorites through Wednesday, and the winner will be announced at the World's Largest Chicken Dance at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

M: Music. More than 20 musical acts on seven stages, plus strolling musicians, will provide the soundtrack to this year's Oktoberfest.

N: Norm. After helping lead the World's Largest Chicken Dance in 2009, George Wendt of "Cheers" fame returns to Cincinnati to drink a few beers and discuss his book, "Drinking with George."

O: Opening Ceremonies. Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati officially opens at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with a colorful parade of German-Americans wearing traditional garb who will walk to each festival tent and tap kegs.

P: Private Wine Tasting. Beer not your beverage of choice? Make reservations for a private wine tasting of fine German wines, such as spatburgunders and Rieslings, in a shaded VIP area at Chemed Plaza. A wine expert from D.E.P.'s Fine Wine & Spirits will guide you through the tasting. Registration information: www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.coim.

Q: QR code. Any smart phone with web access can scan a QR (quick response) code, similar to a bar code, to access the Oktoberfest mobile site, http://telecomadvisors.biz/m.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.

R: Revelers. More than 500,000 people are expected to converge on a six block area of Fifth Street, from Race Street to Broadway, to eat, drink, dance and eat and drink some more.

S: Samuel Adams Beer Hoisting Championships. A series of preliminary events at local pubs leads up to this event, in which strong - and strong-willed - competitors see who can hold aloft a full stein of beer the longest. The battle begins at 5 p.m. Saturday on Fountain Square, after which the Samuel Adams Beer Hoisting Champion is crowned.

T: Tailgate. Can't wait until Saturday to put on your lederhosen and polka? An Oktoberfest tailgate takes place from noon to midnight today on Fountain Square with food, beer and music from the Klaberheads.

U: USA Today. America's paper once called Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati one of the 10 best beer fests in the country.

V: Vows. Impress your friends with this bit of trivia: Oktoberfest began in 1810 as the wedding reception of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

W: World Bratwurst Eating Championship. Gastrointestinal greatness goes on display at this Major League Eating and International Federation of Competitive Eating-sanctioned event at 4 p.m. Saturday. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the top-ranked competitive eater in the world, returns to Oktoberfest defend his title, which he took last year after downing 42 brats in 10 minutes. Second-place finisher Tim "Gravy" Brown (31 ¾ brats) and fourth-place finisher Aaron "A-Train" Osthoff (20 brats) will be among those trying to upset him, one way or another.

X: Xmas ornaments. You can keep celebrating Oktoberfest through the holiday season with Christmas ornaments, which will be for sale in the merch tent for $6 each or two for $10. Other souvenirs include pins, singing chickens, wiener dogs, flying pigs, shot glasses and even temporary tattoos.

Y: Years. The original Oktoberfest has been around for 201 years in Munich, and this year marks the 36th Oktoberfest in Cincinnati.

Z: Zinzinnati. This is how you must refer to Cincinnati this weekend. It's a rule.

Beer list

Almost all the beers are $5, $11 for a large with the souvenir mug and $7 large refills.

Beck's: Oktoberfest, Pilsner

Budweiser ($5 for 16 oz. bottle): Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, Budweiser, Budweiser Select, Michelob Ultra

Christian Moerlein: Fifth and Vine, Helles, Noble Pils, Over the Rhine Ale

Erdinger: Hefeweisen, Oktoberfest

Great Lakes Brewing: Burning River Pale Ale, Dortmunder Gold, Elliot Ness Amber Lager, Oktoberfest

Hoegaarden: Original White Ale

Hudepohl : Amber Lager, Oktoberfest

Miller Brewing ($5 for 16 oz. bottle): Genuine Draft, Lite

Rivertown Brewing: Dunkel, Hefeweizen, Helles Lager, Octoberfest

Samuel Adams: Boston Lager, Oktoberfest

Shock Top: Belgian White

Spaten: Dunkel, Franziskaner Dunkel, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Oktoberfest, Optimator, Premium Lager

St. Pauli Girl: ($4) Lager, Special Dark

Stella Artois: Lager

Warsteiner: Oktoberfest, Premium Dunkel, Premium Verum

Woodchuck hard cider: Amber, Pear