Loveland, Ohio – The LMRCA Silent Auction is now LIVE! Start your bidding HERE.
The silent auction is in conjunction with the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner, however, you don’t need to attend to win.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Grant Us Hope, an organization dedicated to youth suicide prevention, and the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Scholarship fund. Start your holiday shopping early and support these great organizations while you do it.
Please note that there is a “Buy It Now” option if you find something you simply must have!
You can bid on an Apple AirPod, Coach Purses, a Date Night in Loveland, Kings Island passes, a Golf Day at the Oasis, Sports Items, and many more great bargains.
Final Chance to Register to attend the Awards Gala!
Registration closes at noon today!
Each November, The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance says “Thank you” to our businesses for all they do for our community and honor them for enhancing our community and making it a better place to live.
The Annual Awards Dinner is an evening for all area businesses to come together and celebrate their successes and community contributions.
Loveland, Ohio – If you are a little Miami River Chamber Alliance member, resident of the Loveland School District, or work in the Loveland area your Valentine Card Design original artwork may be submitted.
Artwork must reflect or incorporate the theme: “Love is…..” and must also include (or provide space for) the phrase, “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love.”
One-color, two-color, and full-color entries are acceptable. Artwork must be flat (two-dimensional) and reduce proportionately to fit within a 5 inch by 3 ¾ inch space, the size of the printed Valentine’s Day cards.
The submission deadline is November 20, 2021.
Last year’s winner was Cindy Wilmes and she created this video of her taking one of her cards to be stamped at and mailed from the Loveland Post office.
Entry forms and contest rules are available at the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, 113 Karl Brown Way, Loveland, OH 45140. If you would like one sent to you, call the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance at 683-1544.
The winner will receive design credit on the back of the 2022 Valentine’s Day cards, recognition at the Valentine Kick off, other local recognition, media recognition and two complimentary invitations to the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Annual Valentine Breakfast. Entries not selected may be picked up after December 10, 2021.
The winning card design will be featured as a “Cover Photo” in Loveland Magazine.
Click below to witness the 2021 Valentine Art and Card Reveal presented to you by LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV!
Watch this interview by Cassie Mattia interviewing the 2021 Valentine Card Designer and Valentine Lady Jeannie Shumaker.
We have more Loveland Magazine TV videos for you to enjoy! Click below to watch now!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? THE WEATHER WILL BE PERFECT AND THE BEER WILL BE FLOWING!
SIGNUPS ARE EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT!
Loveland, Ohio – Halloween is in just a few days, which means Downtown Loveland is ready to see you in your costumes at Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition!
In year’s past, the city of Loveland has celebrated Halloween with costume contests, special live entertainment at Downtown’s local restaurants, and spooky vendors that typically set up along the Loveland Bike Trail, but this year Little Miami River Chamber of Alliance Board President Doug Portmann envisioned something a little different…Loveland decked out in its very own Wonka-Land!
“As my wife and I were brainstorming as to what Loveland’s theme should be this year for Halloween my daughter said, ‘It’s Halloween so why don’t you do a Willy Wonka theme?” Portmann explained, “From there all we really needed to do was fill in the details!”
On Saturday, October 30th from 6 PM-8 PM teams of 4 will go on a hunt through Loveland’s impromptu candy land in search of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket! Teams will participate in “sweet” games including 25 stations of challenges, riddles, and drinking in order to find the grand prize. Those that will be participating are asked to please eat dinner beforehand as beer sample tickets and appetizer discount tickets will not be given out to teams until after the games have ended.
Teams and those that attend Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition can dress up in Willy Wonka-themed attire, but ARE NOT REQUIRED to dress in a costume to participate in the games! Some of the Willy Wonka characters are as follows: Willy Wonka, Charlie Buckett, Grandpa Joe, Veruka Salt, Mike Teave, Arthur Slugworth, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Teavee, Oompa-Lumpas, Mrs. Gloop, Mr. Turkentine, and The Tinker. Here are a few links to places where you can purchase Willy Wonka character-inspired costumes, HalloweenCostumes.com, Walmart, and Amazon.
Need more Wonka inspiration? Check out the original Willy Wonka movie trailer from 1971 starring the legendary Gene Wilder!
Excited and ready to sign up yet?! Registration is $35 per person or $140 a team, plus fees and taxes. We have included the link to sign up below, but before you do so here are a few simple rules to adhere to before you enter into the search for the Golden Ticket!
All those participating must be 21 years old.
It is recommended that all participants eat dinner beforehand as the event will be very crowded and hard to order a full dinner quickly!
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no food tastings this year, but select restaurants will be offering 50% off appetizers to all participants after the games!
DORA will be in full swing in Downtown Loveland!
The most important rule is…HAVE FUN!
Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition is nearly sold out so we encourage you to grab your team and sign up before it’s too late!
Loveland, Ohio – With Halloween just around the corner, many people are in search of frights, pumpkin festivals, and costume celebrations to bring in the holiday the right way! This year Loveland has a little something special up their sleeve for this Halloween; introducing Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition!
In year’s past, the city of Loveland has celebrated Halloween with costume contests, special live entertainment at Downtown’s local restaurants, and spooky vendors that typically set up along the Loveland Bike Trail, but this year Little Miami River Chamber of Alliance Board President Doug Portmann envisioned something a little different…Loveland decked out in its very own Wonka-Land!
“As my wife and I were brainstorming as to what Loveland’s theme should be this year for Halloween my daughter said, ‘It’s Halloween so why don’t you do a Willy Wonka theme?” Portmann explained, “From there all we really needed to do was fill in the details!”
On Saturday, October 30th from 6 PM-8 PM teams of 4 will go on a hunt through Loveland’s impromptu candy land in search of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket! Teams will participate in “sweet” games in this ultimate Halloween scavenger hunt in order to find the grand prize. Those that will be participating are asked to please eat dinner beforehand as beer and food discount tickets will not be given out to teams until after the games have ended.
Teams and those that attend Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition are asked to dress in their absolute best Willy Wonka-themed attire, but ARE NOT REQUIRED to dress in a costume to participate in the games! Some of the Willy Wonka characters are as follows: Willy Wonka, Charlie Buckett, Grandpa Joe, Veruka Salt, Mike Teave, Arthur Slugworth, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Teavee, Oompa-Lumpas, Mrs. Gloop, Mr. Turkentine, and The Tinker. Here are a few links to places where you can purchase Willy Wonka character-inspired costumes, HalloweenCostumes.com, Walmart, and Amazon.
Need more Wonka inspiration? Check out the original Willy Wonka movie trailer from 1971 starring the legendary Gene Wilder!
Excited and ready to sign up yet?! We have included the link to sign up below, but before you do so here are a few simple rules to adhere to before you enter into the search for the Golden Ticket!
All those participating must be 21 years old.
It is recommended that all participants eat dinner beforehand as the event will be very crowded and hard to order a full dinner quickly!
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no food tastings this year, but restaurants will be offering food and drink discount tickets to all participants after the games!
The most important rule is…HAVE FUN!
Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition is already half sold out so we encourage you to grab your team and sign up before it’s too late!
Loveland, Ohio – With Halloween just around the corner, many people are in search of frights, pumpkin festivals, and costume celebrations to bring in the holiday the right way! This year Loveland has a little something special up their sleeve for this Halloween; introducing Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition!
In year’s past, the city of Loveland has celebrated Halloween with costume contests, special live entertainment at Downtown’s local restaurants, and spooky vendors that typically set up along the Loveland Bike Trail, but this year Little Miami River Chamber of Alliance Board President Doug Portmann envisioned something a little different…Loveland decked out in its very own Wonka-Land!
“As my wife and I were brainstorming as to what Loveland’s theme should be this year for Halloween my daughter said, ‘It’s Halloween so why don’t you do a Willy Wonka theme?” Portmann explained, “From there all we really needed to do was fill in the details!”
On Saturday, October 30th from 6 PM-8 PM teams of 4 will go on a hunt through Loveland’s impromptu candy land in search of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket! Teams will participate in “sweet” games in this ultimate Halloween scavenger hunt in order to find the grand prize. Those that will be participating are asked to please eat dinner beforehand as beer and food discount tickets will not be given out to teams until after the games have ended.
Teams and those that attend Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition are asked to dress in their absolute best Willy Wonka-themed attire! Some of the Willy Wonka characters are as follows: Willy Wonka, Charlie Buckett, Grandpa Joe, Veruka Salt, Mike Teave, Arthur Slugworth, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Teavee, Oompa-Lumpas, Mrs. Gloop, Mr. Turkentine, and The Tinker. Here are a few links to places where you can purchase Willy Wonka character-inspired costumes, HalloweenCostumes.com, Walmart, and Amazon.
Need more Wonka inspiration? Check out the original Willy Wonka movie trailer from 1971 starring the legendary Gene Wilder!
Excited and ready to sign up yet?! We have included the link to sign up below, but before you do so here are a few simple rules to adhere to before you enter into the search for the Golden Ticket!
All those participating must be 21 years old.
It is recommended that all participants eat dinner beforehand as the event will be very crowded and hard to order a full dinner quickly!
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no food tastings this year, but restaurants will be offering food and drink discount tickets to all participants after the games!
The most important rule is…HAVE FUN!
Loveland’s Wonka-Land Halloween Edition is already half sold out so we encourage you to grab your team and sign up before it’s too late!
Each November, The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance says “Thank you” to our businesses for all they do for our community and honor them for enhancing our community and making it a better place to live.
The Annual Awards Dinner is an evening for all area businesses to come together and celebrate their successes and community contributions.
The event includes cocktails, networking, silent auction, dinner, and awards. It is a great networking opportunity!
Nominations are now live and are due Monday, October 11!
Nominate now for one (or more!) in the following categories.
• Business of the Year
• Emerging Business of the Year
• Non-Profit of the Year
• Beautification Award
• Community Involvement Award
• Business Community Advocate Award
• Sustainability “Go Green” Award
• Randy K. Stanifer Health, Wellness & Fitness Business of the Year
Loveland, Ohio – Did you attend Loveland’s First Oktoberfest? If not well do we have an early Halloween treat for you!
I of course went to both days of Loveland’s Oktoberfest on September 24th and 25th and wow was it an absolute showstopper! Not only did all of the Downtown Loveland area transform into a place filled with German food, drinks, and activities, Nisbet Park located right off the Loveland Bike Trail successfully turned into a traditional Biergarten!
A Look Around Nisbet Park’s Oktoberfest Biergarten
The Nisbet Biergarten was home to the Warsteiner Beer Emporium, the Stein Slide, live entertainment, the Wiener Dog Race, local vendors like Kona Ice, Dolph’s Dog’s, Epic Picnics, Right Stuff Grill, and Cincy Shirts (sold custom Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirts), the Stein Hoisting finals, the Tapping of the Keg, and beautifully decorated picnic tables surrounded by lights for families and friends to sit down and take in the atmosphere! Those that attended were able to grab beer tickets or buy a Loveland Oktoberfest keepsake mug to fill with traditional Oktoberfest Warsteiner Beer.
The Warsteiner Beer Emporium in Nisbet Park’s Biergarten
The Stein Slide
Cincy Shirts set-up in Nisbet Park’s Biergarten
Epic Picnic’s Owner Amanda provided the Biergarten with a German themed picnic where you could have your photo taken
New local business Dolph’s Dogs served up some delicious sausages, hot dogs, and bratwursts in the Biergarten
Owner Dolph in action
Dolph’s Dog’s traditional Hot Dogs
Dolph’s Dog’s Bratwurst loaded up with peppers and onions
Kona Ice served up mouthwatering Ice creations in the Biergarten
A Stein Slide Challenge
The local Downtown Loveland restaurants also participated in the Oktoberfest magic by providing traditional German food specials and hosting the prelims of the Stein Hoisting a.k.a “The Masskrugen Challenge!”
The streets of Loveland were filled with people wearing their finest German Lederhosen’s or Dirndl’s, in which Bishop’s Quarter’s held a costume competition for those wanting to show off their attire!
The Wiener Dog Race was the star of the festival as 15 Wiener Dogs competed for a Tara’s Pet Boutique Gift Card in front of a sea of people. Although the race itself was tight, my very own Dorkie (Dachshund Yorkie Mix) Dean took the first place finish! I decided to donate the gift card to the 2nd place Wiener Dog who was also a very impressive competitor!
A Look Around The Wiener Dog Race
The Starting Line for the Wiener Dog Race that was held in Nisbet Park
I was in charge of making the Wiener Dog Race a success!
Thanks to all those who helped with the race!
Myself and the Wiener Dog Champion, my dog Dean!
Fox19 covering Loveland’s Oktoberfest
The Keg Procession Crew!
One of the most traditional Oktoberfest moments was the Keg Procession that then led into the Tapping of the Keg! I was proud to be a part of the Keg Procession that included many cherished Loveland community members including LMRCA President Cee Cee Collins, LMRCA Board President Doug Portman, and Mayor Kathy Bailey. Once we arrived at the Main Stage located in the Biergarten both Mayor Bailey and Portman tapped the keg which led to an explosion of cheers and beer chugging from the crowd. What a wonderful moment of celebration it was for the city of Loveland!
Check out the videos below of The Wiener Dog Race, The Keg Procession, and the Tapping of the Keg!
Loveland, Ohio – These events will be your chance to personally meet the local politicians who want to be part of the teams leading the Loveland City School District and Loveland City Council for the next 1,440 days. Four-long years, so this is important!
On October 21 the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, Loveland Magazine, and LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV will host the contenders for seats on the school board, and on October 14 they will bring together on a public stage your job applicants for Loveland City Council.
City Council – October 14, at 7:00 PM at the Loveland Middle School/Intermediate School Cafeteria.
School Board – October 21, at 7:00 PM at the Loveland Middle School/Intermediate School Cafeteria.
Will there be undisputed champs?
Election fans can see if the contenders roll with the punches, stick and move, or have promises that pack a punch. Will you see any future respected political figures or elder statesmen/women?
Both of these heavyweight championship Forums will be broadcast “LIVE” on the Loveland Magazine FaceBook Page. It’s not Pay-per-View and tickets are not required – it’s totally FREE!
Who knows, there might be some highfalutin’ good ideas that come from one or more of these candidates that can transform Loveland. There will almost certainly be some re-hashing the past but that will be OK if it leads to knowledge of what the future might hold.
Politicians routinely offer more promises than they keep, however hearing them straight from their mouths is the start of holding them accountable. Meeting them in person is always better than voting based on the number of yard signs and you can be a political influencer if you can say, “I actually heard her say it!”
If you cannot attend in person or chose to be inside the safety of your own home you may want to tune in LIVE to be in-the-know.
The format will follow the same as in the past:
To begin, candidates will each present their platform for 2 minutes and tell you why they are running for office.
Questions will be asked for 60 minutes allowing each candidate two minutes to reply or pass.
After 60 minutes candidates are asked to close with 2-minute speeches.
Voters can throw their written questions into the octagon and all questions will be screened for duplicity by independent ring-side judges. The emcees will ask as many of the questions as time allows in the 60 minutes.
You the registered voters of the City of Loveland and the Loveland City School District however will be the crucial and critically important judges come November 2 so reserve your ring-side seat by saving these dates.
August 23 – Write-in candidates must file declarations of intent by 4 p.m. (72 days before general election
September 17 – Military & Overseas Absentee Voting begins (46 Days Before Election Day)
October 4 – Deadline for voter registration for Nov. 2 general election (30 days before general election)*
October 5 – Early In-Person Voting begins and includes the Saturday, Sunday and the Monday before Election Day
October 5 – Absentee Voting By Mail begins (28 Days Before Election Day)
October 11 – Board of Elections Closed to In-Person Voting (Columbus Day).
October 30 – Applications for absentee ballots to be mailed for Nov. 2 general election must be received by boards of elections by noon (3 days before general election)
November 2 – General Election Day. Polls open at 6:30 AM and close at 7:30 PM.
Throughout the years, men and women in our armed forces have made great sacrifices to protect our freedom and democracy. Today, the courageous members of our military branches continue to serve our country so we all can enjoy one of our most sacred rights – the right to vote. Through the I Vote in Honor of a Veteran initiative, you can demonstrate the pride you feel for a veteran or servicemember and, at the same time, encourage others to vote on Election Day.
Wear an I Vote in Honor of a Veteran pin on Election Day to show your appreciation to those men and women who made it possible for you to exercise your right to vote.
To get your pin, click this LINK to submit a testimonial about how they’ve inspired you will be sent one.
On Friday, September 24th from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 25th from 4 PM-11 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2021. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
Warsteiner, an international German beer company that came to conception in Warstein, Germany in 1753 when Antonius Cramer was asked to pay beer tax after his home brewing volumes passed the amount allowed for personal use, will be hosting a Biergarten (beer garden in German) Emporium in Nisbet Park. Traditionally a Biergarten is an open-air space where beer and food are served. This concept dates back to the 19th century in Bavaria in which breweries planted gardens above cellars to keep their lagers cool enough to ferment underground.
The Warsteiner Biergarten will be serving up their finest beer from the Premium Pilsner, “A refreshing, pale golden pilsener with a clean taste perfectly balanced with hints of barley malt, subtle bottom fermenting yeast tones and mild hoppy bitterness,” to the Premium Dunkel, “a rich dark amber beer with full-flavored, smooth taste nicely accented with satisfying notes of roasted malt and subtle bottom-fermenting yeast tones,” to the Oktoberfest Special Edition, “a well-balanced, mild, and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol.”
Beer Tickets will be sold at the Warsteiner Emporium in the Biergarten and can be used to purchase Warsteiner premium beer at the Emporium, The Works Pizza, Ramsey’s Trailside, or Bishop’s Quarter where they will be selling Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest. Domestic beer tickets will be $5 and Craft beer tickets will be $6.
When purchasing a beer ticket you will have the option to buy an authentic 14 ounce Loveland Oktoberfest keepsake Mug for $8 in which you will be able to get refilled with Warsteiner beer only for $5.
All of the tips collected from the Biergarten will benefit CancerFree Kids.
Of course, what goes better with beer than traditional German food! The majority of Loveland’s Downtown restaurants will be adding a few German-inspired food options in celebration of Oktoberfest. The Works Pizza will be featuring Potato Pancakes, Ramsey’s Trailside will have a Specialty Pretzel, Trailside Provisions will be serving Cream Puffs and Frozen Chocolate Bananas on Saturday only, All the Ingredients will have Sauerkraut Balls, Bratwursts, and Herb Potato Skewers, Loveland Sweets will be carrying Black Forest Ice Cream, Tano Bistro will have Schweinbraten (German Pulled Pork) and Apple Strudel, The Wicked Pickle will be serving up German Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Bishop’s Quarter will have German Pancakes with Sour Cream.
In addition to Loveland’s local restaurants carrying specialty German food items, new local business Dolph’s Dogs will also be there to satisfy anyone’s sausage, bratwurst, or hotdog cravings! Kona Ice and Right Stuff Grill will also be present at the Oktoberfest festivities. Food vendors will be set up in the Biergarten near Nisbet Park.
Want to learn more about traditional German food? Read this CNN Travel article that I found that talks all about German cuisine!
The Landing Event Center will be holding an Oktoberfest event on Friday that will benefit The League for Animal Welfare. This special benefit will include beer tastings, an authentic German appetizer buffet, and live music. The event is free and open to the public.
The Jackson Street Market will have arts and crafts throughout the Oktoberfest celebration as well.
The Little Miami Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) has been hard at work for several months planning Loveland’s first Oktoberfest and truly can’t wait to see how all the German activities and competitions play out!
One of the most exciting and competitive German traditions will be The Stein Hoist competition a.k.a The Masskrugen Challenge, which will begin on Friday at 6:30 PM. The Winners Ceremony will be held on Saturday at 6 PM. The competition will include 6 contestants from each local restaurant participating. The Works Pizza, Ramsey’s Trailside, Cappy’s, Bishop’s Quarter, Cindy’s, Paxton’s Grill, The Landing Event Center and The Wicked Pickle will all be competing for the win! The Masskrugen finals will be emceed by Channel 5’s Randi Rico.
Stein Hoisting is a traditional Bavarian strength contest in which participants hold a full one-liter beer stein (weighs 5.5 pounds typically) in front of their bodies with a straight arm, parallel to the ground. The person that can hold the pose the longest wins.
Stop by the Loveland beer booth on Friday and the Biergarten on Saturday to say hi to the Christy Jones Team and hoist a stein!
The Lederhosen competition (German costume contest) will begin on Friday at Bishop’s Quarter. The winner will be selected at 7:30 PM. Lederhosen’s are leather shorts with H-shaped suspenders that men in the working class from Alpine regions such as Bavaria wore. They wore these while they were working because the leather material made the dust and dirt collected from work easier to clean off. Lederhosen’s also have cultural and social meaning for those within the German culture.
There is in fact a female version of the Lederhosen called a “Dirndl,” which is a dress that can fall either to the knees or the floor. The dress includes a tight bodice that is meant to compliment a woman’s chest.
On Friday, at 5 PM at Oktoberfest Cappy’s and the Main Stage (located in Nisbet Park) will host a Stein Slide competition, in which you can buy tickets to compete for $2. Live entertainment will kick-off from the Kyle Hackett Duo at 6 PM at Cappy’s followed by the Counting Skeletons at 7 PM at the Main Stage.
On Saturday, Oktoberfest entertainment will kick off at 4 PM with Premier Dance and Tumbling, and shortly afterward Nisbet Park will hold the Wiener Dog Race at 4:30 PM (near the Little Miami Conservancy). The winning Wiener Dog will receive a gift card from Tara’s Pet Boutique! At 5:30 PM, live entertainment will continue with the Showboat Cloggers.
Of course, we can’t forget about one of the most coveted German Oktoberfest traditions, the tapping of the Keg! The tapping of the Keg is one of the oldest traditions in Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations. The Keg tap is typically done by the Mayor of Munich, which in Loveland’s case will be Mayor Kathy Bailey. The goal of the Keg tapping is for the Mayor to hit the Keg with a hammer the least amount of times possible before yelling “O’zapft is” (keg breached). Once the Mayor yells “O’zapft is” surrounding vendors may officially sell their beer!
Before the Keg tapping in Germany, there is a “procession” held in which colorful horse carriages and wagons covered with flowers march down to where the Oktoberfest celebration is being held. The procession is traditionally led by the Münchner Kindl (coat of arms of Munich) and is followed by the Mayor’s festival carriage. Behind the Mayor are carts of the landlords and breweries as well as the waitresses who will be serving beer who are typically holding beer mugs in the procession. This part of Loveland’s Oktoberfest will include Mayor Kathy Bailey and the LMRCA Board of Directors President Doug Portmann. The Keg procession will begin at 5:30 PM on Saturday and the Keg tapping will begin shortly afterward. The procession will start at Paxton’s Grill, go down Railroad Ave., and will end at the Main Stage located in Nisbet Park.
On Saturday from 6-10 PM, the Zinzinnati Bierband will perform and at 6 PM the Masskrugen Winning Ceremony will begin on the Main Stage.
Cincy Shirts will have a booth set-up near the Biergarten for those who PRE-ORDERED their exclusive Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirt. The Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirts are $20. If you did not get the chance to pre-order your 2021 Loveland Oktoberfest shirt (deadline was Sept. 19th) they will be on sale at the Cincy Shirts booth.
New local business Epic Picnics will have a beautiful German-themed picnic “photo booth” set up in Nisbet Park on Friday with Oktoberfest props and food that those attending the festival will have the opportunity to get a Loveland Oktoberfest photo taken.
LMRCA is also in need of volunteers to help with all of the exciting festivities! If you would like to sign up to volunteer for Oktoberfest click here to see what opportunities are available. You may also email LMRCA or call the office at 513-683-1544 to reach out about volunteering.
For more Loveland event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
On Friday, September 24th from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 25th from 4 PM-11 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2021. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
Warsteiner, an international German beer company that came to conception in Warstein, Germany in 1753 when Antonius Cramer was asked to pay beer tax after his home brewing volumes passed the amount allowed for personal use, will be hosting a Biergarten (beer garden in German) Emporium in Nisbet Park. Traditionally a Biergarten is an open-air space where beer and food are served. This concept dates back to the 19th century in Bavaria in which breweries planted gardens above cellars to keep their lagers cool enough to ferment underground.
The Warsteiner Biergarten will be serving up their finest beer from the Premium Pilsner, “A refreshing, pale golden pilsener with a clean taste perfectly balanced with hints of barley malt, subtle bottom fermenting yeast tones and mild hoppy bitterness,” to the Premium Dunkel, “a rich dark amber beer with full-flavored, smooth taste nicely accented with satisfying notes of roasted malt and subtle bottom-fermenting yeast tones,” to the Oktoberfest Special Edition, “a well-balanced, mild, and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol.”
Beer Tickets will be sold at the Warsteiner Emporium in the Biergarten and can be used to purchase Warsteiner premium beer at the Emporium, The Works Pizza, Ramsey’s Trailside, or Bishop’s Quarter where they will be selling Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest. Domestic beer tickets will be $5 and Craft beer tickets will be $6. When purchasing a beer ticket you will have the option to buy an authentic 14 ounce Loveland Oktoberfest keepsake Mug for $8 in which you will be able to get refilled with Warsteiner beer only for $5.
All of the tips collected from the Biergarten will benefit CancerFree Kids.
Of course, what goes better with beer than traditional German food! The majority of Loveland’s Downtown restaurants will be adding a few German-inspired food options in celebration of Oktoberfest. The Works Pizza will be featuring Potato Pancakes, Ramsey’s Trailside will have a Specialty Pretzel, Trailside Provisions will be serving Cream Puffs and Frozen Chocolate Bananas on Saturday only, All the Ingredients will have Sauerkraut Balls, Bratwursts, and Herb Potato Skewers, Loveland Sweets will be carrying Black Forest Ice Cream, Tano Bistro will have Schweinbraten (German Pulled Pork) and Apple Strudel, The Wicked Pickle will be serving up German Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Bishop’s Quarter will have German Pancakes with Sour Cream.
In addition to Loveland’s local restaurants carrying specialty German food items, new local business Dolph’s Dogs will also be there to satisfy anyone’s sausage, bratwurst, or hotdog cravings! Kona Ice and Right Stuff Grill will also be present at the Oktoberfest festivities. Food vendors will be set up in the Biergarten near Nisbet Park.
Want to learn more about traditional German food? Read this CNN Travel article that I found that talks all about German cuisine!
The Landing Event Center will be holding an Oktoberfest event on Friday that will benefit The League for Animal Welfare. This special benefit will include beer tastings, an authentic German appetizer buffet, and live music. The event is free and open to the public.
The Jackson Street Market will have arts and crafts throughout the Oktoberfest celebration as well.
The Little Miami Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) has been hard at work for several months planning Loveland’s first Oktoberfest and truly can’t wait to see how all the German activities and competitions play out!
One of the most exciting and competitive German traditions will be The Stein Hoist competition a.k.a The Masskrugen Challenge, which will begin on Friday at 6:30 PM. The Winners Ceremony will be held on Saturday at 6 PM. The competition will include 6 contestants from each local restaurant participating. The Works Pizza, Ramsey’s Trailside, Cappy’s, Bishop’s Quarter, Cindy’s, Paxton’s Grill, The Landing Event Center and The Wicked Pickle will all be competing for the win! The Masskrugen finals will be emceed by Channel 5’s Randi Rico.
Stein Hoisting is a traditional Bavarian strength contest in which participants hold a full one-liter beer stein (weighs 5.5 pounds typically) in front of their bodies with a straight arm, parallel to the ground. The person that can hold the pose the longest wins.
Stop by the Loveland beer booth on Friday and the Biergarten on Saturday to say hi to the Christy Jones Team and hoist a stein!
The Lederhosen competition (German costume contest) will begin on Friday at Bishop’s Quarter. The winner will be selected at 7:30 PM. Lederhosen’s are leather shorts with H-shaped suspenders that men in the working class from Alpine regions such as Bavaria wore. They wore these while they were working because the leather material made the dust and dirt collected from work easier to clean off. Lederhosen’s also have cultural and social meaning for those within the German culture.
There is in fact a female version of the Lederhosen called a “Dirndl,” which is a dress that can fall either to the knees or the floor. The dress includes a tight bodice that is meant to compliment a woman’s chest.
On Friday, at 5 PM at Oktoberfest Cappy’s and the Main Stage (located in Nisbet Park) will host a Stein Slide competition, in which you can buy tickets to compete for $2. Live entertainment will kick-off from the Kyle Hackett Duo at 6 PM at Cappy’s followed by the Counting Skeletons at 7 PM at the Main Stage.
On Saturday, Oktoberfest entertainment will kick off at 4 PM with Premier Dance and Tumbling, and shortly afterward Nisbet Park will hold the Wiener Dog Race at 4:30 PM (near the Little Miami Conservancy). The winning Wiener Dog will receive a gift card from Tara’s Pet Boutique! At 5:30 PM, live entertainment will continue with the Cloggers.
Of course, we can’t forget about one of the most coveted German Oktoberfest traditions, the tapping of the Keg! The tapping of the Keg is one of the oldest traditions in Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations. The Keg tap is typically done by the Mayor of Munich, which in Loveland’s case will be Mayor Kathy Bailey. The goal of the Keg tapping is for the Mayor to hit the Keg with a hammer the least amount of times possible before yelling “O’zapft is” (keg breached). Once the Mayor yells “O’zapft is” surrounding vendors may officially sell their beer!
Before the Keg tapping in Germany, there is a “procession” held in which colorful horse carriages and wagons covered with flowers march down to where the Oktoberfest celebration is being held. The procession is traditionally led by the Münchner Kindl (coat of arms of Munich) and is followed by the Mayor’s festival carriage. Behind the Mayor are carts of the landlords and breweries as well as the waitresses who will be serving beer who are typically holding beer mugs in the procession. This part of Loveland’s Oktoberfest will include Mayor Kathy Bailey and the LMRCA Board of Directors President Doug Portmann. The Keg procession will begin at 5:30 PM on Saturday and the Keg tapping will begin shortly afterward. The procession will start at Paxton’s Grill, go down Railroad Ave., and will end at the Main Stage located in Nisbet Park.
On Saturday from 6-10 PM, the Zinzinnati Bierband will perform and at 6 PM the Masskrugen Winning Ceremony will begin on the Main Stage.
There have been quite a few new additions to Loveland’s Oktoberfest! Cincy Shirts will have a booth set-up near the Biergarten for those who PRE-ORDERED their exclusive Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirt. The Loveland Oktoberfest T-shirts are $20. To pre-order your 2021 Loveland Oktoberfest shirt click here.
New local business Epic Picnics will have a beautiful German-themed picnic “photo booth” set up in Nisbet Park on Friday with Oktoberfest props and food that those attending the festival will have the opportunity to get a Loveland Oktoberfest photo taken.
It is never too late to become a sponsor for Loveland’s first Oktoberfest! If you or your business would like to become a sponsor contact the LMRCA through email or you can call their office at 513-683-1544.
LMRCA is also in need of volunteers to help with all of the exciting festivities! If you would like to sign up to volunteer for Oktoberfest click here to see what opportunities are available. You may also email LMRCA or call the office at 513-683-1544 to reach out about volunteering.
For more Loveland Oktoberfest 2021 updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
