Bock on the Run
Bockfest 5K
Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m.
The Banks
All registered participants receive a commemorative race shirt, two drink tickets, and a Skyline Chili cheese coney redeemable at the post-race party.
To register for the Bockfest 5K at The Banks visit https://flyingpigmarathon.com/tql-beer-series/event/bockfest-5k.
One of Cincinnati’s most uniquely spirited traditions returns Saturday, March 7, as runners lace up for the Bockfest 5K at The Banks, kicking off a weekend celebration of spring, brewing heritage, and community.
The event is part of Pig Works' TQL Beer Series, and gives participants a chance to balance Bockfest’s signature beer, food, and festivities with a scenic downtown run. Finishers will also receive a custom medal that doubles as a bottle opener – a fitting tribute to one of Cincinnati’s most beloved brewing traditions.
“For us, Bockfest is the annual signal that running season in Cincinnati has officially woken up from winter,” says Doug Olberding, president and CEO of Pig Works. “It’s relaxed, social, and built around the simple idea that movement should feel good, and celebrations should feel earned. You run a few miles with friends, you grab a beer, you eat some Skyline, maybe you meet a goat, and suddenly the training for spring doesn’t feel like training anymore. It feels like community. That’s exactly the spirit behind the TQL Beer Series: miles first, fun immediately after.”
The 3.1-mile race winds through downtown Cincinnati before finishing near Moerlein Lager House, one of the official Bockfest halls.
“The distance is approachable, nobody takes themselves too seriously, and you’ll see walkers, first-timers, costumed runners, and people pushing strollers all sharing the same course,” says Olberding. “It’s a welcoming on-ramp into movement. You don’t have to be ‘a runner’ to belong here, you just have to be willing to start. The beer, Skyline, and general festive vibe (again… goats) tend to take care of the nerves.”
Bockfest is a uniquely Cincinnati celebration marking the arrival of spring and honoring the rich history of bock beer. Traditionally brewed in Germany for special occasions, bock beer was once consumed by monks during Lenten fasts as a source of nourishment. The modern festival traces its roots to the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company, which created Bockfest to celebrate the release of Christian Moerlein Bock and help usher in the spring season.
Today, Bockfest draws thousands to Over-the-Rhine and downtown Cincinnati each year, combining beer, music, food, and cultural traditions. The Bockfest 5K adds an active element to the weekend, bringing runners, walkers, and festival-goers together in celebration.
“It’s uniquely Cincinnati: you earn the beer, reward yourself with Skyline, and along the way you remember running can be fun… especially when goats are involved,” says Olberding.