CINCINNATI — There’s hardly an event in town that makes a better argument for ditching the keys and going car-free (if only for the day) than Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.
It’s not just the street closures radiating from Fountain Square through the heart of Downtown, or the seemingly immediate disappearance of any and all nearby (let alone reasonably-priced) parking spaces.
It’s also that it’s never just Oktoberfest.
This year, for example, Oktoberfest will be accompanied by a 14K on Saturday and a Bengals home game on Sunday.
And with all that fun comes a proportional amount of street closures and parking restrictions.
Looking to avoid Downtown but still in the mood for fun, food and craft beer this weekend?
WCPO is proudly partnering with Fifty West Brewing Company as they host the first annual Fifty Fest, which will combine 11 bands, 25 breweries and a wealth of food options.
LEARN MORE: Get funky at the first annual Fifty Fest celebration
Because car-free isn’t always an option, here’s a rundown of all the streets that will close this weekend, as well as some suggestions for where to park.
GUIDE: 7 things to know about Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Some street closures — primarily in the Oktoberfest “impact zone,” highlighted in the map below — will begin as early as 9 a.m. Friday, September 18 and remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday, September 21. Government Square will close at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
As for the Hudepohl 14K/7K Brewery Run, which kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, September 19, a slew of roads will shut down spanning The Banks, Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and West End. These streets will close from 7:30 a.m. until noon.
For those skipping Oktoberfest but who have tickets to Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium against the San Diego Chargers, we've got you covered, too.
MAP: Complete guide to Bengals game-day parking
The multiple street closures closing will mean anyone whose bus stops at or goes through Downtown and Government Square should anticipate re-routes and displaced stops. Find those here.
Don't forget: You don't have to park Downtown to get to Oktoberfest easily. There are multiple parking options in Northern Kentucky that, combined with either the Southbank Shuttle or Red Bike, can make getting to the biergartens a breeze.
See the map below for parking and transit options.
To use the map below, use the square, gray legend button in the top, left corner to select which event you're attending (or trying to avoid) and view street closures and parking options. Use the +/- button in the bottom, right corner to zoom.
Scroll below the map for street closures in a list format.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2015
> Fifth Street - closed between Vine Street and Sentinel Street
> Walnut Street - closed between Fourth and Sixth Streets
> Main Street - closed between Fourth and Sixth Streets
> Sycamore Street - closed between Fourth and Sixth Streets
> Broadway - closed between Fourth and Sixth Streets
Hudepohl 14K/7K Brewery Run
> Clay Wade Bailey Bridge - closed
> Mehring Way - westbound closed between E Pete Rose Way and Freeman Ave; EB closed east of Central Avenue (Mehring Way will close at 5:30 AM between Elm Street and Johnny Bench Way)
> Joe Nuxhall Way - closed between Freedom Way and Mehring Way
> Elm Street - closed between Freedom Way and Mehring Way
> W Pete Rose Way - closed between Central Avenue and Gest Street
> Central Avenue - closed between W Pete Rose Way and Mehring Way
> Gest Street - closed between Third Street and Mehring Way
> Linn Street - northbound closed between Gest Street and Dalton Avenue
> Dalton Avenue/Spring Grove Ave - northbound closed between Linn St and Harrison Ave
> Harrison Avenue - eastbound closed between Spring Grove Avenue and Colerain Avenue
> Colerain Avenue - closed between Harrison Avenue and Bank Street
> Central Avenue - eastbound closed between Colerain Avenue and Linn Street
> Brighton Approach - closed between Central Avenue and McMicken Street
> McMicken Street - eastbound closed between McMillan Street and Main Street
> Moore Street - closed between Walnut Street and Liberty Street
> Reading Road - south/ westbound closed between Liberty Street and Eggleston Avenue
> Central Parkway - closed between Walnut Street and Eggleston Avenue
> Broadway - closed between Ninth Street and Eggleston Avenue
> Eggleston Avenue - southbound closed between Central Pkwy and E Pete Rose Way
> E Pete Rose Way - closed between Eggleston Avenue and Johnny Bench Way
> W Pete Rose Way - closed between Mehring Way and Central Avenue
> Third Street - south curb lane closed between Central Avenue and Clay Wade Bailey Bridge
> Second Street - south curb lane closed
> Ramp LL - closed
