Countdown to Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati!

First held in 1976, the Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati event has grown to be North America's largest Oktoberfest with more than 500,000 people attending each year.

Coming up in a matter of days, this year's event will take place on September 22-23, 2007 (Sept. 22, 2007, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sept. 23, 2007, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.) on six blocks of Fifth Street, from Race Street to Broadway in Downtown Cincinnati.

The Opening Ceremony will take place on 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 22. This ceremony, which has roots in the original Oktoberfest in Munich, kicks off the event with a colorful parade of German-American representatives wearing traditional vestments, walking down 5th Street to each fest tent. Keg tapping at each fest tent will mark the opening of that tent. A flag and seal will be hung at each tent.

As for food, click here to map out which gourmet vendors you'll be grazing. If you can't wait for Oktoberfest to sink your teeth into these tempting German treats, cick here for a few recipes you can try at home.

And don't forget to practice your chicken dance! Click here to listen to the chicken dance song and learn the history behind this feathered frolic.