Publication Date: 03-13-2016
March 26, 2022Â 12-6pm
The festival is back after a two-year cancelation due to COVID-19.
It’s scheduled to return on March 26 on East Market Street from noon to 6 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day Marching Goat Parade on March 12, 3-6 p.m.
Bock Fest Saturday, March 26
Louisville, KY––The Louisville Downtown Partnership is proud to be the Marching Goat Parade Sponsor of this year’s Bock fest. We look forward to walking with Bock Fest in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, so come cheer us on from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, 3/12. We will also be naming a goat as part of the festivities on March 26th.
About Bock Fest from the NuLu.org website
As far as we can tell our good city of Louisville has a steep history with Bock Beer Festivals. In fact we were able to go as far back as 1858. Of course prohibition ended that for everyone in 1919, but still for 61 years the fine people (mostly thanks to our German friends), celebrated the annual Bock Beer Brews!Â
What is Bock Beer you might ask? Bock beer is a rich, complex, malty, low-hop style of lager. There are many varieties of bock that can all be different- Maibock, Doppleback, and Eisbock. Although it is now almost always a lager, bock was originally an ale that was brewed by German monks in the Fourteenth Century. The monks would often drink the rich beer during their times of fasting. The word “bock” means goat in German. The beer most likely gets its name from Einbeck, Germany. Einbeck is believed to be the origin of the beer and the name comes from a Bavarian dialectic pronunciation of the town that made it sound like “ein bock,” meaning “a billy goat.
March 26, 2022 will mark the fifth year of Bock Beer celebrations in the city of Louisville. NULU is home to two coincidentally named alleys- Nanny Goat Strut and Billy Goat Strut, thus making it a fitting place for the Bock Beer Fest! Join us as we drink locally brewed blessed bock beers, and as we enjoy safe and fun racing of the goats on Market Street. The 2022 NULU Bock Fest will be a day full of great traditions, beer and fun! Don’t forget, all goat costumes, and fashions will be encouraged. FOR SPONSORSHIP INFO, EMAIL TREVOR@HBPRODUCTIONSLLC.COM
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR!
KY PROUD® WURST FEST AT BOCK FEST
The KY Proud® Wurst Fest will feature local restaurants that will create their own version of a cased sausage. Bock Fest Attendees will be able to purchase the sausages at the festival, and a panel of esteemed celebrity judges will taste them all to crown the Wurst Fest Champion! Â
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From the 2016 event
Nulu Bock Fest Revives One of Louisville’s Oldest Traditions with Beer, Music and Goat Races 2016
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Louisville, KY––The Nulu Neighborhood Association will celebrate Bock Day on Saturday, March 26 from Noon until 8pm in the 600 and 700 blocks of East Market Street. The event will include safe and fun goat races sponsored by area businesses, music from the Billy Goat Strut Revue, as well as original bock beers from area breweries available only at the Nulu Bock Fest.
The Nulu Bock Fest event revives an annual Spring ritual tracing back to the mid-19th Century to mark the changing of the season when the dark German lager, known as bock, was released across the city after a winter of aging. The holiday, which usually coincides with Lent, was hugely popular in Louisville during its first brewing boom, but fell out of favor during Prohibition.
Sponsors include Garage Bar, JEB Advertising, MagBooth, and Sonablast Records, Worthington Law Firm, Harbor House of Louisville, Via Studios, Think Tank Marketing, and Carman. Food will be provided by local vendors and area restaurants.
Goat races are traditionally associated with Bock Day, as “bock” means “goat” in German. The event will kick off with the ceremonial blessing of the goats at Noon, and the day will include seven races with separate divisions for kids (baby goats) and adults. The goats will race from Nanny Goat Strut Alley to Billy Goat Strut Alley on Clay Street. Area businesses are encouraged to sponsor goats, and all goat welfare and race ethics are being overseen by the local chapter of the 4H, the Louisville Aggies. Businesses who are interested in sponsoring a goat may visit this website or call Ina Miller at (502) 468-1516.
Bock beer is a rich, complex, malty, low-hop style of lager. There are many varieties of bock that can all be different- Maibock, Doppleback, and Eisbock. Although it is now almost always a lager, bock was originally an ale that was brewed by German monks in the Fourteenth Century. The monks would often drink the rich beer during their times of fasting. Bock Fest will welcome Against the Grain, Akasha Brewing Company, Blue Stallion Brewing, Country Boy, Ethereal Brewing Company,  Falls City Beer,  Goodwood, Gordon Biersch, Third Turn Brewing, and West Sixth Brewing Company.Â
The Bock Fest Schedule:
·  Noon — Blessing of the goats and beer
·  1 p.m. — Kentucky Guild of Brewers Goat Race (each goat will represent a KGB brewery)
·  2 p.m. — Kid (aka baby goat) race, winner advances
·  3 p.m. — Adult goat race, winner advances
·  4 p.m. — Kid goat race No. 2, winner advances
·  5 p.m. — Adult race No. 2, winner advances
·  6 p.m. — Kid race final, winner crowned
·  7 p.m. — Adult race final, winner crowned
Promotional goat race opportunities are available as well as goat appearances in-studio or on-site. #totesgoats
About Nulu
NuLu is best known for its art galleries, specialty stores, antique shops and a growing number of local, upscale restaurants.
The term “NuLu” is a portmanteau meaning “New Louisville”. As home to the greenest commercial building in Kentucky, many historic restoration projects, as well as several restaurants offering organic and locally sourced ingredients, NuLu has emerged with a culture of sustainability.