Steinholding Competition

The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration, presented by Miller Lite, on the museum grounds from September 27 to September 29. This year, the festival will hold its first Steinholding Competition on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. in front of the main museum entrance

Masskrugstemmen, or beer Steinholding, is a relatively new sport in America, but its popularity has quickly grown. During this traditional Bavarian strength contest, competitors hold a full one-liter beer stein (or Masskrug in German) out in front of their bodies with a straight arm parallel to the ground. Competitors hold the stein up as long as possible, and the winner is the last person holding with good form. The glass stein weighs approximately 5 pounds when full.

For the first year, the DAI will bring this longstanding sport to their Oktoberfest celebration as an official U.S. Steinholding Association qualifying event. The DAI’s inaugural Steinholding competition will begin with the women’s category competition, followed by the men’s. There is no cost to compete; however, all competitors must have valid admission to the Oktoberfest festival and register for the competition at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest-steinholding-competition. Winners from both the men’s competition and the women’s competition will be eligible to compete in the U.S. Steinholding Association Ohio State Championships, held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Moerlein Lager House in Cincinnati.

The U.S. Steinholding Association was founded in 2015 with the goal to build a central informational source for athletes everywhere to discover the sport. Quickly, the association has grown and spread across the country as it has continued to expand its services. Those interested in learning more about the U.S. Steinholding Association and the rules of Steinholding can access more information at www.ussteinholding.com.

Advance general admission tickets for Oktoberfest (Saturday/Sunday) are $8 adults, $5 seniors and youth (ages 7–18). Tickets purchased at the gate are $10 adults, $7 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free. Guests may purchase a weekend pass, allowing them to attend the festival on both Saturday and Sunday at a discounted price of $15. Advance General Admission tickets may be purchased online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest or at the Dayton Art Institute during regular museum hours.

For more information about Oktoberfest, including volunteer opportunities at this year’s festival, go to daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest. The website serves as the go-to location for all things festival-related, including ticket information, festival activities and announcements, event schedules and more. Be sure to also connect with the DAI on Facebook and Instagram for more about Oktoberfest. Join the conversation online with the hashtags #OktoberfestDayton and #OKTDAI.

For more information about planning a visit to the DAI, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278).