Oktoberfest

Take part in the world's largest funfair and beer festival
Start: 17 September 2022
End: 3 October 2022

Address

Theresienwiese, 80339 München, Germany

GPS: 48.130895954016, 11.550941524524

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Oktoberfest is one of the largest folklore festival in the world. This beer festival sets the rhythm of the Bavarian city of Munich and its region since the year 1810. It became a real institution at the end of the 19th century and celebrated its 210th anniversary in 2020.

The Oktoberfest was originally a horse race held in 1810 on the Theresienwiese (Wies’n) grounds as part of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, the future King Ludwig I, and Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghausen. A horse race (last held in 1960) as the closing ceremony of this royal wedding was the basis for the creation of the Oktoberfest.

Every year, dozens of large and small beer tents are set up on the Theresienwiese fairground to welcome millions of visitors, most of whom are dressed in traditional costumes.

The opening day is marked by a large parade of costumes, cars and floats. The opening ceremony “O’ Zapft is” takes place in the presence of the mayor of the city of Munich who is responsible for inaugurating the first barrel of beer.

People from Munich usually go to the Oktoberfest at least 3 times (the first time with family, the second with friends and the third with colleagues from work). They wear traditional costumes called Tracht’n. The women usually wear braided hair and tied dirndl costumes (a kind of dress typical of the Bavarian Alps consisting of a bodice, corselet, full skirt and apron). The men wear short leather breeches held by straps (lederhosen), calf socks to protect themselves from the cold (loferl) and low shoes with side laces (haferl).

An exhibition on the Oktoberfest is held all year round in a museum at the Stadtmuseum in Munich (site Sankt-Jakobs-Platz). During the festival, official guides organize backstage tours or tours with a historical dimension of the Oktoberfest (reservation required). While the adults enjoy the lively atmosphere on site, children are invited to join the Oide Wiesn section to enjoy the entertainment of a huge funfair.

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  • One of the largest fairs in the world
  • The local costumes and traditional Bavarian dress
  • An unmissable event for beer lovers
  • The family dimension of the festival
  • More than 7 million litres of beer are consumed at each new Oktoberfest edition by the approximately 6 million visitors. Märzen (March beer) or Oktoberfestbier (a protected brand) is drunk with bottom-fermented and served in one-litre mugs (mass).
  • During Oktoberfest, a litre of beer costs between €11 and €16 (it is not possible to order less than a litre of beer). Only people over 16 years are allowed to drink. Wine, cider and soft drinks are also available for sale. Drinks can be accompanied by regional culinary specialities such as grilled chicken, savoury (pretzel) or sweet (cake) pastries, fish kebabs, roast beef, pork shank or sausages.
  • The traditional part of the festival is called Oide Wiesn (the “Old Oktoberfest”). It takes place south of Theresienwiese where the rides, roller coasters, Ferris wheel and carousels (some of which are 100 years old) are concentrated.
  • Admission to the Oktoberfest area is free of charge.
  • Entrance to the Oide Wiesn area is subject to a fee (€3 per person) and each ride costs €1. Special family days are organized on Tuesdays.
  • It is entirely possible to go to the Oktoberfest without traditional costume, but it is strongly advised to wear one in order to respect local customs and habits.
  • Seating in the tents, large or small, can be booked several months in advance.
  • A mobile application exists to guide you in the best way possible on the spot (site map, practical information, advice, sharing your location with friends …).
  • Between 1:30 and 9:00 am, access to the site is forbidden to the public. Beers are served in the tents from 12 noon (only non-alcoholic drinks are sold in the morning). On weekends and holidays, beer is served from 9:00 am.
  • Large backpacks and pets are strictly forbidden within the festival grounds. Permitted bags must not exceed a volume of 3 litres and have the following dimensions: 20 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm. If your bag exceeds the authorized limits, you will be asked to deposit it in dedicated storage areas at the festival entrances.