Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, is one of the largest folk festivals in the world, attracting over 6 million visitors annually. The beer festival begins in mid-September and continues until the first Sunday of October, lasting 16-18 days. It is extremely popular among locals and foreign tourists, generating 1.25 billion euros for the country’s economy.
Large and small Beer tents are the primary focus of the celebration, but there are other family attractions as well, including Bavarian food, carnival rides, live music, souvenir stalls, and other cultural activities. The Oktoberfest attendees embrace the German culture dress in traditional Bavarian outfits, with Lederhosen for men and dirndl for women.
Not many people are aware of the centuries-old history of Oktoberfest, its popular traditions, and some interesting facts. Let's explore them.
Oktoberfest began as a royal wedding ceremony between Prince Ludwig of Munich and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen in 1810. This public event lasted nearly a week and concluded with a horse race, attracting over 40,000 citizens.
After such a magnificent wedding celebration, the couple decided to conduct their anniversary annually. However, the event was cancelled for the first time in 1813 due to the Napoleonic wars.
By 1814, Oktoberfest became a full-fledged carnival with simple shacks serving beer in half-liter steins. Oktoberfest became the city’s top priority in 1819 and was financed privately.
The addition of a carousel and swings marked a shift towards entertainment, adding its appeal. This time, there was also an increased interest in Bavarian breweries participating and setting up their stands at the event.
Oktoberfest takes place on the Munich ground known as “Theresienwiese,” also known as "Festwiese” by the locals. Theresienwiese's literal meaning is “Therese’s Meadow,” which was named after the bride herself. Consisting of a 420,000 sq ft area, this place is simply a public park for the rest half of the year.
Consisting of 17 large beer tents, 21 small tents, Oide Wisen, and fairgrounds filled with carnival rides, the festival has something for everyone. While the focus is beer, with almost 6.5 million liters consumed in 18 days, the festival also offers various attractions.
During the day, Oktoberfest offers a quiet and calm atmosphere accessible to families and seniors. As the night arrives, pop music replaces folk music, the volume rises, and a youthful party atmosphere turns on. While Oktoberfest has adopted various innovations and crazy nights out, the festival maintains its traditional events and festivities.
Every first Saturday of Oktoberfest, a vibrant Wisen parade named rachten- und Schützenzug unfolds. The first parade took place in 1887 and consisted of decorated floats, horse-drawn carriages, and marching bands spanning over five kilometers. The event truly depicts Bavarian traditions, showcasing participants in traditional Bavarian attire while dancing and singing with vibrant energy.
The occasion takes place at noon on the first Sunday of the festival, making the official commencement of the event by the ceremonial tapping of the first keg. It takes place in the Schottenhamel, the Oktoberfest's oldest tent. The first mayor to tap the keg was Thomas Wimmer, who used the famous words "O'zapft is!" (meaning "It is tapped!"). This symbolic act triggers the flow of beer throughout the festival grounds.
A hallmark of this event is the traditional Bavarian attire worn by many participants. Men wear authentic Lederhosen, often with suspenders, a checkered shirt, and a hat. However, women dress up in colorful dirndls. This tradition originated in the 19th century when rural folks migrated to Munich. While initially functional, these outfits transformed into traditional costumes and became synonymous with Oktoberfest. Watching participants enjoying modern and traditional activities in this classic attire is fun.
All beers at Oktoberfest tents come only from six major Munich breweries. These include Hacker Pschorr, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hofbräu, Spaten, and Lowenbrau, traditionally served in steins (one-liter kugs). These beers are brewed using only water, barley malt, hops, and yeast in adherence to the Bavarian Purity Law, established in 1516, also known as Reinheitsgebot. This ensures an authentic experience for festival-goers.
Along with the modern cuisine options, the Oktoberfest menu never goes out of hearty Bavarian dishes made from authentic ingredients. You can visit the Armbrustschützenzelt tent, Fischer Vroni tent, and more to try local delicacies. These tents offer a large selection of classic food options ranging from spit-roasted chicken, pork knuckles, grilled whitefish, sausages, dumplings, snacks, and more.
The Oide Wiesn, meaning “Old Meadows,” is a section that has maintained authentic Bavarian customs through its classic ambiance, historic rides, and stalls. Located on the southern part of the Theresienwiese, this tent takes the visitors back to early Oktoberfest. Compared to other Oktoberfest tents, Oide Wiesn offers a relaxed experience, especially for families.
Oktoberfest, rooted in a rich history and Bavarian tradition, has some amazing facts that will surprise you. Let’s unfold them.
Oktoberfest beer tents get rebuilt and torn down every year. The construction of tents starts in July by 3,000 workers, over a period of 10 weeks. All the tents are made of wood and steel with a concrete foundation reported annually.
Oktoberfest is an event that is free to attend. There are no entry tickets or passes to acquire. Entering the beer tents is also free of cost. You only have to pay for the rides, drink, and food. Anyone trying to tell you the contrary is definitely a scam. The only tent you have to buy a ticket for is Oide Wiesn.
Though originally an Oktoberfest event, it has shifted to September officially from 1905. The reason behind the shift was the Bavarian ever-changing weather, which is usually cold and damp in October with short days. However, the weather is more pleasant in September, allowing visitors to enjoy the outdoor activities fully.
Being a family-friendly festival, Oktoberfest offers various activities and special venues for children. This contradicts most international visitors' assumption that Oktoberfest is only a beer-swilling festival. During the day, children can enjoy kid-friendly food in tents, games, rides, and more. However, children under six cannot enter the beer tents after 8 PM.
Tuesdays and Thursdays of every week are Oktoberfest family days, allowing you to save money. During these days, all rides at the event are half-priced. For example, the giant Ferris wheel is a really amazing ride that provides incredible views, but it is relatively expensive. However, you can get the ride at half price on the family day.
The Oktoberfest lost and found items become a museum of forgotten items every year after the festival. Everything from wallets, phones, glasses, and even jewelry disappears, offering a hilarious glimpse into the festival chaos. Last year alone, the department collected over 4,000 lost articles.
While Oktoberfest started in Munich, Germany, it has now expanded all over the world. Though Munich’s Oktoberfest is the original and most famous, countries including Canada, Brazil, the US, Australia, and more have also started hosting this festival publicly. This allows people to experience Bavarian culture and traditions without traveling to Germany.
