Every year, over seven million thirsty visitors flock to the German city of Munich to partake in a two-and-a-half-week-long celebration featuring parades, attractions, traditional food, music, and liters upon liters of beer.
The Oktoberfest is an exhilarating event to experience Bavarian culture, but it can also be overwhelming and challenging to navigate for newcomers, especially after a few liters of Löwenbräu.
This post provides all you need to know!
Oktoberfest takes place from September 16 to October 3 this year, as stated on Munich’s website. Typically, it extends for 16 days, concluding on the first Sunday in October. However, if those 16 days occur before October 3, the festival will continue for 17 or 18 days!
Over 200 years ago, Oktoberfest had its origins as a wedding celebration. It all started when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig tied the knot with Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Their wedding was marked by several days of merrymaking, including drinking, feasting, and horse races. This joyous occasion eventually evolved into an annual event!
As we have mentioned, The Oktoberfest originated in 1810 as a series of horse races in honor of the wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It was such a success that it became an annual event, and each year it included more and more activities.
However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that sausages and beer became the stars of the celebration. Today, the vast array of beer barrels and charcuterie snacks are the hallmark of the event, along with traditional Bavarian attire.
First and foremost, the staggering volume of alcohol, people drink nearly 7 million liters of beer and 95,000 liters of wine each day. Waitresses dressed in the traditional Dirndl and waiters in Lederhosen serve massive beer steins brimming with foam, known as Masskruege, to the thirsty attendees.
Even such a simple gesture as this becomes quite a spectacle at times, as waiters and waitresses sometimes carry an incredible number of steins at once: the current world record stands at 26 full Masskrug.
The second highlight is the food. Bavarians often kick off their day at Oktoberfest with a Weisswurst, a white sausage made from veal and bacon. Lunch can consist of half a roasted chicken (Hendl), roasted pork knuckle bathed in a gravy-like sauce (Schweinhaxen), or more sausages.
Throughout the day, visitors looking to cushion their alcohol consumption can savor tasty snacks like pretzels, roasted almonds, or the traditional Kaiserschmarrn, thick crêpes cut into strips.
If, after all the beer and food, the traveler still has the energy to move around, the festival offers several fairground attractions, carnival rides, traditional Bavarian music performances, puppet shows, and various parades. Regular attendees have the tradition of drunkenly rolling down a large hill; anyone who wants to participate does so at their own risk!!!
Today, Oktoberfest embodies the traditions, diversity, and sense of community that have developed in Bavaria over the last two centuries. At its core, this celebration revolves around a profound love for life and the joy of socializing with loved ones. Year after year, countless locals and tourists unite to partake in the festivities of Oktoberfest.
An excellent illustration of this spirit can be found in the song known as “Ein Prosit” (a toast). For those curious about its meaning, “Ein Prosit” is derived from the first line of the song, “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit,” which translates to “a toast to contentment.”
Festival attendees can delight in roller coasters, carnival games, various rides, booths, a Ferris wheel, live music, and an array of other activities. For many Germans, Oktoberfest serves as a welcome respite from their daily routines, providing a chance to relish beer and sausages in a communal atmosphere.
In recent times, Oktoberfest has extended its reach to other cities and countries worldwide. Throughout Europe, you’ll encounter Oktoberfest festivities in cities like Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Manchester. Beyond Europe, numerous festivals replicate the traditional Bavarian experience, including locations as far-reaching as Brazil and Asia.
Märzen stands as the official Oktoberfest beer, traditionally boasting a stronger and darker profile compared to regular beer. This bottom-fermented beverage carries an alcohol content of up to 6%.
Only six Munich breweries hold the privilege of serving beer at Oktoberfest, and all of their offerings must adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law. This longstanding law, in effect since 1516, restricts beer ingredients to just four: hops, barley, yeast, and malt.
In the past, festival-goers at Oktoberfest consumed their beer from stone mugs. It wasn’t until 1892 that glass steins became the norm.
Oktoberfest exclusively features beer from the following breweries:
These breweries collectively constitute the Club of Munich Brewers, responsible for crafting Oktoberfest beer, also known as Festbier.
What sets these breweries apart is their practice of brewing a fresh selection of beers each year. As a result, a beer from any one of these breweries may exhibit distinct flavors from year to year.
Before you venture to the Munich Oktoberfest, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these useful words and phrases:
These expressions should assist you in navigating the Bierzelt (beer tent) and may even help you strike up conversations and make new friends!
Munich’s Hauptbahnhof, the central train station, is just a short ride from the Oktoberfest venue. The closest U-bahn (subway) stations are Theresienwiese and Schwanthalerhöhe. If you’re driving, it’s a good idea to park at a Park & Ride facility or a parking lot and use public transportation to get to the festival.
The wonders of Oktoberfest have spread all over Germany and around the world. The second-largest Oktoberfest celebration on the planet takes place in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada. There are also similar events in Berlin, Hannover, Blumenau, London, Pretoria, and countless cities in the United States.
Last but not least, it’s also a good idea to take some time to explore more of Munich, Bavaria, and the stunning Black Forest region.
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