Munich, its beers and the Oktoberfest

“O’zapft is! »: from September 17 to October 3, the 187th edition of the Oktoberfest makes Munich the capital of beer. Fans of one of the biggest beer festivals come from all over the world to raise the one-litre mugs.

Latest edition : 29 August 2022

It's not just Bavarians who are eagerly awaiting the return of Oktoberfest. After two years of forced shutdown due to the pandemic, millions of tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the special atmosphere of one of the biggest popular festivals in the world.

Wiesn by night © München Tourismus, Werner Boehm
Parade of music groups for the opening of the Oktoberfest © München Tourismus, Luis Gervasi
Concert of the bands of the beer tents © München Tourismus, Werner Böhm
A group of musicians plays in each beer tent.© München Tourismus, Werner Boehm

The regulars did already reserve their places in February, when reservations opened for the various tents that can accommodate up to 10,000 people for the bigger ones!

The Hofbräu is one of six breweries in Munich that have the right to supply beer....
... like the Paulaner.
Only the six breweries from Munich have the right to supply beer.

The others line up in the morning in the hope of getting a place, trying their luck at the last minute. But instead of insisting – often in vain – on weekends or in the evening, and wasting your time trampling in front of the big “Bierzelt” (beer tent), why not go there on weekdays and at noon. You can also sit down in one of the smaller tents or enjoy your “mass” (liter) and half roast chicken in one of the many “Biergarten” (beer gardens) outside. Often, a more advantageous and varied menu card is offered at noon.

Oide Wiesn Biergarten © München Tourismus, Tommy Loesch
When the weather is fine, it's nice outside © München Tourismus, B. Roemmelt
In the beer gardens, the atmosphere is calmer than in the big beer tents.

If grilled chickens and pork shanks are among the essentials, the culinary offer has diversified over time with many vegetarian and even vegan dishes. There are always the unavoidable giant pretzels, but also pastries or grilled almonds to nibble on while strolling.

Grilled chicken, a typical Oktoberfest dish© München Tourismus, Marden Smith
A small snack to accompany the beer © Munich Tourismus, Frank Bauer
No beer without a pretzel.
Pretzels are sold all over the Wiesn © München Tourismus, B. Roemmelt
Difficult to pass in front of a display of roasted almonds without stopping© Munich Tourismus, Christian Kasper
A barbecue stand just for children.
The menu is displayed...to taste absolutely, the famous knödels.
The Steckerlfisch, fish grilled on a spit, is one of the essential dishes of the Oktoberfest.

As for gingerbread hearts, we generally do not eat them, even if they are delicious! These are souvenirs to bring back without fail from Oktoberfest, to offer with the right message written in sugar letters.

A gingerbread heart to declare your love.
This is THE essential souvenir, a gingerbread heart carrying a message.

Many wonder why Oktoberfest is called October party when it mainly takes place in September. Quite simply to respect tradition, the first edition having taken place on October 17, 1810, during the wedding of Prince Regent Louis of Bavaria and Princess Thérèse of Sachsen-Hildburghausen (who gave her name to the place, Theresienwiese, the meadow of Thérèse ). Even if at the time it was not a beer festival but a horse race, it was indeed the birth of Oktoberfest. Few of the visitors know that they can party thanks to this great idea of Andreas Michael Dall'Armi, member of the Bavarian national guard!

The statue of Bavaria watches over the Oktoberfest.

Despite the vicissitudes (wars, epidemics, the 1980 attack, and the last two years the Covid!), the Oktoberfest did not stop growing. And to make the most of the good weather, the festivities begin in September and end on the first weekend of October. As this year October 3, German National Day, falls on a Monday, the beer will flow one more day.

Carrying between seven and twelve mugs of beer represents 16 to 27 kg! © München Tourismus, J. Wildgruber(1)
Before signaling to a waitress, please agree on the number of beers to order. © Munich Tourismus, Frank Bauer
Holding your mug like this young man is to be avoided, shaking the glasses to toast, his fingers will not be happy © München Tourismus, A. Kupka
Only seated people can order beer. Don't forget the tip!

On the occasion of the bicentenary in 2010, a traditional festival of yesteryear was organized on part of the 34 hectares of the "Wiesn" with old rides, dances and entertainment, a program for children.

Presentation of traditional dances in a marquee of the Oide Wiesn © München Tourismus, Frank Bauer
Musicians from Oide Wiesn during Oktoberfest © München Tourismus, Frank Bauer
In the beer gardens of the Oide Wiesn you can enjoy yourself while being able to chat away from the hubbub of the marquees.
Attractions from yesteryear are also part of the fun, like this wooden slide.
At noon and in the afternoon, the Oktoberfest is meant to be family-oriented.
Too cute... even the little ones walk around in traditional outfits at the Oktoberfest

The people of Munich have appreciated it so much for its authenticity that the “Oide Wiesn” (the old meadow) is held every year. An access fee of 4 € avoids the arrival of visitors coming just for …. emptying mugs. It is here that you can see the most beautiful authentic traditional outfits that are only released for special occasions and that are especially not worn in the big tents. Because there, the plates have hardly been emptied, everyone is standing on the benches to move to the rhythm of the music, with mugs in hand, sprinkling their neighbors with a little beer... The regulars bring a sachet plastic to sit on and then store safely their vest.

After the meal, everyone spends the evening standing on the benches.

In general, the atmosphere is good-natured. But in such a crowd, you only take the bare minimum. Large handbags and backpacks are also prohibited. Also avoid: lying on the meadow at the foot of the Bavaria to sleep it off (and no longer find your wallet when you wake up).
There are also enough toilets and pissoirs so that you don't have to relieve yourself anywhere!

The cherub shows the way...
The big tents have toilets.

An important security service keeps watch inside the marquees and in the aisles of the great fair. To preserve the friendly spirit of Oktoberfest.

Meeting points, beer gardens.
Young people also like traditional outfits.
The men proudly wear their hats.
The Ferris wheel with its wagons is one of the traditional Oktoberfest rides.
The big hitter, for strong women too!

Do not try to leave with a "Masskrug" (one liter mug): it is very frowned upon. Why not buy a collector's mug, namely this year's model which takes up the motif of the 2022 posters? Prost!

The official mug 2022

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Oktoberfest in Munich from September 17 to October 3.
Opening of the marquees from 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays) to 11:30 p.m. Last beer service at 10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. in small tents)
Opening of stands and rides from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Monday to Thursday), midnight Friday and Saturday
Opening of Oide Wiesn from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., beer service until 9.30 p.m.

Price of beer: between €12.60 and €13.80/litre (15.77% more than in 2019)
Price of water: from €9.67/litre


https://www.muenchen.de/int/fr/evenements/oktoberfest.html

 

Oktoberfest in numbers

187e édition
34 hectares of party ground
130,000 m3 of water
200,000 m3 of gas
3,000,000 kWh of power
13,000 employees
14 big tents from
2,500 to 11,000 seats
20 small tents with 60 to 900 seats
7,200,000 visitors and more eat: 75,456 pork hocks
140,225 pairs of sausages
210 whole beef and calves
549,899 grilled chickens

And drink
7 800 000 liters of beer

1000 running meters of standing places in the pissoirs 
1410 seated toilets
43 toilets for people with reduced mobility