In Munich, the Oktoberfest begins now! The night view of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
The summer had grown through the past few weeks every now and then rainy and cool, but now everything is good, because it is the Oktoberfest weather. And this is – this is an iron law of Munich, which is broken only rarely – for 16 days, quite wonderful. The sun is shining, a light breeze although a little cry out from the sky sometimes. The sky appears blue and white; sometimes with little gust of wind and clouds and shower. It is never nice to sit in the beer garden, as during the Oktoberfest.
The beer is flowing, start the Oktoberfest madness can: Mayor Christian Ude cites! He has tapped the first keg – and the launch of the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich. Big crowd at the “Theresienwiese” prevails despite the rain, many tents are already on. In “Schottenhamel” the mood is relaxed. Some celebrities are already there.
Thousands of Euros scroll Meadow fans down for a table reservation at the Oktoberfest – and still sometimes get no place. Oktoberfest Kenner calls just before the start of the Oktoberfest through all booking offices of the tents. After all, who has not been secured at the beginning of his meadow table gets, with luck, a chance to still have a seat. Many places and vouchers that were not paid or collected, just before and even during Oktoberfest again it is earned. The price stays normal.
Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair, with more than 6 million people attending every year. To the locals, it is not called Oktoberfest, but “die Wiesn” – after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds themselves. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the original Munich event.
The Munich Oktoberfest originally took place during the sixteen days up to, and including, the first Sunday in October. In 1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival would go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). The festival is held in an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, located near Munich’s center. Large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are consumed, with almost 7 million liters served during the 16 day festival. Visitors may also enjoy a wide variety of traditional food such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezeln (Pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Rotkohl/Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).
To keep the Oktoberfest, and especially the beer tents, friendly for older people and families, the concept of the “quiet Oktoberfest” was developed in 2005. Until 6:00 pm, the tents only play quiet music, for example traditional wind music. Only after that will Schlager (pop music) is played. The music played in the afternoon is limited to 85 decibels. With these rules, the organisers of the Oktoberfest were able to curb the over-the-top party mentality and preserve the traditional beer tent atmosphere.
Since 2005 the last travelling Enterprise ride of Germany, called Mondlift, is back on the Oktoberfest.
Starting in 2008, a new Bavarian law intended to ban smoking in all enclosed spaces that are open to the public, even at the Oktoberfest. Because of problems enforcing the anti-smoking law in the big tents there was an exception for the Oktoberfest 2008, although the sale of tobacco was not allowed. After heavy losses in the 2008 local elections with the smoke ban being a big issue in debates, the state’s ruling party meanwhile implemented special exemptions to beer tents and small pubs. The change in regulation is aimed in particular at large tents at the Oktoberfest. So, smoking in the tents is still legal, but the tents usually have non-smoking areas. However, in early 2010 a referendum held in Bavaria as a result of a popular initiative re-instituted the original, strict, smoking ban of 2008; thus, no beer will be sold to people caught smoking in the tents. The blanket smoking ban will not take effect until 2011, but all tents will institute the smoking ban this year as to do the “dry run” to identify any unforeseeable issues. The common issue when the smoking ban is in effect is the nauseating stench of stale beer spilled on the floor, which the smoking masked.
2012 marks the 202nd anniversary of Oktoberfest. A specially brewed beer (solely available at the tents of the historical Oktoberfest), horse races, and a museum tent give visitors an impression of how the event felt a century ago.
