Enjoying Munich's Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest, locally known as "Wies'n", is Bavaria's festival to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese, which originally took place on October 18, 1810. With an annual attendance of around six million people from all corners of the world, Munich's Oktoberfest is truly an international gathering and the largest fair in the world. Taking place at the fair grounds (Theresienwiese) and usually spanning a little over two weeks in late September to early October, the festival begins with a parade, 12-gun salute and the ceremonial tapping of the first beer keg by Munich's Mayor and the announcement "O'zapft is!", or "It's tapped!" which is only the beginning of this fabulous tradition.

Despite popular belief, Oktoberfest isn't just for twenty-somethings looking to drink as much beer as possible. While beer is, of course, a central part of the Oktoberfest, the festival is meaningful for people of all ages because it encompasses a carnival and plenty of new cultural and culinary opportunities. But first, the beer tents must be visited. To blend in, men should wear lederhosen and ladies, dirndls, and be prepared to toast to the famous German drinking song "Ein Prosit".

Each of the major breweries owns and operates a beer tent, which is actually a semi-permanent structure that is capable of holding thousands of people, with Paulaner's tent holding up to 8,000. With fourteen tents, visitors have their choice of specialty brews and ambiance and ifferent bands play all day and in to the night, bringing a sense of individuality to each tent. To enjoy the whole experience, set some money aside to actually eat in a beer tent and be prepared for steep prices. Order spätzle (egg noodles) and würst (sausage) with your beer and have apple strudel for dessert. So as not to stand out, use the phrase "ein Maß (Mass) bitte", and you'll receive a liter of that brewery's Oktoberfest brew. It is wise to arrive to the fairgrounds early in the day and find a place at a table before lunchtime (noon) to secure space for the afternoon and evening (after 2pm or so, most beer tents are open only to ticket holders). A tip: Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Hofbräu tents tend to fill up the most quickly.

Don't miss the other food and drink opportunities on the grounds. Many different types of beverages are available: grab a fresh pretzel and a chocolate-covered banana to go with coffee or the German favorite, Apfelschorle (a combination of mineral water and apple juice). Don't miss the potato pancakes (Reiberdatschi) and Hendl (chicken), both Bavarian specialties. The carnival is fun for all ages and has rides for everyone; crowd favorites include the huge ferris wheel and the Olympia coaster.

Oktoberfest isn't celebrated just in Munich or even Germany. In fact, many American cities have similar celebrations with one of the biggest stateside taking place in Texas's Hill Country. While traditions may be slightly different across the world, Oktoberfest always embodies a spirit of friendship, fun, and of course a love of food and beer.

http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/
http://www.oktoberfestinfbg.com/