Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest: Introduction
OKTOBERFEST,
Everything You Need To Know
Oktoberfest 2012: September 22 (Sat) thru October 7 (Sun).
Be a part of the Oktoberfest in Munich this year when the world's largest folk festival celebrates its 202nd birthday! You're welcome to come with me on tour or use the information I've penned below for you to do it yourself. (But I'll tell you now, you'll be hard-pressed to do it cheaper than what I offer on my tour.)
Watch my Oktoberfest 2011 video here.
PLEASE click the following button to "like" my new "Oktoberfest Munich" page on Facebook. Cheers!
(See Comments at the bottom of the page and feel free to add one of your own!)
Introduction
If it’s September, it must be Oktoberfest!
In a nutshell, the Oktoberfest is the world’s biggest beer festival—an orgy of drinking, eating, singing and merriment. It all began on a joyous autumn day in October 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I (the fairy-tale king’s grandfather), married his bride, Princess Therese von Hildburghausen. The wedding reception was such a hit that it materialized into a week-long party and an annual celebration, which now attracts some 6 million beer-swilling fun-loving visitors from all over the world during the two-week festival. (Pictured: small part of Oktoberfest grounds as seen from the base of Lady Bavaria on opening day.)
The Oktoberfest is held on the Theresienwiese (Therese’s Meadow), locally die Wies’n, fairgrounds named in honor of Princess Therese, located 1 km southwest of Munich’s main train station. Today, the fest could really be called the Septemberfest because it’s been moved up a month to take advantage of the better weather. To figure out the formula for future Oktoberfest dates is easy: The fest always finishes on the first Sunday in October (unless the October 3rd German Unity holiday falls on the succeeding Monday or Tuesday then the fest wraps up on either day) and begins two weeks prior on the Saturday. For example, the dates for the Oktoberfest in 2012 are Sept 22—Oct 7 and in 2013 Sept 21—Oct 6.
In case you were wondering: My favorite time to visit the fest is the opening weekend (i.e. Sept 22-23, 2012), not only because of the colorful and captivating parades on Saturday and Sunday but also because my next stop after Munich is Salzburg, right when its Old Town explodes in resplendent celebration, bedecked in carnival rides, food stands, traditional ceremonies, dance and song, and a melodic beer tent in honor of the city's founder and patron saint, Rupert. The festival, known locally as the Rupertikirtag, will take place in 2012 from September 19-24 (alas, because of the late start in Munich this year, Rupertikirtag will begin before Oktoberfest). And I'm thrilled to say that this year will mark my 14th straight Oktoberfest in Munich as well as Rupertikirtag in Salzburg.
Opening day, Saturday:
Leading up to the official start of the Oktoberfest is the traditional opening-day parade, since 1887, known as the Festival of Innkeepers, which begins in the *city at 10:45 and finishes in front of the beer tents at 11:45. (*For best viewing, find an elevated spot at the intersection of Schwanthalerstrasse and Sonnenstrasse.) The parade is an hour-long procession of horse-drawn brewer wagons transporting the ceremonial first beer kegs to the fairgrounds. The guest of honor, seated in the leading wagon, is the Bürgermeister, or mayor of Munich, who will tap the first keg at noon to kick-start the Oktoberfest. Catching a lift on the following wagons are the brewery owners and executives, their friends, family, and bar staff (many of whom are full-bosomed Fräuleins donning provocative dirndls). Once the wagons arrive at the fairgrounds, the climax is not far off. At the stroke of 12 noon, in the Schottenhamel tent, the Bürgermeister clobbers the very first keg of Oktoberfest beer with a wooden mallet and proclaims, “O’zapft is!” (It’s tapped!) At that moment, twelve cannon volleys ring out across the Wies’n, puffs of smoke burst overhead, high in the sky, officially signaling the start of Oktoberfest to the other tents and that beer can be served, precisely when an army of determined barmaids begin the mad dash of carrying fistfuls of frothy mugs to dry-mouthed patrons crying out for beer like nesting chicks begging their mother for food. The rest of the day is a blur!
Day 2, Sunday:
The prelude to the second day of the Oktoberfest is another traditional parade, since 1835 (the Costume and Riflemen’s Parade), but this one happens to be the largest and most beautiful and historically rich costume parade in the world, comprising some 7,500 participants marching in a 6-kilometer-long spectacle from Maximilianstrasse (10:00) through the city to the fairgrounds (13:00). The participants are members of folk clubs from all parts of Germany, and Europe, proudly displaying their regional colors and garb, historical uniforms and (in many cases) musical accompaniment. This is truly a pageant not to be missed. If you can’t make it to the city, the parade will be televised live on German TV. Note: After the parade, many of the fantastically dressed participants will be wandering around the fairgrounds, presenting you with more wonderful photo opportunities.
Traditional costume:
Blend in with the local crowd clad in your own traditional Bavarian duds. Browse affordable but ersatz lederhosen and dirndl (80-200€) outside Munich’s main train station (Bayerstrasse side) in seasonal outlets set up to cash in on the Fest frenzy. The same goes in the Old Town center at the usually jam-packed Almenrausch (Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Tal street 1, 30-second walk east of Marienplatz) or across the street the bigger Kleidermarkt with comfortably less people and second-hand clothes downstairs (Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Tal street 30). 
But before you make your final purchase, check out ReSales ("second hand & more" at Sonnenstrasse 2, Mon-Fri 10:00-19:30, Sat 10:00-18:00, CC: VC, MC, AE) because I found them to have a wider selection with equally competitive prices. (Pictured: me wearing my Bavarian duds standing between two costumed gals from Eastern Europe.) Note: Men, most places will sell you the whole "Lederhosen" outfit (shoes, socks, shirt, pants) for 199€.
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(This page was last updated October 2011)
COMMENTS
PLEASE take a moment to let me and others know your thoughts about the Oktoberfest, or the information on this page, or perhaps you have a question about a particular tent or beer. Simply type in your comment below and click "Post as" (note that you can login via your Facebook or Twitter account in which case we'd get to see your avatar). To finish, this is an open message board, thus please refrain from using foul language or disrespecting others. Thank you, Brett Harriman