September 16th
2006
"O'zapft is!" might have been today's most anticipated term for every Munich-ian, as it rings in our town's most loved season: It's Oktoberfest time again. At 12 o'clock AM mayor Christian Ude taps the first keg with these famous Bavarian words, accentuated by loud cannon shots and heavy applause. So for the next 18 days we'll be happily feeding the stereotype that Bavarians run around in leather pants and Dirndl at all times ;) Actually, you'll see them everywhere not just at the Oktoberfest, you can even find locals going to work in full armor! Probably just for convenience - saving an extra hour (for changing clothes) and heading straight from work to the Wiesn.
Except for a brief time-out due to war, the Oktoberfest has been celebrated year after year, for almost 200 years now. The tradition of Oktoberfest was established 1810 with the commemoration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. To honor the princess, the location/field was named after her: Theresienwiese or simply "Wiesn". The entire area covers approximately 42 hectare on which 14 large beer tents, as well as lovely nostalgic rides and food booths share space with the latest high-tech-neck-breaking roller coasters.
What began as a happy royal party -no pun intended-, today became a mega event with Munich's major breweries sponsoring the event. Although horse races were eventually abandoned, many characteristics of the early Oktoberfest celebrations have been retained, if not expanded.
Today’s pictures were taken during the grand parade of the Oktoberfest landlords and breweries with which the festival opens. Highlights of the parade are certainly the big wagons (mostly carriage and fours/sixs) with all the beer barrels, accompanied by various marching bands.
Up to 6 million visitors are expected this year, packed into huge beer halls and consuming over 5 million liters of beer. Speaking of which, the beer brewed for the occasion is both darker and stronger (~6% vs. ~4.8% alcohol by volume) and on top tastes even better (I think). Oh and yes it is more expensive, too. Between €6.95 and €7.50 for a Mass (= one liter).
In case you're wondering why the name Oktoberfest if it starts in September, the explanation is simple: the weather! At the end of September Bavaria often has nice late summer weather, hence the early start. On a final note (for now), if you're at a loss for what to eat, check out our favorites: Brathendl (roast chicken) & Steckerlfisch (fish on a stick).
A few hints and tips:
No need to nick a beer stein, they actually sell them, too. Security usually has little sense of humor and you may be fined up to 50 EUR.
Staying past 8 PM can be fun but watch out for flying beer steins - people tend to get crazy after too much alcohol.
If you take your kiddo to the festival, don't bring your buggy on Saturdays or after 6 PM, they are not permitted due to "heavy traffic".
Plan extra time for logistics, even public transportation is maxed out those days.
The popular tents tend to close their doors soon (no access in the evenings): either go there early, or make sure you have made proper reservations.
The 14 tents have different target audiences, some are frequently visited by gourmets and/or celebrities (like Käfers Wies’n-Schänke), others target especially young crowds (like Hippodrom). Find out more here.
A few more links:
Official Oktoberfest Website
PS: Stay tuned for more Oktoberfest impressions - over the course of the next 17 days.
Lovely pictures! We usually visit the great Sunday parade, but this year we can't. Makes me kind of sad. But we will be there in the second week and I can't wait!
Beautiful, my favorite is the one with the girl on the huge horse. Looks impressive! I always wanted to visit Munich and the Oktoberfest, maybe next year. Have fun :)
I went to Oktoberfest when I was a college student and, needless to say, I don't remember much
(actually, I don't remember anything....)
So thanks for showing what I missed...and for braving those rowdy stein-hefters with your camera! But for the next post, how 'bout a picture of you two in your full Obtoberfest garb as well?
Another hint from someone living in earshot of Octoberfest (*sigh*): Simply avoid the beer tents. (Dubious food, horrible music, neandertal company.)
The rest of the festival includes nostalgic amusements and treats much more worthy of being mentioned in a food blog (türkischer Honig! Rindsbratwurst! gebrannte Mandeln! Fischsemmel!). You might even get into a conversation with one of the booth proprietors: Some of them have been getting their whole year's income from two weeks Oktoberfest for decades.
Eins, two, gsuffa!
I'm so jealous! I've been to the Wiesn twice and it was big fun. Don't remember how many Mass I've had, but who cares anyway? Beautiful pictures as always!
Your photography is amazing, do you do this professionally? I haven't been to the Oktoberfest yet, but my best friends keep telling me stories about the fun they had there years ago, so hopefully I can visit it some day. I'd love to try the special beer.
I want to be there too!!!! I love Munich.
Beautiful photographs!
I would love to experience Oktoberfest someday, I think this should be on the list of things to do before you die, definitely a party to end all parties.
Nice photos! ^_^
Beautiful photographs! It's so nice to see pictures of the parade and people dressed up in costumes from yesteryears. Have a big tankard for us!
Lovely pictures...
We live in Duesseldorf and will come to Munich on 29th September, will stay there till 3rd October any suggestions for accomondation, B&B is preferred.
It seems everywhere is packed, I searched yesterday and today, no luck:(
Would appreciate your help.
Thanks in advance.
This made me so happy - when I checked in on your yummy blog today and found this post on Oktoberfest. We leave on Thursday for Hannover, Germany where we are staying for two months. I may be in Munich in October to visit a friend there - this post made me want to set those plans into motion. I have to speak to my husband about this. Thorsten tells me there is a high speed train directly from Hannover to Munich...
Anyway, I love the spirit that you've captured in your photos, just lovely.
Holly
I love your blog!! Will be dropping by more often :)
BTW, so Octoberfest actually starts in September? What do they do in October then?
FEI, They celebrate 'till October 3rd, so the celebration actually does hit the month of October. If only for three days ;)
Holly, let me know if you make it to MUC. Besides the Oktoberfest we have some fabulous shops for hip finds, which might be right up your alley!
Gulnur, Sadly around this time of the year it is pretty hard to find any rooms. Some are booked half a year in advance. http://www.booking.de still advertises free rooms in various hotels, maybe you want to try them?
Kaltmamsell, I can see your point concerning the beer tents, because we also prefer sitting outside in warming late summer sun... Yet I recall some evenings with a huge crowd of friends and countless Mass, which were so much fun! Food-wise I'd say it's not so bad. Sure, the food can't compete with high-class restaurants, yet I didn't have a single letdown since we moved back to Munich 6 years ago. Maybe it also depends on one's picks?
And thank you for your help on jamón de bellota and pimientos de piquillo! Will try to hunt them down ;)
Ach, you are making me homesick for the brief period I lived in Munich! Can I add one tip, passed on to us and ably demonstrated by our good friend Heidi? If you come with a group, women should separate themselves slightly from the men and the prettiest/youngest one should go to a table with one or two seats and (prettily) ask the men if she and her friends (female friends wave!) can have the seats. Then everyone (male and female) squeezes into the seats with good will. Works every time!
Ein prosit, ein prosit, gemütlichkeit...ein prosit, ein proooooosit, gemutlichkeit!
I've been a lurker on your blog for a while now and thought I'd "come out" to say what a great post! I have been to Oktoberfest 3 times now and it is one of my favourite events of the whole year. From what you hear, it's a bunch of drunk Australians and nothing else, but in reality there's so much more. I am constantly amazed at the number of locals who turn out in their lederhosen and dirndls - I think it's tremendous that the Wiesn enjoys so much local support from people of all ages.
And while some of the tents can be crazy (Hofbraeu springs to mind...), it is fairly easy to find a more traditional and relaxed tent. Paulaner strikes the right balance for me - traditional German music for most of the day and some dancing music only after sunset. We met such interesting people during out 2 days, including Max and Valentyna who are 85 and 65 respectively and have been coming to the Wiesn for years. To me, that's that the Oktoberfest is about - relaxing and meeing people from all over the world (with a beer in hand, of course!)
And I've always found the food in Paulaner to be good - the bratenhendl is sublime :-)
Hi Jeanne, I'm glad you have such nice memories of Oktoberfest. Like you said, some nationalities indeed have created some kind of stereotype-Oktoberfest- behavior, but luckily not everybody fits the bill ;) Please let me know, once you decide it's time for you to pay the Oktoberfest your fourth visit - we'd love to keep company!
Meg, That's a great tip to add! Although, I'd make sure that the group you're joining can take a joke and would probably not try it past 8pm ;)
[...] Reading this blog post made me realize how much I miss Munich. Surprising, but true. I even kind of miss snow. I never thought the day would come… [...]
Simply lovely pictures! They're oh so wonderful.I love Germany=]
OKTOBERFEST - the sights, the sounds (Hey, Baby), the revelers, the bier, the FOOD...all great memories evoked from your post! A most important question for listening Bavarians - how can I cook SCHWEINHAXEN (yes, even in U.S. we can get fresh pork shanks and knuckles) to be more like OKTOBERFEST vendors than as described in "The German Cookbook"? (What IS the secret of the CRISPY CRUST??) Hungrily awaiting your response(s) - THANKS!
Aunt Funnel, I can only second (and pass on) your question on how to cook the Bavarian Schweinshaxen just as crispy as they do on the Oktoberfest, because I really don't have a clue! I guess these people are real pros, they've been doing and perfecting it for many, many years, and the used ovens and grills are especially designed for it (with the rotating skewers and such). Anybody knowing more about it?
Great pics on this blog. I'm going to Oktfest at the end of Sept. I'm not really sure how these tent reservations work. I will be with 13 ppl. Do we NEED them or can we just walk in/stay/find lots of small tents, whatever? Any tips on enjoying the whole experience would be fantastic.
Adam, You can walk in as long as the tents are not closed due to overcrowding, which happens almost daily in the popular tents. Being there early afternoon helps to secure a table if you haven't booked in advance. Maybe you want to check out this website for more tips and information (in English).
Excellent entry - Bravo!!! I teach a German class at an American university and intended to inform my students regarding the Oktoberfest during the next lesson (I am teaching a lot of culture along with the language). I'll simply show them your latest entry and the gorgeous pictures - you made it really easy for me. Danke schoen!