Prost! It’s time for Oktoberfest and enjoying copious amounts of beer, schnitzel, brats, pretzels, and black forest cake! While Rick and I have discussed attending Munich’s festival in the future, we’ll have to settle for Denver’s version for the time being. We can’t wait for the year when we’ll be on our way to this beautiful Bavarian city to sit down and toss back a liter or two of Oktoberfest brew.
While we save and plan for our visit, I’ve been researching the festival and have discovered some fun facts about Oktoberfest
It starts in September
The festival started as the celebration of Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Everyone in Munich was invited to attend the festivities and it was such a popular event that it was recreated the following year and the year after that and so on.
So, why does it start in September now? The easiest answer is because of the better weather. Though it starts the third weekend in September and does go into October, the earlier start tends to mean better weather for early festival-goers.
The 2018 festival in Munich starts today and runs until October 7!
Starts with a parade and keg tapping
Today, the fair kicks off with an opening ceremony that includes a parade and keg tapping by the mayor at noon. Watch the grand entry of the Oktoberfest landlords and families in their decked out carriages and decorated floats and watch the beer barrels go by on horse-drawn drays. If you want to get a good view of the festivities, you’ll want to get there early as it’s not uncommon for people to start lining up at 9 a.m. for the good spots.
Another fun fact: You can start drinking beer at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the fair but can’t go on the carnival rides until 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Only six breweries offer beer at Oktoberfest but seven million liters are consumed
At Oktoberfest, you can get beer from Augustiner, Hacker Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, and Spaten. These breweries adhere to the Reinheitsgebot or Bavarian Purity Requirements and are known for their experience in beer production.
Between these six breweries supplying Oktoberfest-goers their beer, 7.5 million liters of beer are consumed over the entire celebration (well, at least in 2017). More than six million people attend the 16-day event, and they’re definitely keeping the beer flowing from those kegs.
Another fun fact: 13,000 people are employed at the festival.
It’s not just for beer enthusiasts!
Need a little break from your golden beverage? Head into the Weinzelt or Wine Tent and get a glass of white wine, champagne, or sket (sparkling wine)! The tent has 15 different wines available
About 4,000 items are put in Lost & Found each year at Oktoberfest
After all that beer guzzling, it’s not surprising that many are in less control of their faculties or their possessions. Attendees definitely keep the workers at the Lost and Found busy by keeping track of phones, bags, and clothing… Please, keep your lederhosen on!
Last year, final numbers for items that were lost at Oktoberfest include:
- 1,300 passports
- 620 pieces of clothing
- 600 wallets
- 95 pieces of jewelry
- 520 phones
- 15 cameras
- 360 keys
- 100 bags
- 120 umbrellas
- 325 pairs of glasses
- 1 set of dentures
- 1 pair of crutches
Unfortunately, if those dentures were yours, they’re gone now. According to the Oktoberfest website, you have about six months to collect your items from the city of Munich but after that they’re up for auction.
Have you been to Oktoberfest in Munich? Share some tips and suggestions for visiting the beer festival in the comments or on our Facebook Page!
