He Beer FestivalCelebrated annually in Munich since the early 19th century, it is one of the largest folk festivals in the world, attracting over six million visitors in 2023. Although it began as a celebration of Wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausenhas become a worldwide festival. It takes place between September and October on the Theresienwiese, a field near the center of Munich, and lasts about two weeks. During the event, only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich and in compliance with the Reinheitsgebot, a purity law that guarantees the quality of the beer, is served.
There are six licensed breweries: Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spatenbräu and Hofbräu-München. The celebration includes the arrival of the Wiesnwirte (brewery owners) on site, the parade of traditional costumes and the opening of the first keg of beer by the mayor of Munich. Throughout its history, the Oktoberfest has been interrupted several times, including during the two world wars. In the years following the First World War, an alternative “autumn festival” was organized due to limited resources. After the Second World War, the celebration resumed and became the famous party that we know today.
History of Oktoberfest
He first beer festival It was celebrated on October 17, 1810 to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Although some suggest that a member of the National Guard orchestrated the celebration, this hypothesis has been disputed. What is certain is that Bavaria, recently become a kingdom after a alliance with Napoleonsought to celebrate both the royal wedding and a new sense of national pride.
The first Oktoberfest focused on a horse racea popular tradition in Munich at that time. Although beers did not play a major role in the original celebration (they were introduced in 1815), the event was a huge success. The meadow where it took place was called “Theresienwiese” in honor of the bride.
Popular demand to repeat the festival led to the Bavarian Agricultural Association take over its organization in 1811, including livestock markets and exhibitions. Munich took over in 1819, and over the next few decades the event began to evolve, adding attractions such as rides, Ferris wheels, and food stalls.
Beer quickly became a staple of Oktoberfest, with consumption of 250,000 liters recorded in 1835. By 1895, beer breweries They began building temporary breweries to serve visitors.
The festival, which was originally scheduled to take place in October, has been moved to September due to poor autumn weather. In the 1890s, authorities began adjusting the dates, and in 1905 the event was officially established in late September, extending to the first Sunday in October.
Since its inception, Oktoberfest has been cancelled 26 times, including during the World Wars and the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it has changed considerably, leaving horse racing behind, beer consumption has increased considerably, reaching six million litres since the 1990s.
Today, Oktoberfest is a global celebration, with events all over the world, including in some cities in Spain that pay homage to the Bavarian traditioneven though the true origin of the festival has been left in the background.
Oktoberfest 2024: practical information
He Munich Oktoberfest It is the largest public festival in the world, combining Bavarian tradition, delicious cuisine and famous Munich beer. This festival is held on the Theresienwiese in Munich and in 2024 it will take place from September 21 to October 6.
The heart of Oktoberfest is its 17 large beer tentseach with its own atmosphere and distinctive character. For example, the Armbrustschützen-Festzelt tent, famous for the crossbow championship, offers a deeply traditional experience. The Augustiner-Festhalle is popular for its beer served in wooden barrels and its family atmosphere. Other tents, such as the Hacker Festzelt, nicknamed “the paradise of the Bavarians”, and the famous Hofbräu-Festzelt, attract a diverse audience.
There are also smaller tents and the historic section of the Oide Wiesn, which offers a quieter, more family-friendly experience, with tents like the Festzelt tradition which evoke the spirit of the old Oktoberfest.
THE table reservations in the tents This is optional, but is especially recommended for weekends or large groups. While there is no fee for reservations, food and drink vouchers must be purchased in advance. Reservations typically open in the spring of the same year as the festival, and tents fill up quickly.
In short, Oktoberfest offers a wide variety of experiences for all tastes, from the lively party atmosphere to quieter, more traditional spacesmaking it a unique celebration of Bavarian culture.
