Beer, beer beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer beer, beer, beer and more Beer.

Home

Why? What to wear? What to bring? The Beertent Music Guest List Rules Speak German History Gallery Questions/RSVP

The Beerfest !

The first "Oktoberfest" took place on October 12, 1810:

For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival grounds) organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12th, the horse race on October 17th, therefore there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest).

To honor the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, a parade took place for the first time in 1835.

Since 1850 this has been a yearly event and an important component of the Oktoberfest.

8,000 people, mostly from Bavaria, in traditional costumes walk from Maximilian Street, through the center of Munich, to the Oktoberfest. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl.

Bavaria Statue Since 1850 the statue of Bavaria has watched the Oktoberfest. This worldly Bavarian patron was first sketched by Leo von Klenze in a classic style and Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler romanticised and "Germanised" the draft; it was constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller.

Some numbers

30% of the year's production of beer by Munich breweries will be consumed in the two weeks of Oktoberfest.
12,000 People are employed at the Oktoberfest. Of these, 1600 are waitresses.
There is available seating for 100,000 people.
The six Oktoberfest breweries, (Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu) sold 6.1 million mugs of beer in 2006 (2005: 6.0 - 2004: 5.5 million).
Roasted oxen: 102
Sausages: 219,443 pairs
Roast chickens: 459,279
60% Of visitors arrive by public transport.

Souvenirs

Oktoberfest beer mugs are made from heavy glass and typically have a decorative brewery logo on the side, thus making them very popular souvenirs among visitors.

Although it is strictly forbidden to steal the mugs, they can be purchased in the tents at a reasonable price.

Buyers are strongly advised to keep the receipts because police are known to search them for stolen mugs even away from the fest area. When police catch someone stealing a mug, the thieves may be fined up to €50. In 2006 220,000 mugs were retrieved by security forces

This is our guide on what to wear so that you can fit in

Check out the great tent we've booked

.
No "Light Beer"
Here mate!

Brush up on your German and learn some expressions that might come in handy.

The Beerfest !

I just like this ad

What to wear

The Tent

Wrong Beerfest

What to bring

Speak German