And most importantly, this German tradition is also celebrated all over the world. If it’s your first time in Munich, you don’t have to be intimidated by the prospect of this huge beer festival. However, you can easily find cheaper options for less than $100. So if you want to save money or just want the authentic Oktoberfest experience, be sure to pick up your own leather pants before heading to the festival. No matter where you celebrate Oktoberfest, you can’t do it without eating traditional German food. There are plenty of delicious options to choose from, such as sauerkraut, sausage, pretzels and of course a lot of beer.
The dirndls are often gingham, with embroidered aprons, and have a rather tetonous appearance. Nowadays, however, you see some women wearing leather pants, just like men. Beer, dirndls, lederhosen, felt hats, gingerbread hearts, carnival attractions, oompah bands…
It is world famous for its soft pretzels known as brez’n by locals which are often served with sausages and sweet mustard. Other popular foods include slow-roasted beef, juicy roasted chickens. Käsespätzle and weisswurst, which means white sausage, are sucked out of the skin.
You’ll probably feel pretty left out if you’re not wearing a Dirndl or Lederhosen, as the vast majority of festival-goers will be in costume. Many locals and visitors of all ages, from all over the world, will set up the traditional Tracht. The first Oktoberfest was held in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Louis’ marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and lasted almost a week, until October 17. The public celebrations ended with an exciting horse race.
This event always takes place on the first Saturday of Oktoberfest and serves as an official prelude to the Oktoberfest celebration. Each of Munich’s breweries is building one of the temporary structures, with a capacity of about 6,000 seats. The mayor of Munich plays the first barrel to open the festival.
Beer tents are set up throughout the grounds where revelers can enjoy these dishes while listening to German folk music performed by live bands. It is the largest folk festival in the world and the most popular. Once an Oktoberfest participant, always an Oktoberfest participant. But still few of us know how it all started or even who we owe to Oktoberfest as it is known today. It is held every year in early autumn in Munich, when the city is visited by more than seven million people.
Read on to learn all about this festive event and be sure to open our free Encinitas Destination Guide for even more local information! This resource is full of all our best recommendations for eating, drinking and relaxing. The wedding was held in a field known as Theresienwiese or “Wiesn” (“Theresa’s Meadow”), named after the Crown Princess. The crown prince organized a horse race at the end of the wedding, where about 40,000 spectators gathered. The following year, a follow-up race was organized and the Oktoberfest tradition was born. If you’re easily prone to getting drunk, beware: Beers in Munich are strong!
There are also many other types of sausages, such as bratwurst and currywurst, usually served with a muffin. And if you’re in the mood for candy, your options are endless, from hot pancakes served with applesauce to waffles with chocolate sauce, whipped cream or powdered sugar. Munich, Germany is the birthplace of Oktoberfest and an important part of Bavarian culture that began on October 12, 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig married Oktoberfest 2023 Princess Teresa. Citizens were invited to attend the festivities organized in the fields in front of the city, known as “Wies’n”, which means grass, so you can sometimes hear that it is referred to as such in Germany. Since then, the 17-day festival has grown into an important event, with travelers from all over the world in recent decades. An estimated six million people a year drink as much as seven million liters of beer.
You always have to book in groups of 8-10 people, and most bookings go to locals who have had tables at the Wies’n for several generations. However, as we’ve mentioned before, you can still have the time of your life without a reservation in a beer tent. Remember to go earlier in the day, and if possible on a weekday, to improve your chances of spending time in larger stores. But don’t worry, we had just as much fun in the food tents and outside as we did in the tents. There’s nothing better than the 2-week Oktoberfest beer festival held in Munich every year, and for the best Oktoberfest packages and tours, Thirsty Swagman has you covered.
Ultimately, the experience you have depends on how much you’re willing to embrace it. Go with an open mind, a strong thirst for the best beer you’ll ever drink, and the curiosity to start conversations with everyone, and you’re sure you’re having the time of your life. 10th edition of Beau’s Oktoberfest at Vankleek Hill Fairgrounds, outside Ottawa, Ontario. Oktoberfest is Beau’s Brewing Co.’s signature fundraising event — last year’s two-day festival attracted 20,000 visitors and raised more than $100,000 for local charitable and community groups.