Oktoberfest

This article is about Munich Oktoberfest. For the special strong beer, see Märzen. For Oktoberfests elsewhere, see Oktoberfest celebrations.

Oktoberfest is a 16- to 18-day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event.

The Munich Oktoberfest, traditionally, takes place during the sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October. In 1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival will go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the 1st Sunday is October 2nd and 18 days when it is October 1st. In 2010, the festival lasts exceptionally until the first October Monday, to mark the 200 year jubilee of the event. The festival is held on an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, which is located near Munich's centre South East of the main train station.

Visitors eat huge amounts of traditional hearty fare such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezn (Pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Kasspatzn (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).

History

File:Wiesn2006 Luftaufnahme.jpg

Theresienwiese one day pre opening 2006

The original "Oktoberfest" occurred in Munich, on October 12, 1810. For the public commemoration of their marriage that took place five days before, 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 event was so successful that it was decided to renew it in 1811.

First hundred years

In the year 1811, an agricultural show was added to boost Bavarian agriculture. The horse race persisted until 1960, the agricultural show still exists and it is held every three years on the southern part of the festival grounds. In 1816, carnival booths appeared; the main prizes were silver, porcelain, and jewelry. The founding citizens of Munich assumed responsibility for festival management in 1819, and it was agreed that the Oktoberfest would become an annual event. Later, it was lengthened and the date pushed forward, the reason being that days are longer and warmer at the end of September.

To honour the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, a parade took place for the first time in 1835. Since 1850, this has become 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 centre of Munich, to the Oktoberfest. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl.

File:Munich Bavaria.jpg

Bavaria statue above the Theresienwiese

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.

In 1853, the Bavarian Ruhmeshalle was finished. In 1854, 3,000 residents of Munich succumbed to an epidemic of cholera, so the festival was cancelled. Also, in the year 1866, there was no Oktoberfest as Bavaria fought in the Austro-Prussian War. In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war was the reason for cancellation of the festival. In 1873, the festival was once more cancelled due to a cholera epidemic. In 1880, the electric light illuminated over 400 booths and tents (Albert Einstein helped install lightning bulbs in the Schottenhamel tent as an apprentice in his uncle's electricity business in 1896). In 1881, booths selling bratwursts opened. Beer was first served in glass mugs in 1892.

File:Oktoberfest at night.jpg

Oktoberfest at night with view of Löwenbräu tent

At the end of the 19th century, a re-organization took place. Until then, there were games of skittles, large dance floors, and trees for climbing in the beer booths. They wanted more room for guests and musicians. The booths became beer halls.

In 1887, the Entry of the Oktoberfest Staff and Breweries took place for the first time. This event showcases the splendidly decorated horse teams of the breweries and the bands that play in the festival tents. This event always takes place on the first Saturday of the Oktoberfest and symbolises the official prelude to the Oktoberfest celebration

In the year 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated its 100th birthday. 120,000 litres of beer were poured. In 1913, the Bräurosl was founded, which was the largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time, with room for about 12,000 guests.

War years

From 1914 to 1918, World War I prevented the celebration of Oktoberfest. In 1919 and 1920, the two years after the war, Munich celebrated only an "Autumn Fest." In 1923 and 1924, the Oktoberfest was not held due to inflation.

In 1933, the Bavarian white and blue flag was replaced with the swastika flag. From 1939 to 1945, due to World War II, no Oktoberfest took place. From 1946 to 1948, after the war, Munich celebrated only the "Autumn Fest." The sale of proper Oktoberfest beer - 2% stronger in alcohol than normal beer - was not permitted; guests had to drink normal beer.

Since its beginnings the Oktoberfest has been cancelled 24 times due to war, disease and other emergencies.

Modern festival

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Olympia Looping at night

File:Oktoberfest Schaugeschaeft 2007 Richard Bartz.jpg

Frisbee carousel in the heat of day.

Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening: A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the cry "O' zapft is!" ("It's tapped!" in the Austro-Bavarian language) opens the Oktoberfest. The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. The first mayor to tap the keg was Thomas Wimmer.

Horse races ended in 1960.

By 1960, the Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous world-famous festival. Since then, foreigners began to picture Germans as wearing the Sennerhut, Lederhosen, and the girls in Dirndl.

Traditional visitors wear during the Oktoberfest Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte), which contain a tuft of goat hair. In Germany, goat hair is highly valued and prized, making it one of the most expensive objects for sale. The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. Technology helping, this tradition ended with the appearance of cheap goat hair imitations on the market.

There are many problems every year with young people who overestimate their ability to handle large amounts of alcohol. Many forget that beer has 7,5 to 8% alcohol, and they pass out due to drunkenness. These drunk patrons are often called "Bierleichen" (German for "beer corpses").

For them as well as for the general medical treatment of visitors the Bavarian branch of German Red Cross operates an aid facility and provides emergency medical care on the festival grounds, staffed with around 100 volunteer medics and doctors per day. They serve together with special detachments of Munich police, fire department and other municipal authorities in the service center at the Behördenhof (authorities' court), a large building specially built for the Oktoberfest at the east side of the Theresienwiese, just behind the tents. There is also a place for lost & found children, a lost property office, a security point for women and other public services.

To keep the Oktoberfest, and especially the beer tents, friendly for older people and families, the concept of the "quiet Oktoberfest" was developed in 2005. Until 6:00 pm, the tents only play quiet music, for example traditional wind music. Only after that will Schlager and pop music be played, which had led to more violence in earlier years. The music played in the afternoon is limited to 85 decibels. With these rules, the organizers of the Oktoberfest were able to curb the over-the-top party mentality and preserve the traditional beer tent atmosphere.

Since 2005 the last traveling Enterprise ride of Germany, called Mondlift, is back on the Oktoberfest.

Starting in 2008, a new Bavarian law intended to ban smoking in all enclosed spaces that are open to the public, even at the Oktoberfest. Because of problems enforcing the anti-smoking law in the big tents there was an exception for the Oktoberfest 2008, although the sale of tobacco was not allowed. After heavy losses in the 2008 local elections with the smoke ban being a big issue in debates, the state's ruling party meanwhile implemented special exemptions to beer tents and small pubs. So, smoking in the tents is still legal, but the tents usually have non-smoking areas.. The sale of tobacco in the tents is now legal, but it's abandoned by agreement. However, in early 2010 a referendum held in Bavaria as a result of a popular initiative re-instituted the original, strict, smoking ban of 2008; thus, no beer will be sold to people caught smoking in the tents. The blanket smoking ban will not take effect until 2011, but all tents will institute the smoking ban this year as to do the "dry run" to identify any unforeseeable issues. The common issue when the smoking ban is in effect is the nauseating stench of stale beer spilled on the floor, which the smoking masked.

2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest. For the anniversary, there will be a horse race in historical costumes again on opening day.

Incidents

A pipe bomb was set off in a dustbin at the restrooms at the main entrance on September 26, 1980 at 22:19. The bomb consisted of an empty fire extinguisher filled with 1.39 kilograms of TNT and mortar shells. Thirteen people were killed, over 200 were injured, 68 seriously. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of Germany after the Munich Massacre. Governmental authorities propounded a summary of official inquires, purporting that a right-wing extremist Gundolf Köhler from Donaueschingen, a social outcast who was killed in the explosion, was the lone perpetrator. However, this account is disputed strongly by various groups.

Facts and data

Size

The Oktoberfest is known as the Largest Volksfest (People's Fair) in the World. In 1999 there were six and a half million visitors to the 42 hectare Theresienwiese. 72% of the people are from Bavaria. 15% of visitors come from foreign countries like the surrounding EU-countries and other non-European countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and the Far East.

Besides the Oktoberfest, there are other public festivals that take place at the same location, in April/May: The Munich Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) and Winter Tollwood in December with 650,000 visitors.

After the Oktoberfest the next people fairs in size in Germany are the Cranger Kirmes in Herne (Wanne-Eickel) (the largest fair in Northrhine-Westphalia) with 4.7 million visitors, the Rheinkirmes in Düsseldorf (called Largest Fair on the Rhine) and the Freimarkt in Bremen (the oldest fair in Germany, held since 1035, and the biggest fair in Northern Germany) with about 4 million visitors per year each, followed by the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart with about 3 million visitors each year and the "Schützenfest Hannover", the world's largest marksmen's Fun Fair in Hanover with about 2 million visitors per year.

Dates

Year	Dates	Special Features
2000	Sep 16 – Oct 3
2001	Sep 22 – Oct 7
2002	Sep 21 – Oct 6
2003	Sep 20 – Oct 5
2004	Sep 18 – Oct 3	with ZLF*
2005	Sep 17 – Oct 3	17 days
2006	Sep 16 – Oct 3	18 days
2007	Sep 22 – Oct 7
2008	Sep 20 – Oct 5	175th Oktoberfest (with ZLF*)
2009	Sep 19 – Oct 4
2010	Sep 18 – Oct 4	200th Anniversary (with BLF)
2011	Sep 17 – Oct 3	17 days
2012	Sep 22 – Oct 7
2013	Sep 21 – Oct 6
2014	Sep 20 – Oct 5
2015	Sep 19 – Oct 4

* Bayerisches Zentral-Landwirtschaftsfest (Bavarian Central Agriculture Festival)

Price of Beer

File:Okti-8.jpg

Traditional Bavarian-style Live-Music inside Fischer Vroni

During the last years the prices per Maß (1 liter stein) steadily increased (prices given in Euros)::

Location	2001	2002	2003	2008	2009	2010
Ammer	6,54	6,80	6,80	8,10	8,30	8,40
Armbrustschützen	6,49	6,75	6,75	8,20	8,55	8,75
Augustiner Festhalle	6,39	6,65	6,65	8,20	8,50	8,70
Bräurosl-Festhalle	6,39	6,70	6,70	8,25	8,55	8,80
Bullinger Wurst	-	-	-	-	-
Feisinger's Kas- und Weinstub'n	-	-	-	-
Fischer-Vroni	6,49	6,80	6,80	8,25	8,60	8,90
Glöckle Wirt	6,29	6,70	6,70	8,10	8,40	8,70
Hacker Festhalle	6,54	6,80	6,80	8,30	8,60	8,80
Heilmaier (Heinz)	6,29	6,60	6,60	7,90	8,10	8,40
Heimer Entenbraterei	6,29	6,45	6,65	8,00	8,30	8,60
Hippodrom	6,54	6,70	6,70	8,30	8,60	8,80
Hochreiter Haxnbraterei	6,39	6,55	6,60	7,90	8,40	8,40
Hochreiter, Zur Bratwurst	-	-	-	8,10	8,60	8,60
Hofbräu	6,47	6,75	6,75	8,25	8,55	8,80
Käfer Wiesn Schänke	6,54	6,80	6,80	8,30	8,60	8,80
Kalbskuchl	-	-	-	7,90	8,30	8,40
Knödelei	-	-	-	-	8,50	8,60
Löwenbräu Festhalle	6,49	6,80	6,80	8,30	8,60	8,85
Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl	6,34	6,60	6,60	-	-	-
Münchner Knödelei	-	6,50 (new)	6,60
Ochsenbraterei/Spatenbräu Festhalle	6,47	6,75	6,75	8,25	8,60	8,75
Paulaner Festhalle (Winzerer Fähndl)	6,44	6,70	6,70	8,25	8,60	8,80
Poschner	6,24	6,50	6,50	8,10	8,20	8,40
Schauer	-	-	-	7,95	8,20	-
Schottenhamel	6,49	6,80	6,80	8,30	8,60	8,80
Schützen-Festhalle	6,49	6,75	6,75	8,30	8,30	8,80
Sieber	5,98	6,30	6,40
Vinzenz Murr	-	-	-	-	-	8,80
Wienerwald	6,08	6,30	6,30
Wildmoser Hühner- und Entenbraterei	5,98	6,50	6,50	7,95	8,30	8,50
Zum Stiftl	-	-	-	7,80	8,25	8,70
Zum Wein-Wirt/Weinzelt	-	-	-	-	-	-

File:Masskrug.jpg

Spaten-Krug Oktoberfest 2006

Oktoberfest figures (2007)

• Area: 0.42 km² (103.78 acres)
• Seats in the festival halls: approx. 100,000
• Visitors: 6.2 million
• Beer: appr. 6,940,600 litres (126,900 litres non-alcoholic)
• Wine: 79,624 liters
• Sparkling wine: 32,047 litres
• Coffee and tea: 222,725 litres
• Water and lemonade: 909,765½ litres
• Chicken: 521,872 units
• Pork sausages: 142,253 pairs
• Fish: 38,650 kg
• Pork knuckles: 58,446 units
• Oxen: 104 units
• Expenditure of electricity: 2.8 million kWh (as much as 14% of Munich's daily need or as much as a four person family will need in 560 years)
• Expenditure of gas: about 205,000 m³
• Expenditure of water: about 90,000 m³ (as much as 27% of Munich's daily need)
• Waste: 678 t (2004)
• Toilets: about 980 seats, more than 878 meters of urinals and 17 for disabled persons
• Phone booths: 83, also for international credit cards
• Lost property: about 4000 items, among them 260 pairs of glasses, 200 mobile phones, wedding rings, and even crutches.

Garbage and toilets

Nearly 1,000 tons of garbage result annually from the Oktoberfest. The mountains of garbage created are hauled away and the ways cleanly washed down each morning. The cleaning is paid for in part by the city of Munich and in part by the sponsors.

After 2004 the queues for toilets became so long that the police had to regulate the entrance. To keep traffic moving through the restrooms, men headed for the toilets were directed to the "Pissoir" (giant enclosed grate) if they only needed to urinate. The number of toilets was increased in 2005 by 20%. Now approximately 1,800 toilets and urinals are available.

Many Oktoberfest guests visit the quiet stalls in order to use their cell phones. For this reason it was planned in the year 2005 to install a Faraday cage around the toilets or to use Mobile phone jammers to prevent telephoning with a mobile telephone. However jamming devices are not certified in Germany, and Faraday cages made of copper would be too expensive, so instead signs were placed warning toilet users not to use cell phones in the stalls.

Tents

There are currently fourteen main tents at the Oktoberfest. The tents themselves are non-permanent structures which are constructed for and only used during the festival. The beer (or wine) served in each is in the accompanying table.

Name	Brewery	Seating
		inside	outside
Hippodrom	Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu	3,200	1,000
Armbrustschützenzelt	Paulaner	5,839	1,600
Hofbräu-Festzelt	Hofbräu München	6,896	3,622
Hacker-Festzelt	Hacker-Pschorr	6,900	2,400
Schottenhamel	Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu	6,000	4,000
Winzerer Fähndl	Paulaner	8,450	2,450
Schützen-Festhalle	Löwenbräu	4,442	0
Käfers Wiesen Schänke	Paulaner	1,000	1,900
Weinzelt	Nymphenburger Sekt	1,300	600
	Paulaner Weißbier
Löwenbräu-Festhalle	Löwenbräu	5,700	2,800
Bräurosl	Hacker-Pschorr	6,000	2,200
Augustiner-Festhalle	Augustiner Bräu	6,000	2,500
Ochsenbraterei	Spaten	5,900	1,500
Fischer Vroni	Augustiner	2,695	700

File:Oktoberfest bierzelt.JPG

Hacker-Festzelt (2003)

• Hippodrom – One of the smaller tents, it's the first tent that many visitors see at the fest. As well as serving normal Wiesn beer, it has a Sekt (sparkling wine) bar and Maß of Weißbier. Considered one of the trendiest tents, and attracts the occasional celebrity. Traditionally in the evening the Oktoberfest band the Münchner Zwietracht plays all the Oktoberfest classics.
• Armbrustschützenzelt – Translates as the "Crossbow Shooters Tent", a competition that has been a part of the Oktoberfest since 1895.
• Hofbräu-Festzelt – The counterpart to the famous Hofbräuhaus, this tent is especially popular with Americans, Australians and New Zealanders.
• Hacker-Festzelt – One of the largest tents on the Wiesn, they have a rock band that plays from 5:30 each evening (as opposed to the traditional brass band). This tent is also known as "Himmel der Bayern" (Heaven of the Bavarians).
• Schottenhamel – Reckoned to be the most important tent at the Oktoberfest, mainly because it is where it starts. On the first Saturday of the event, no beer is allowed to be served until the mayor of Munich (currently Christian Ude) taps the first keg, at 12 pm. Only then can the other tents begin to serve beer. Very popular amongst younger people.
• Winzerer Fähndl – This tent is noted for its huge tower, with a Maß of Paulaner beer sitting atop it.
• Schützen-Festhalle – This is a mid-sized tent. Situated under the Bavaria statue, the current tent was newly built in 2004.
• Käfers Wiesen Schänke – The smallest tent at the Oktoberfest, it is frequented by celebrities, and is known for its especially good food. In contrast to the other tents (which must close by 11 pm), it is open until 12:30 am, but it can be very difficult to get in.
• Weinzelt – This tent offers a selection of more than 15 wines, as well as Weißbier.
• Löwenbräu-Festhalle – Above the entrance is a 4.50 meter (15 foot) lion who occasionally drinks from his beer. This is overshadowed by another tower where another drinking lion sits.
• Bräurosl (Hacker-Pschorr) – Named after the daughter of the original brewery owner (Pschorr), this tent has the usual brass band and a yodeler.
• Augustiner-Festhalle – Considered by many locals to be the best tent, due to the fact it sells the favourite local brew, Augustiner, from individually tapped wooden kegs rather than stainless steel vats used by the other tents.
• Ochsenbraterei – True to its name, this tent offers a great variety of ox dishes.
• Fischer Vroni – Another of the smaller tents. Fisch is the German word for fish and this tent carries a huge selection in its menu.

See also

• Beer
• German beer
• Beerfest
• International Beer Day
• Beer festival
• Carnival
• Stuttgart Spring and Autumn Festival
• Volksfest
• Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
• Oktoberfest celebrations
• Heinerfest
• Bergkirchweih

External links

• Celebrate Oktoberfest!
• EU Oktoberfest website (German)
  • EU Oktoberfest website (English)
• German Oktoberfest website (English)
  • German Oktoberfest website (German)
    • German-English Oktoberfest lexicon (English)
• Oktoberfest-TV.de - Live videos, webcams, pictures and a lot of useful information from the world famous Oktoberfest in Munich in English
• Oktoberfest 2010 Information in English
• Oktoberfest 2010: The Women

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