Munich Festivals: Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest, also called "Wies'n", is one of the most famous and largest public festivals throughout the world. Thousands of people come to Munich every year to visit it, even people from Australia and New Zealand. More than 6 million people go there per year and the huge amount of 6 million liters of beer is consumed as well as an enormous amount of grilled chickens and other food and drinks. But the "Wies'n" is not only a festival for drinking and eating. There are many fair ground rides and attractions such as the big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains etc. as well.

The Major of Munich opens the Oktoberfest every year by tapping the first barrel of beer at 12 o' clock in the beer tent Schottenhammel on the first Saturday. This ceremony has been carried out for decades. In addition, the Oktoberfest is opened by a march of the innkeepers to the Wies'n with their brewery horses which is quite fascinating to watch. On the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest, there is a parade of traditional costumes and riflemen that you should not miss as well. Another interesting and colourful attraction are the loads of people who are dressed in Dirndl and Lederhosen, the traditional costumes of Munich.