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Oktoberfest in Munich - The Beer World Capital

Beer servers keep crowds well-supplied...

The Oktoberfest has its origins in the celebrations of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become Ludwig I of Bavaria, to Therese von Saxe-Hildburghausen in 1810.

The Oktoberfest grounds in the centre of the town are also named after her: the Theresienwiese (Wiese meaning meadow), affectionately referred to by Munich folk as the "Wiesn", which has also become the term for the world's biggest funfair itself.

Every year in the last week of September, this huge area at the foot of the statue of Bavaria is turned into a vast "Festwiese" for 16 uproarious days until the beginning of October (the Oktoberfest always begins on the last Saturday but one in September and ends on the first Sunday in October).

...while paraders provide traditional street entertainment.

The Wiesn is a festival for all the senses, a merry mixture of sideshows, traditional roundabouts, high-tech switchbacks, a Ferris wheel and "Super Loopings", small and larger sales stands for such delicacies as candy floss, gingerbread hearts and roast almonds or for balloons, stuffed animals and other souvenirs, and, of course, the "landlords' alley" with the 14 beer tents of the Munich breweries.

Munich's importance as the beer metropolis is also underscored by the international trade fair "drinktec-interbräu", which takes place every four years at the same time as the Oktoberfest.

also see in Beer -> Oktoberfest

More about Oktoberfest around the Web:

Welcome to Oktoberfest!

Octoberfest Menu

World of Beer