One of Europe’s biggest annual parties has returned after 1,077 days as Oktoberfest takes over the Munich Theresienwiese fairgrounds again for the 17-day festival of Bavarian culture, rides, stalls, festival atmosphere and, of course, beer tents.
The 187th annual Oktoberfest kicked off on 17 September and concludes on 3 October, attracting around six million revellers every year pre-pandemic. This year’s event is projected to draw more than one million visitors.
Throughout its 200-year history, Oktoberfest has been cancelled 26 times, mostly during the World Wars as well as twice due to cholera outbreaks.
This year’s event is taking place with no COVID restrictions and face masks are not required.
Munich Mayor Didier Reiter opened this year’s ceremony with three knocks of a hammer and inserting the tap in the first keg, with the traditional cry of “O’zapft is” (“it’s tapped”).
The world’s largest beer and folk festival includes scores of traditional events, including traditional costumes, music and entertainment.
In previous years, Oktoberfest visitors have consumed around 119,300 pork sausages, more than seven million litres of beer and approximately 62,200 pork knuckles annually.
Beer is a bit pricier this year with Deutsche Welle (DW) reporting that a one-litre stein is going for between €12.60 and €13.80 (AUD$18.80 and AUD$20.60), an increase of around 15 per cent on 2019.
Got FOMO? Contiki is running a five-day Oktoberfest trip from 28 September – 2 October 2022 from AUD$1,278pp twin-share, while Insight Vacations has an Oberammergau & Oktoberfest Bavarian Celebration 12-day guided tour from 25 September – 6 October 2022 from AUD$6,480pp.
Princess Cruises also has themed Oktoberfest cruises.
To find out more, visit oktoberfest.de
