Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day festival held each year in Munich, Germany. It’s 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 more than 5 million visitors every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture. Visitors eat traditional food: Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezn (Pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings) or Sauerkraut (red cabbage).

The original ‘Oktoberfest in Munich was on October 12, 1810. Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen organized a great horse race. The event was so successful that it was decided to renew it in 1811. The horse race persisted until 1960. Oktoberfest celebrated its 100^th birthday in the year 1910. 12.000 liters of beer were poured.

During World War I and World War II the celebration of Oktoberfest were prevented. The two years after both wars, Munich celebrated only an ‘Autumn Fest’. The sale of Oktoberfest beer (2% stronger than normal) was not permitted.

The Oktoberfest has been cancelled 24 times due to war, diseases and other emergencies.

The Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous world-famous festival by 1960. There are many problems every year with young people using too much alcohol. Many forget that beer has 5.8% to 6.3% alcohol. 2010 marks the 200^th anniversary of Oktoberfest. For the anniversary, there was a horse race in historical costumes on the opening day. A specially brewed beer, horse races and a museum tent gave visitors an impression of how the event felt a century ago.

Oktoberfest nowadays