For traditional Bavarian sing-alongs then The Winzerer Fähndl provides a great atmosphere, as does TheBraeurosl. This tent also has live musicians pumping up the heat, and during lunchtime and 6pm-7pm has a group from the South Tyrol performing, providing a burst of traditional song and yodeling!
For Wine drinkers there is the popular WeinZelt tent which offers more than 15 different wines in addition to a variety of sparkling wines and champagnes.
Finally, the most popular tent with Americans is The Hofbrau Festzelt. Due to its atmosphere and familiar beer, here you'll find a mix of Americans, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits, rubbing shoulders with the locals.
What To Eat
When you wish to sample some of the traditional Bavarian fare that the Oktoberfest is famous for, then make your way to The Arbrustschützen to partake of the roast chicken, knuckle of pork or German sausages with sauerkraut. They also have a "crossbow" competition which is considered one of the main attractions of the festival. The suckling pig at TheSchützen-Festzelt is prepared in malt beer and served with coleslaw, and is so tender it melts in your mouth.
For true gourmets there is Käfers Wies'n-Schänke for the roasted duck, something that should not be missed. The Ochsenbraterei offers a wide variety of oxen dishes and if it's fish you fancy then The Fischer Vroni can tempt you with a huge selection from its menu - salmon, pike, you name it - all are skewered and grilled in a 15 meter long row.
How To Get There
You can image the congestion around the festival area so if you are thinking about taking your own car the advice is don't! If you insist on going by car, however, then the main highways are likely to be constantly clogged so taking smaller "B" roads would be an alternative (if not longer) route.
Park and Ride facilities are available and many have subway access, allowing you to avoid the main congestion in the center of the city. Another alternative would be to travel by train using the special weekend "Schönes-Wochenede-Ticket". The Oktoberfest is a ten minute walk from the main Hauptbahnhof station or a short bus or taxi ride.
Where To Stay
If you are going it alone you will need to book early if you want accommodation close to the festival, also it goes without saying that prices are higher during this time. Outside of Munich your chances of finding more reasonable, suitable accommodation are greater or you can book one of the many organized package tours to be found on the net or through a US travel agent. There are also two camping grounds close to the site. The Munich Tourist office is happy to provide you with a wealth of information. More information can be found at muenchen-tourist.de. You'll also find a full Oktoberfest program and map of the area.
The History
So how did the world's biggest beer festival begin?
The first Munich beer festival took place on October 12, 1810 to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (Kind Ludwig I) and the Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festival is held in an area called "Theresienwiese", (meadow of Therese), named after the Princess.
Over the next hundred years its fate waxed and waned, through the Napoleonic Wars and the Austro-Prussian War and a cholera epidemic. By the end of the 19th century the festival had started to evolve into what we know today, with beer halls, musicians and games. During the I and II World War years (1914 - 1945) the Oktoberfest was also badly affected and was canceled 24 times in all, since it's inception in 1810.
1950 saw the introduction of the traditional festival opening with a twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first beer keg by the Lord Mayor of Munich, Thomas Winner. Thus started the first of many traditions that exist today and by the 1960's the Oktoberfest was fast becoming the Largest People's Fair in the World, attracting visitors from around the globe.
Dates For Your Diary
Future Dates:
- September 22 - October 7 2007
- September 20 - October 5 2008
- September 19 - October 4 2009
Have Your Own Oktoberfest
Should you not be fortunate enough to experience this spectacle for yourself then there is no reason why you cannot celebrate it locally. This popular German festival has become a major celebration in some American cities, where a limited amount of dark beers are brewed for the occasion.
Alternatively this fall, have your own "Oktoberfest" bash by stocking up on some traditional German food and imported German beers. Put on your Lederhosen and your Dirndl skirts, stick on some Bavarian brass band music to give it a real flavor and rejoice along with your counterparts across the pond.
Cheers!
