Germany Visa

Five to six million lovers of good foam go to the Oktoberfest in Munich, better known in France as the beer festival. Almost two centuries old, this gigantic popular festival is one of the most famous events in Germany. From September 22 to October 7, 2018, beer, good food and rides are the pillars of this hopped bacchanal which is also a family funfair. Follow our advice to return from Munich saying: “I survived the Oktoberfest!”.

Shy beginnings

A wedding is the source of the Munich beer festival. The event, which is called Oktoberfest across the Rhine, was born when the future King Louis I married Thérèse de Saxe Hildburghausen in 1810. The festivities, to which the Munich residents are invited, end with a horse race so popular that the king decides to establish the tradition of “October celebrations” (Oktoberfest). A meadow, located at the gates of the city and named “Theresienwiese” (meadow of Thérèse) in honor of the bride, welcomes the celebrations.

The following year, an agricultural festival is added to the Oktoberfest to highlight the potential of Bavarian agriculture. It was not until 1818 that the first funfair facilities were installed, namely a carousel and two swings. A few stalls started selling beer and, in 1896, large tents were erected to house drinkers. At the end of the 19th century, Oktoberfest became a real beer festival. It was not until 1960 that the popular horse race was removed from the festivities.

In more than 200 years of existence and 179 editions, the Oktoberfest has established itself as the largest international festival in the world. Each year 5 to 6 million visitors go to the Wiesn, “the meadow” in German, which by extension has become the local name for the festival.

Bubbles, rides and pretzels

The third largest beer consumer in the world, the Germans could not exclude beer from the October festival. Over time, it even became THE beer festival. There is even a production for the party, the Märzenbier, stronger than the lagers. Six million liters are drunk each edition. In fact, a third of the city’s annual beer production is brewed during Oktoberfest.

Foam lovers can choose from fourteen tents in the colors of their favorite Munich breweries. They all house a folk orchestra. Kitchens are also installed there. Each tent will serve you chicken, sausage, potato salad, cheese and pretzels.

According to tradition, the mayor of Munich inaugurates Oktoberfest by letting escape the first drops of beer from the first barrel. Several parades take place in the city during the festival. On the first Sunday, a large parade made up of traditional Bavarian groups, animals, horse-drawn carriages and marching bands marches to the meadow. It is also customary for a large concert to be organized outdoors. It brings together all the musical ensembles from the different tents.

While inside the tents, visitors drink and eat without respite, the party is also in full swing outside. A huge funfair is set up in the meadow, with roller coasters, rides of all kinds, bumper cars and ghost train, something to delight young and old. Because children are also welcome! “Family days” are devoted to them, with a special rate.

Small survival guide

Be careful, the two weeks of orgy that are the October holidays can be very trying if they are poorly organized.

The first advice to give is to book your accommodation in advance, as the hotels are quickly full. It is also essential to reserve a table in the tent of your choice: the 100,000 seats are obviously not enough for the millions of annual visitors. It is good to remember that we do not go to the festival by car! The roads are overcrowded during the festivities and public transport has planned a higher frequency of passage to facilitate travel. In any case, it would be very dangerous to get behind the wheel after a day of beer tasting. And don’t forget that when it comes to alcohol, moderation is good!

At Oktoberfest, you don’t drink from glasses or pints but from Masses, one-liter mugs. No, there is no smaller glass! Each Mass costs between € 10.60 and € 10.95 depending on the type of beer, so plan the change in advance. The lucky ones will be offered a beer in a glass shaped like a boot or spiral. These fun glasses are difficult to handle, however, and you will certainly be able to use them everywhere.

To be at the forefront of local fashion, know that the skin pants worn by many men are the local costume called Lederhosen and that women are getting a Dirndl, an apron dress.

If you survive Oktoberfest, you can easily face its counterparts from Canada, Brazil or Switzerland, born after the premiere. Finally, be aware that there is a phenomenon in Bavaria, called Post Oktoberfest, every year in July, nine months after the holiday, the birth rate is rising sharply …

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