Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival, has officially kicked off in Munich, Germany. Mayor Dieter Reiter marked the beginning of the 189th festival by inserting the tap into the first beer keg at noon on Saturday. Thousands of beer enthusiasts gathered on the Munich fairground to be the first to clink their mugs and indulge in the merrymaking.
Increased Security Measures
This year's Oktoberfest comes with heightened security measures following a recent knife attack in Solingen. Organizers have introduced metal detectors for the first time in the festival's history to ensure safety, although no specific threats have been identified.
Exciting Activities
The 16-day celebration, running until October 6, features 18 large tents covering the Theresienwiese fairground. Visitors can enjoy a variety of food options, amusement park rides, and of course, traditional German beer.
Expectations and Traditions
Over 6 million visitors are expected to attend Oktoberfest, with daily attendance reaching up to 600,000. Each visitor can purchase a 1-liter mug of beer for between 13.60 and 15.30 euros. The prices have seen a slight increase of approximately 3.87% from the previous year.
Local and International Attendees
Attendees come from far and wide to partake in the festivities. Mikael Caselitz, a native of Munich, highly recommends experiencing Oktoberfest at least once in a lifetime, despite the occasional chaotic scenes. Ollie Standen, a 21-year-old from England on a university exchange program, is looking forward to sampling unique German beers that are not commonly found in the UK.
Rich History
The festival, which traces its origins back to 1810, was initially held to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Theresa of Saxony. The venue, named 'Theresienwiese' in honor of the bride, has since become synonymous with Oktoberfest, even though the start date has shifted to September in favor of warmer temperatures in Bavaria.