MUNICH (AP) — Bridie O’Halloran, a 19-year-old from Australia, experienced her very first taste of beer at the iconic Oktoberfest in Munich. After finishing about a quarter of her liter mug, she exclaimed, “the best I’ve had,” while adorned in a pink dirndl dress she had purchased just hours earlier. O’Halloran found herself among tens of thousands of enthusiastic beer drinkers at the kick-off of the 189th Oktoberfest, which spans 16 days of festivities.
This cherished festival officially opened on Saturday, a celebration marked by Munich’s Mayor Dieter Reiter, who tapped the first beer keg at noon, initiating a wave of revelry. As soon as the tap was inserted, servers swiftly began delivering drinks, each one balancing up to ten glasses at a time. The atmosphere became lively as guests clinked their mugs and took hearty gulps of beer, all while traditional Bavarian folk music filled the air, though signs reminded participants to refrain from dancing on the tables.
Oktoberfest is held at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds, where 18 large tents anticipate welcoming around 6 million visitors over the course of the event—an impressive daily turnout of up to 600,000 attendees. Festival-goers should expect to pay between 13.60 and 15.30 euros ($15.12 to $17.01) for a large mug of beer, which represents a modest 3.87% increase compared to last year.
This year, the organizers have implemented heightened security measures following a tragic knife attack in Solingen, a city located about 470 kilometers (292 miles) northwest of Munich, which left three dead and eight injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for this attack, prompting the introduction of metal detectors at the entrance of the festival for the first time in Oktoberfest’s long history. Despite the increased security, organizers stated that there were no specific threats reported.
As the festivities began early Saturday, eager revelers rushed through the fairgrounds at 9 a.m. when the gates opened, all excited to be first in line. Amid the morning chill, laughter echoed as some questioned, “why are we running?” as they sprinted towards the tents to grab prime seats at the tables.
Once inside, guests indulged in traditional festival food, with roasted chicken, bratwurst, and pretzels being among the favorites. Those with a taste for thrills could also enjoy various amusement park rides set up around the fairgrounds, creating a lively atmosphere for families.
Jazzed by their festival experiences, many attendees voiced their thoughts. Mikael Caselitz, 24, a Munich native who has celebrated Oktoberfest for years, encouraged everyone to attend at least once in their lifetime. “Sure, it can get crowded and a bit messy with people getting ill on the streets,” he joked, “but overall it’s an incredibly fun experience.”
Ollie Standen, a 21-year-old from England participating in a university exchange program, was up at 6 a.m. to secure a spot in line ahead of the noon keg-tapping. Encouraged by a local friend to join the festivities, he expressed his excitement to sample different German beers not typically found back home. “It’s a wonderful German tradition, and I’m thrilled to be here,” he shared.
After being put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Oktoberfest made its grand return in 2022. It all began back on October 17, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Theresa of Saxony. Originally held in a meadow on the outskirts of Munich, the event was named “Theresienwiese” in honor of the bride. The festival’s start date has since shifted to September when Bavarian temperatures are generally more pleasant.
