3. Geschichte des Oktoberfestes
• The Oktoberfest tradition started in 1810 to
celebrate the October 12th marriage of
Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to the Saxon-
Hildburghausen Princess Therese.
• The citizens of Munich were invited to join in
the festivities which were held over five days
on the fields in front of the city gates.
• The main event of the original Oktoberfest
was a horse race.
5. • Anniversary celebrations were held annually
thereafter that eventually became larger and more
elaborate.
• An agricultural show was added during the second
year. In 1818 tree climbing competitions, wheel
barrow and sack races, mush eating contests, barrel
rolling races, and goose chases were included.
• By 1870s, mechanical rides were an expanding feature
of the festival
• In1908, the festival boasted Germany's first roller
coaster. When the city began allowing beer on the
fairgrounds, makeshift beer stands began cropping up,
and their number increased steadily until they were
eventually replaced by beer halls in 1896.
• The beer halls, like the beer tents of today, were
sponsored by the local breweries.
6. Oktoberfest Events -Theresa's
• The event takes place on the Theresienwiese
meadow, which was named after the new bride; to the
locals, it's simply known as ‘Wies'n’.
• The mayor of Munich opens the festivities at noon on
the first day of the fair when he drives the wooden tap
into a barrel of beer and proclaims O'zapft is! ("It's
tapped!").
• The Costume and Riflemen's Procession takes place on
the first Sunday of the festival, in which some 7000
performers - groups in traditional costumes and
historical uniforms, marching bands, old-fashioned
carriages, parade through the streets of Munich's city
center showcasing the diversity of local, regional, and
national customs.
7. The Mayor of Munich tapping the Beer drum…beginning of
the oktoberfest.
8. • The second Sunday of the Oktoberfest features an
open-air big band concert involving the 400
musicians who comprise all of the Oktoberfest
bands.
• Between events and beer tents, guests can traverse
the 103 acre Oktoberfest grounds to ride a Ferris
wheel, roller coaster, or water slide, navigate their
way through a labyrinth, visit a haunted house, be
entertained by numerous types of performers, stop
off at one of dozens of game booths, take a festival
tour.
12. Oktoberfest Bier
• Oktoberfest beer is of a variety called Märzen. Darker
and stronger than traditional beer, Märzen contains up
to 6% alcohol
• Just six Munich breweries - Augustiner, Hacker-
Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten -
are permitted to serve beer at the festival.
• 14 larger and several smaller beer tents and beer
gardens provide enough seating for 98,000 visitors at a
time.
• Beer is served by the Maß- a one-liter mug, and costs
about 8 euros.
• Beer maids and waiters must be able to carry 10 of
these beer-filled mugs at a time.
13. Oktoberfest Essen
• Readily available are Hendl- whole chickens grilled
on a spit and typically sold in halves.
• Varitions are the spit-roasted duck or goose.
Roasted meats, especially pork, and potato
dumplings are served up with the traditional red
cabbage and apple dish (Blaukohl).
• Local specialties such as roasted ox tails, grilled pork
knuckles, or Bavarian Weißwürste- steamed white
veal sausages served with sweet mustard,
sauerkraut, and a pretzel or bread roll, the charcoal-
fired fish-on-a-stick (Steckerlfisch).
14. The veggie stuff:
• Potato salad or potato soup, feasting on massive
warm, soft pretzels, cheese plates with bread.
• Typical dessert dishes include Dampfnudel, a
steamed honey-dumpling served with vanilla
sauce, apple strudel, and Kaiserschmarrn, a sugared
pancake with raisins.
• Pan-roasted, sugar-glazed almonds (gebrannte
Mandeln) to cotton candy (Zuckerwatte), from
glazed fruits to ice cream.
• The decorated gingerbread hearts with slogans and
phrases iced onto them might be more of a feast for
the eyes than the stomach.
15. Oktoberfest Musik
• Oktoberfest is known as much for its traditional folk
music as it is for its beer drinking.
• Popular and folk music, marches, and polkas make up
the music Germany is stereotypically famous for
around the world.
• As the evening wears on, the music becomes louder
and more and more people begin to sing, linking arms
and swinging beer mugs from side to side, some
standing and swaying and dancing on benches or
tables.
• Before each break, the band will offer up "ein Prosit der
Gemütlichkeit“- a toast to contentment, congeniality,
and relaxation.
16. Oktoberfest Zelte (14 Tents)
• Hippodrom — One of the smaller tents, it's the first tent that many visitors see at
the fest. As well as serving normal Wiesn beer, it has a Sekt (sparkling wine) bar
and Maß of Weißbier. Considered one of the trendiest tents, and attracts the
occasional celebrity. Traditionally in the evening the Oktoberfest band the
Münchner Zwietracht plays all the Oktoberfest classics.
• Armbrustschützenzelt — Translates as the "Crossbow Shooters Tent", a
competition that has been a part of the Oktoberfest since 1895.
• Hofbräu-Festzelt — The counterpart to the famous Hofbräuhaus, this tent is
especially popular with Americans, Australians and New Zealanders.
• Hacker- Festzelt — One of the largest tents on the Wiesn, they have a rock band
that plays from 5:30 each evening (as opposed to the traditional brass band). This
tent is also known as "Himmel der Bayern" (Heaven of the Bavarians)
• Schottenhamel — Reckoned to be the most important tent at the
Oktoberfest, mainly because it is where it starts. On the first Saturday of the
event, no beer is allowed to be served until the mayor of Munich (currently
Christian Ude) taps the first keg, at 12pm. Only then can the other tents begin to
serve beer. Very popular amongst younger people.
• Winzerer Fähndl — This tent is noted for its huge tower, with a Maß of Paulaner
beer sitting atop it.
• Schützen- Festhalle — This is a mid-sized tent. Situated under the Bavaria
statue, the current tent was newly built in 2004.
18. • Käfers Wiesen Schänke — The smallest tent at the Oktoberfest, it is
frequented by celebrities, and is known for its especially good food. In
contrast to the other tents (which must close by 11pm), it is open until
0:30am, but it can be very difficult to get in.
• Weinzelt — This tent offers a selection of more than 15 wines, as well as
Weißbier.
• Löwenbräu- Festhalle — Above the entrance is a 4.50 meter (15 foot) lion
who occasionally drinks from his beer. This is overshadowed by another
tower where another drinking lion sits.
• Bräurosl (Hacker- Pschorr) — Named after the daughter of the original
brewery owner (Pschorr), this tent has the usual brass band and a yodeler.
• Augustiner- Festhalle — Considered by many locals to be the best tent, due
to the fact it sells the favourite local brew, Augustiner, from individually
tapped wooden kegs rather than stainless steel vats used by the other
tents.
• Ochsenbraterei — True to its name, this tent offers a great variety of ox
dishes.
• Fischer Vroni — Another of the smaller tents. Fisch is the German word for
fish and this tent carries a huge selection in its menu.