Oktoberfest
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| Each beer tent has room for you and 5,999 of your closest friends. |
By Rick Steves
Don't let the name fool you. Oktoberfest begins in September.
When King Ludwig I had a marriage party in 1810, it was such a success, they made it an annual bash. These days, Oktoberfest lasts 16 days, beginning on the third weekend in September and ending on the first full weekend in October.
The festival begins with an opening parade of more than 6,000 participants and fills eight huge beer tents with about 6,000 people each. A million gallons of beer later, they roast the last ox.
It's best to reserve a room early, but if you arrive in the morning (except Friday or Saturday) and haven't called ahead, the tourist information office can usually help.
The Theresienwiese fairground (known as the "Wies'n," south of the train station) erupts in a frenzy of rides, dancing, and strangers strolling arm in arm down rows of picnic tables while the beer god stirs tons of beer, pretzels, and würst in a bubbling caldron of fun. The three-loops roller coaster must be the wildest on earth (best before the beer drinking). During the fair, the city functions even better than normal. It's a good time to sightsee, even if beerhall rowdiness isn't your cup of tea.
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Guidebooks — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Germany.