Oktoberfest: A Bavarian Tradition

You might have heard of the Oktoberfest – one of the biggest folk festivals in Germany and the world’s largest beer festival. The festival is undoubtedly a magnet for fun and drinking, especially if you are now in Germany. The time is coming – you simply can’t miss it. Starting this Saturday, Oktoberfest will make sure you have an unforgettable festival season.

Oktoberfest: What is it?

What interests you the most? Beer or German traditional food? Maybe it’s Bavarian culture? Or simply a folk fest? Believe us! The Oktoberfest is much more than just a grand celebration of beer, and ultimately, hangovers. The very first Oktoberfest was in 1810 when Bavarian citizens celebrated the marriage between the crown prince Ludwig and princess Therese of Saxe Hilburghausen. It was an open air feast with a horse race, a traditional Bavarian costume show, and main features of nine townships of the Bavaria area.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Oktoberfest has experienced a transformation into a festival that is open to public a.k.a. a folk festival. The festival features agriculture, traditions from the state of Bavaria and German beer. Since the unification of Germany in 1990, the organisation of Oktoberfest has merged with German Unity Day on October 3rd. Thus, the Oktoberfest usually takes place at the end of September until the first Sunday of October. In the case that October 1st or 2nd is on Sunday, the Day of Unity will be the last day of the festival.

At Oktoberfest, you will find hundreds of beer tents with an endless amount of breweries. You will, without a doubt, be able to delve into the old days of Bavarian with Lederhosen (leather trousers), and maybe even a Dirndl (a traditional Bavarian dress), wherever you go. Moreover, amusement games, music performances and parades promise to light up the city of Munich at the beginning of the autumn.

Cannot make it to Munich?

Getting to München (Munich) for Oktoberfest sounds perfect, doesn’t it? However, the city will be fully booked for sure. What better place to join a festival than in its birthplace? Do not miss the chance. The festival has spread to different parts of Germany including Berlin – the heart of the country. The carnival vibes spread through the whole of Berlin. You will find a “clone” of Oktoberfest almost everywhere in Berlin. Alexanderplatz, Kurt-Schumacher-Damm, Spreewiesn am Postbahnhof or Spandau would be just a few of the unmissable destinations.Events in Berlin all year round