More than six million visitors, 438,886 sausages, 459,279 roast chickens and, of course, 6 million liters of beer (at up to € 7.50 each!)—the sheer numbers alone make the annual Oktoberfest a bit overwhelming. It goes without saying that the frenetic neon, the tubas and the tipsy masses on the pm (Käfer’s Wies’nschänke and the Weinzelt are open until 1 am, with last call at 12:15 am.)
Wies’n-Gaudi Carnival The 200 attractions include modern rides such as the Power Tower and Olympia Looping, as well as traditional amusements such as the Toboggan, the Krinoline and the Teufelsrad. Mon.-Thurs.: 10 am–11:30 pm Fri, Sat. and Oct. 2: 10 am–midnight Sun. and holidays: 10 am–11:30 am.
Discount Time Mon.–Fri. 10 am–3 pm (Reduced ticket and sale prices are available at businesses with Mittagswies’n signs.)
Special Events
Parade of Brewery Teams and Beer Tent Keepers (since 1887) On Saturday, September 16, at 10:45 am, bedecked horse teams will pull wagons filled with flowers and kegs of beer down Sonnenstrasse, accompanied by music groups. The keepers of the tents—“emperors of the Wiesn”—ride in ornate coaches. Grandstand tickets cost € 24,50 and are available through VVK ticket agencies.
O’Zapft is! (It’s tapped!) With this famous cry, the mayor of Munich will open the first keg at noon on Saturday. Locals delight in guessing how many whacks that will take with the traditional wooden mallet.
Tracht and Riflemen’s Parade (since 1835) This two-hour parade on Sunday, September 17 at 10 am, features music groups, sports teams and hundreds of international visitors in the traditional costumes of their nations. Grandstand seats € 35. More info is available at www.festring.de.
Special Considerations
For Parents The Tourism Ministry has published a brochure, Wies’n-Hits for Kids. It will be available, after the start of Oktoberfest, at the following locations: the Georg Huber Tour booth at the Theresienwiese UBahn station, the Wies’n-Post main entrance, near the Wies’n-Bank on Esperantoplatz, and at Tourist Information Booths at both Hauptbahnof and Marienplatz. For the first time this year, the eastern side of the Wies’n will feature a Familienplatzl (family area), replete with pony rides, a carousel and bit more peace and quiet than is found at the rest of the festival. It will also be completely laid with wooden planks to facilitate stroller transport. Strollers are not allowed on the Wies’n all day Saturday, and Sunday through Friday after 6 pm. On September 19 and 26, from noon to 6 pm, kids and their parents can receive discounts on food, drinks and ride tickets. After 8 pm, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent when entering beer tents; children under 6 years of age are not allowed entry at all after this time.
For Claustrophobes Weekends are obviously the most crowded times to visit, when it’s almost impossible to get a seat in a tent after noon. Some tents will take reservations. These are available at www.muenchen-tourist.de. Seats on outside terraces alongside the tents are smoke-free, calmer and easier to come by during busy periods.
For the Handicapped Regulations require that entrances to all beer tents be at ground level or serviced with ramps. All tents must also include handicapped seating. They are available weekdays before 5 pm and weekends before 2 pm, without reservations. Ask staff for their location or to reserve. Handicapped restrooms are at the Service Center, at the U-Bahn Station Theresienwiese, at the entrance on Esperantoplatz and in all beer halls. Free wheelchairs for the use of the handicapped or others with mobility problems are available at the luggage storage area at the Theresienwiese U-Bahn station. To arrange a tour of the Wies’n, call Georg P. Huber at (089) 232 39 00.
For the non-Bavarian
Since about 70 percent of Oktoberfest visitors are from Bavaria, the local dialect rules the Wiesn. Here are some words to help you get along: Minga=Munich, Schmankerl=Bavarian specialties, Radi=radish, Obatzda=spreadable cheese made with softened Camembert, paprika and caraway, Steckerlfish= skewered mackerel roasted over charcoal pits, Brathendl=rotisserie chicken, bsuffen=drunk.