174th Oktoberfest September 22–October 7, 2007
Facts and News More than 6 million visitors, 100,000 tent seats and 6 million liters of beer (€ 7.30 to 7.90 each)—the numbers alone make the annual Oktoberfest an event to be compared with no other. Hopefully, the following Oktoberfest information will help you to avoid getting lost in the tipsy masses.
Getting There U-Bahn: U4/5 to Theresienwiese or Schwanthaler Höhe; U3/6 to Goetheplatz or Poccistrasse Buses: 13/132 to Hans-Fischer-Strasse; 58 to Georg-Hirth-Platz or Goetheplatz; 134 to Theresienhöhe; 53 to Schwanthalerhöhe S-Bahn: S1–8 to Hackerbrücke Tram: 18/19 to Holzapfelstrasse
Hours Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday: 10 am–11:30 pm Friday: 10 am–midnight Saturday: 9 am–midnight Sunday: 9 am–11:30 pm Last Call: 10:30 pm daily Family Days with Reduced Prices: Tuesdays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2: noon to 6 pmSpecial Events Parade of Brewery Horses and Beer Tent Keepers (since 1887): On Saturday, September 22, at 10:45 am, bedecked horse teams will pull wagons filled with flowers and kegs of beer down Sonnenstrasse, accompanied by bands. The keepers of the tents—“emperors of the Wies’n”—ride in ornate coaches. The parade, which lasts about 45 minutes, follows Sonnenstrasse and Schwanthalerstrasse to the Wies’n grounds. Tracht and Riflemen’s Parade (since 1835): This parade, at 10 am on Sunday, September 23, features music groups, sports teams and hundreds of international visitors in the traditional costumes of their nations. The two-hour event starts at the Max II Monument and winds through the main streets of the Old Town. O’Zapft is! (It’s tapped!): With this famous cry, the mayor of Munich will open the first keg at noon on Saturday, September 22. Locals delight in guessing how many whacks it will take with the traditional wooden mallet. Open-Air Oktoberfest Music: On Sunday, September 30, at 11 am (in case of rain, an alternative date is October 7) more than 400 musicians gather on the steps of the Bavaria statue to celebrate folk tunes...and a few variations.
Special Considerations For Parents: A brochure, “Wies’n Hits for Kids,” is available after the start of Oktoberfest at the following locations: the Georg Huber Tour booth at the Theresienwiese U-Bahn station, the Wies’n-Post main entrance, near the Wies’n-Bank on Esperantoplatz and at Tourist Information Booths at both Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz. The eastern side of the Wies’n will feature a Familienplatzl (family area), replete with pony rides and a carousel. It will also be laid with wooden planks to facilitate stroller transport. Strollers are not allowed at the Wies’n all day on Saturday, as well as Sunday through Friday after 6 pm. On September 25 and October 2, from noon to 6 pm, kids and their parents 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 the age of six are not allowed entry at all after this time.
General Tip Weekends are obviously the most crowded times to visit, when it’s almost impossible to get a tent seat after noon. Some tents will take reservations, but at this point, most are booked. Seats on outside tent terraces are less smoky and easier to come by during busy periods.
For People with Disabilities: Regulations require that entrances to all beer tents be at ground level or serviced with ramps. All tents must also include seating for those with disabilities. They are available weekdays before 5 pm and weekends before 2 pm without reservations. Specially equipped 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 people with disabilities are available at the luggage storage area at the Theresienwiese U-Bahn station.
A Personal Guide: Georg Huber Tours offers one-and-a-half hour tours of the tents, architecture and history of the Wies’n for 7 17 for students, businesses, groups and people with disabilities. Call 232 39 00 for details.
No Room at the Inn...: For those naive (or is it crafty?) Oktoberfesters who show up without hotel reservation you may point them toward the Olympic Horse-Riding Stadium in Munich-Riem, the “Wies’n Camp.” Tent accommodations are reasonably priced and even these are going fast. See www.munich-oktoberfest.com
What’s New?
Small Detail: For the first time ever, the unwritten rule permitting people to bring their own snacks with them to the outdoor terraces of the beer tents is official.
New Adventures: Fasten your seat belt and take it easy on the beer.
Höllenblitz–Der Coaster: The equivalent of a hell ride, this enclosed rollercoaster sends you through a cave-like mine.
Hammerschlag: Adhering to the “ring-the-bell” principle, this ride catapults people (instead of a weight) seven meters into the air accompanied by lights and sounds.
Autoscooter Distel: This version of “bumper cars” is bursting with the usual glitz and lights, but updated technology makes it less of an energy drain.
The Gaudi-Schaukel is a giant boat-like swing that sends passengers 15 meters into the air for great views of Munich’s skyline.
New this year is Rischart’s Café Kaiserschmarrn, which promises to be a true paradise of sweet treats. Also save your appetite for a new row of stands featuring half-meter-long sausages and crunchy Wies’nfladen (crispy dough topped with goat’s cheese or herbs, or cinnamon sugar or jam for sweet lovers). One staple of the Wies’n: Lebkuchenherzen. Whether you prefer the traditional kind with a romantic message, or the souped-up version with embedded flashing lights, there is a big heart cookie waiting for you.
