September 2003
Oktoberfest 2003: information and events
FROM START TO FINISH
Saturday, Sept. 20, 12 pm to
Sunday, Oct. 5, 11:03 pm
GETTING THERE
U4/5 Theresienwiese, or a short walk from
U4/5 Schwanthaler Höhe; U3/6 Goetheplatz, Poccistrasse.
FUN TIME
Tents: Weekdays: 10 am–11:30 pm
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays:
9 am–11:30 pm (beer served until 10:30 pm)
“Käfers Wiesnschänke” and the Weinzelt” close
at 1 am (no further admittance after 10:30 pm)
Rides: Mon.–Thurs. 10 am–11:30 pm; Fridays, Saturdays and on October 2: 10 am–midnight
Sundays and public holidays: 10 am–11:30 pm
THE PRICE YOU WILL PAY
€ 6.30–6.80 for a
Mass of beer
WHATS HAPPENING
Saturday, Sept. 20, 10:45 am:
Parade of the tent proprietors
This opening parade, a tradition since 1887, features horse and oxen-drawn carriages transporting traditional-costume-donning restaurateurs, their families, beer tent bands, waiters and waitresses and beer kegs to the fairgrounds.
Begins on Sonnenstrasse. Duration: approx. 1 hour.
12 pm: Official opening
The first keg is tapped by the mayor, in the Schottenhamelzelt.
Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 am: Folklore parade
Since 1950, this parade of traditional costume and riflemen is broadcast on television throughout the world. A group of nearly 8,000 participants will include marksmen, brass and marching bands, the Münchner Kindl and the Mayor. Floats, the brewery teams and more than 100 horses pulling carriages and livestock join in on the 7-kilometer procession. Begins on Maximilianstrasse, continuing through downtown Munich to the fairgrounds.
Duration: approx. 2 1/2 hours. Entry is free, however seats in the grandstands can be reserved through the Munich Ticket office by calling (089) 548 181 81. Further information (in German) can be found at
www.festring-muenchen.de.
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 12 pm–6 pm:
First family day
Reduced prices and ticket fares for rides and a special children’s program “Wiesn-Hits for Kids” features special offers for children.
Thursday, Sept. 26, 10 am:
Traditional Oktoberfest mass
Guests are invited to attend a traditional mass in the Hippodrom tent. Pastors from major religious denominations will celebrate a mass along with Oktoberfest workers and priests from neighboring countries.
Sunday, Sept. 28, 11 am:
Open-air concert
All Oktoberfest tent bands (approx. 400 musicians) will gather at the foot of the Bavaria statue on the Theresienwiese to perform an open-air concert.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 12 pm–6 pm:
Second family day
Once again, reduced prices and ticket fares for rides along with a special program for children are offered.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 12 pm:
Oktoberfest salute
Riflemen from the Bavarian Rifle Society fire off a large-scale salute at the foot of the Bavaria statue.
BEER TENT RESERVATIONS
It is possible to access the tents without a reservation, however you should arrive early because the tents will close their doors when they have reached capacity. Only after others leave can more people enter. Children under six years of age are not allowed in the beer tents after 8 pm.
RESERVATIONS:
Armbrustschützen (Paulaner)
Tel. (089) 23 70 37 03, Fax (089) 23 70 37 05
www.armbrustchuetzenzelt.com
Augustiner Bräu Tel.: (089) 231 832 66,
Fax (089) 260 53 79
www.augustiner-restaurant.com
Bräurosl (Hacker-Pschorr)
Tel. (089) 857 20 29, Fax (089) 859 70 56
Fischer-Vroni (Augustiner) Tel. (089) 661 042,
Fax (089) 652 534
www.fischer-vroni.de
Hacker Festzelt
Tel. (08170) 73 03; Fax (08170) 73 85
Hippodrom (Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu)
Tel.(089) 29 16 46 46, Fax 29 54 42
Hofbräu Festhalle Tel. (089) 448 96 70,
Fax (089) 488 35 87
www.hb-festzelt.de
Löwenbräu Tel. (089) 477 677,
Fax (089) 47 05 848
www.loewenbraeu-festzelt.info
Ochsenbraterei (Spaten) Tel. (089) 383 873 12, Fax (089) 511 158 10
www.ochsenbraterei.de
Schottenhamel (Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu)
Tel.(089) 544 693 10, Fax (089) 544 693 19
www.schottenhamel.de
Schützen festhalle (Löwenbräu)
Tel.(089) 23 18 12 24, Fax (089) 38 38 73 40
Winzerer Fähnd’l (Paulaner)
Tel.(089) 46 20 22 95, Fax (089) 45 56 59 49
CAFES & RESTAURANT TENTS:
Bodo’s Cafezelt
Tel. (089) 236 65 20, Fax (089) 263 600
Hühner- und Entenbraterei Ammer
Tel. (089) 812 74 01, Fax (089) 813 22 26
Käfer Wiesn Schänke (Paulaner)
Tel. (089) 416 83 56, Fax (089) 416 82 07
www.feinkost-kaefer.de
Weinzelt Tel. (089) 290 705 17,
Fax (089) 242 438 81
www.kuffler.de
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.oktoberfest.de: the official Oktoberfest
Web site provides additional information in English about Germany’s biggest party of the year, including historical facts and statistics, an image gallery, webcams offering a peek into the celebrations, and an online Bavarian dictionary to help you blend in with the locals.
www.muenchen-tourist.de, Munich’s official tourism Web site is another resource offering useful information in English.
