Now living 2.5 hours from Munich, it was a must that we attend
another of the world’s most famous events – Oktoberfest, known as Wiesn locally, a shortened version of the Theresienwiese fairgrounds where it is held. First celebrated there in 1810 when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese (the grounds’ namesake), it has been celebrated ever since in any year that it was not wiped out by disease or war.
A call from our friend, Brittani, that she was visiting at just this time of year ensured that we didn’t procrastinate with our plans to another year and moved forward with our bookings for opening weekend.
As we entered the subway station near our hotel, we met a priest who was in Munich for opening day ceremonies at the cathedral adjacent to Theresienwiese. He quickly offered to lead us to the fairgrounds and gave his summary of the highlighted events ahead, including parades and ceremonies, while often pausing to remark that he must moderate his drinking today because he had to catch a flight tonight and work tomorrow (Sunday).
With 14 major tents, scores of small tents and an amusement park all jammed into Theresienwiese, there is plenty of fun to go around. The photo blog below summarizes our opening weekend of Oktoberfest 2014.
A rainy beginning to the day isn’t always so bad. As the crowds thinned, we wandered wherever we wanted throughout the morning and arrived at each spot just in time to see the major events recommended by our priest guide.
Popular politician, Bavarian first minister Horst Seehofer, makes his rounds.Prost!Many men wear red-white plaid shirts with their lederhosen.Parade on opening day bringing each brewery’s bier through the streets of Munich to respective tents.Locals pass the time awaiting the arrival of the bier inside the tent.
The Löwenbräu bier brand float.Bier has been served in glass mugs here since 1892.Horse racing was a part of Oktoberfest until 1960. Today, they simply bring in the bier.Our first bier tent.Festival tents also have their own bands. Here, one hails the coming of the bier.Opening Day parade bringing bier into the tent.Brezen (pretzel) is another big hit at Oktoberfest.Children lead the parade as the bier arrives at the tent for Opening Day.Kids climb for a better view of the parade.Cheers for the first bier as the keg is tapped.Sunflowers are also everywhere.The waitresses carry just as much bier as the men.Waiter delivering an armload of glass bier mugs.Outside of Spatenbräu’s tent.Smoking is no longer allowed inside of tents. Our friends at Happy To Be Homeless recommend watching these smoking areas for potential points of sneaking into tents no longer allowing entry.Monica with the classic bier mug and pretzel.
One of the traditional bier wagons at its final perch beside a tent.This Italian bachelorette sat beside us for a couple of hours. Oktoberfest is a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties.This man led the crowds in the bier garten outside of the Spatenbräu tent.With two pretty blonde ladies in German dirndls accompanying me, finding a table wasn’t so difficult.Another table dancer.Overhead view of Oktoberfest. Always be careful in large crowds and away from them in poorly lit areas. While most are there to have fun, many crimes have been committed this year, as always.
These Munich locals told us that they will dress in traditional clothing and appear here every day throughout the festival.Another heavy load of bier.Ending the night in front of the Bavarian monument, towering over the field since 1850, where dozens sleep off a day of celebration.
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