About the Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest today
Over the last two centuries, the Oktoberfest transformed from a local Bavarian tradition into a global phenomenon.
The festival became synonymous with merriment, where the clinking of beer mugs blended harmoniously with traditional Bavarian music and the enticing aroma of roasted almonds and sausages filled the air.
The festival grounds grew larger, accommodating an increasing number of beer tents, amusement rides, and cultural events. It became a spectacle where locals and tourists alike could revel in the joyous spirit of Bavarian hospitality.
5-7 mil.
Liters of Beer
In a single year, Oktoberfest attendees guzzle down an astonishing amount of beer, reaching several million liters. The precise figures vary between 5-7 million liters, so it’s safe to say that beer flows like the Isar River during this 16-18 days period. Maybe that is why locals also call it the fifth season of the year.
6 mil. visitors
every year
Millions of visitors from around the world flock to Munich to partake in the Oktoberfest revelries, with over six million attendees annually, transforming Munich into a bustling international hub of celebration. And the hype about the ‘Wiesn’ is steadily increasing: In 2023 a new visitors record with 7.2 million visitors was broken.
1 bil. € revenue
every year
The economic impact of Oktoberfest on Munich and the surrounding regions is staggering, generating more than one billion euro in overall revenue and approximately 10 to 12 million euro per big beer tent.
First horse ride
Die Ursprünge des Oktoberfests sind eng mit der königlichen Hochzeit von Kronprinz Ludwig, dem späteren König Ludwig I. von Bayern, und Prinzessin Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen verbunden. Die Hochzeit fand am 12. Oktober 1810 statt, und die Feierlichkeiten waren prunkvoll und verschwenderisch, dem Bund eines Kronprinzen und einer Prinzessin gebührend. Die Münchner Bürger waren eingeladen, an den Festlichkeiten auf den Wiesen vor den Stadttoren teilzunehmen. Diese Wiesen wurden später zu Ehren der Prinzessin Theresienwiese genannt.
History of Oktoberfest
The origins of Oktoberfest are closely linked to the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The wedding took place on October 12, 1810, and the celebrations were magnificent and extravagant, befitting the union of a crown prince and a princess. The citizens of Munich were invited to take part in the festivities on the meadows outside the city gates. These meadows were later named Theresienwiese in honor of the princess.
The wedding celebration was not merely a private affair for the nobility; it was a public event meant to involve and entertain the entire population of Munich. The festivities included horse races, parades, music, dancing, and, later on, copious amounts of food and beer. The people of Munich embraced the event with such enthusiasm that it was decided to repeat the horse races in the subsequent year, marking the beginning of the annual tradition.
The following year, in 1811, an agricultural fair was added to the horse races, attracting farmers and merchants from the surrounding regions. As the years passed, more and more attractions were introduced, including amusement rides, games, and the establishment of small beer stands. These beer stands eventually evolved into the large beer tents and halls that we see at the Oktoberfest today.
The Oktoberfest became not just a celebration of a royal marriage but also a celebration of Bavarian culture, traditions, and, notably, its excellent beer. Breweries in Munich started to participate, showcasing their finest brews to the attendees. Over time, beer became the central focus of the festival, and the quality and variety of beers on offer became a point of pride for both brewers and attendees.
As the festival continued to grow in popularity, it attracted visitors from other parts of Germany and eventually from all around the world. The spirit of camaraderie, the joy of communal celebration, and the love for good beer became the defining characteristics of the Oktoberfest. Thus, the royal wedding of 1810 not only marked the beginning of a beautiful marriage but also gave birth to a tradition that has endured for over two centuries, making the Oktoberfest in Munich a globally recognized event and the biggest festival in the world.