Cultural Event: Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is an event held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The event lasts 17 days. It starts in late September and ends the first weekend in October. It is very popular in Germany and is the world's largest fair. About five million people attend the festival each year. It is a huge part of Bavarian culture. Other cities throughout the world hold events similar to Oktoberfest.

There is a wide variety of traditional Bavarian food at the festival. Beer drinking and overall well being is celebrated during the festival. Alcohol is served in various tents throughout the festival, typically beer and sometimes wine. There are 14 main tents at the festival and are setup temporarily just for the festival.

The tents are unique in their own way. The Hippodrum tent is considered one of the most hip tents at the festival. Sometimes celebrities are spotted there. In the evening the Oktoberfest band the Münchner Zwietracht plays all the Oktoberfest classics in this tent. The Hacker-Festzelt is one of the largest tents there. A rock band plays there at 5:30 each evening of the festival.  The Käfers Wiesen Schänke is the smallest tent at the festival. It is popular among celebrities and is known for its excellent food. It is the only tent that closes 12:30 a.m. as opposed to the other tables that close at 11 pm. It can be very hard to get inside.

There is a tent set up for those who take part in the crossbow competition, which has been a part of Oktoberfest since 1895. Some tents appeal to those from certain countries, such as America, Austrailia and New Zealand. One tent has a yodeler.  Many of the locals consider the Augustiner-Festhalle the best tent at the event because it sells the local beer Augustiner. The beer is tapped from kegs made of wood, instead of steel vats that other tents use. Other tents are known for the food that they serve, such as fish and ox.

Schottenhamel is reckoned to be the most important tent at the Oktoberfest, mainly because it is where it starts. It is tradition that alcohol cannot be served until the mayor of Munich taps the first keg on the first Saturday of the event at noon. Then all the other tents can start serving alcohol. This is popular among the younger audience.

There is no charge to enter the festival or the tents.

This year was the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest and about 6.4 million people attended. This year’s event included more historical aspects of Bavarian culture.