Just last week, I was traveling around Europe and I happened to make a quick stop in Munich and checked out the infamous Oktoberfest! …and I’m happy to report that it was pretty AWESOME!
Some of you may already know this, but Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival and fair. It is held annually in Munich, DE for about 15 days. It usually starts in mid-September and ends the first weekend in October.
Fun Fact: Over 6 million people from around the world attend the event every year! :0
While my friend and I were visiting the Schloss Neuschwanstein (castle), our tour guide told us the “real story” behind Oktoberfest. It all started when King Ludwing I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the royal event. The fields were named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s Meadow”) in her honor, and have kept that name ever since. Now a days, the locals call it “Wiesn” for short! 😉
Oktoberfest 101:
- Oktoberfest 2017: September 16 to October 3… you still have time to go! 😉
- Fair grounds are open from: 10am-midnight, you can start drinking beer from 12pm-10:30pm
- The event is FREE! So, I do not advise to buy any sort of package deal online.
- Stay at a hotel near the city center or near a subway station.
- Use the orange line U3 to get to the fair grounds and exit Poccistr or Goetheplatz, or the teal line U4 or brown line U5 and exit Schwanthalerhohe or Thereienwiese.
- You pay as you go when you order beers and food at the tents and at the fair.
- You can walk in to all the tents if you wish, no special pass needed.
- Be nice and friendly so people will invite you over to sit at a table
- Wear a traditional Bavarian costume. Dirndl (girls) and lederhosen (guys) or just improvise with something that looks kinda like it. (That is what we did ;))
- Have fun! Sing, dance, make friends and drink beer!
- Get a ginger cookie with some crazy German saying or Oktoberfest on it.
- Oh… and remember the word PROST, it means cheers!
This event reminded me of a rodeo cook-off, but on steroids! There were rides, snacks, sweets, souvenirs, tents with entertainment and everyone was wearing a Bavarian folk costume.
Festival Map:
Fair area:
REAL ROLLER COASTER!
Tent life:
Our favorite tent:
Prost!
Now you have the inside scoop so you can plan your trip to Oktoberfest and impress others with some fun facts! 😉
#adios
-Dorina
thecolorfulchronicle.com 
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