Why is the famous German beer festival held in September if it’s called Oktoberfest? Officially, the beer festival starts on the third Saturday in September and runs through early October for sixteen to eighteen days. This year, it runs from September 21 to October 6
What is the backstory of Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest History
The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 to celebrate the royal wedding in Munich — the capital of the old kingdom of Bavaria — between Ludwig, the Bavarian Crown Prince, and Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, princess of Saxe-Altenburg. The celebration began on October 12 and lasted until October 17. In subsequent years, the festivities were repeated, lengthened, and moved to September when the weather was better.
The festivities were initially held for the citizens on the fields in front of the gates of the city. The fields were renamed Theresienwiese for the princess but are often abbreviated to simply die Wiesn. Over the years, the celebration grew to become a celebration of Bavarian agriculture, culture, and food.
Current Oktoberfest
It’s been going on for over two centuries and has only been interrupted about two dozen times previously by cholera epidemics, COVID-19, and wars. Typically, over six million people visit Munich each year and come to one of the 16 beer tents, which hold about 119,000 people at a time. There are even apps for the event.
Recently, 7.7 million liters of beer were served. The beer price for Oktoberfest 2024 is between 13.60 euros and 15.30 euros. If you were to lay down all the beer drinkers in Munich end-to-end, they’d sleep better afterward. All over the world, where there are German immigrants, Oktoberfest is celebrated. Large celebrations routinely occur in Canada, Brazil, Cincinnati, and even Denver, where half a million people gather in the Mile High City.
This is not the only beer festival in Germany or even in Munich. The Munichers have a local one called Starkbierfest.
The married Bavarian couple? They had a grandson, Leopold II, who was perhaps the most popular King of Bavaria. He was called the Swan King, or the Fairy Tale King, or even Mad King Ludwig. He fairly showered castles upon the kingdom in the late 19th century. The largest of these is the most photographed castle in the world and the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. It’s Castle Neuschwanstein near Fussen, Germany.
Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com