Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter, has tapped the first keg of beer to open Germany's most famous festival. Six million visitors are expected over the next two weeks.
Image: Reuters/A. Gebert
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Oktoberfest kick-off
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The 185th Oktoberfest has begun in the Bavarian capital, Munich, with Mayor Dieter Reiter managing once more to open the first keg of beer with just two blows of the hammer at the opening ceremony.
The first glass of beer, traditionally reserved for the state's premier, went to Markus Söder, who is attending the fabled event for the first time in the capacity.
Söder and Reiter were the first to get their beersImage: Reuters/A. Gebert
Other guests at the Oktoberfest will be paying up to €11.50 ($13.53) for a liter (2.1 pints) of the amber fluid that will flow freely over the next two weeks into the throats of an expected 6 million guests from all over the world.
Some 600 police officers and several hundred security personnel are on hand amid concerns of possible terrorist attacks. The Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest takes place, is now surrounded by fences and visitors are no longer allowed to carry rucksacks into the area.
The increased security costs are one factor driving the higher price of beer at the festival.
The festival, which has been held since 1810, will end on October 7.
Dos and don'ts at Oktoberfest
And they're off! It's time, once again, for the world's largest Volksfest — the Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavaria. A lot is allowed but not everything is welcomed. Here's an etiquette guide for Oktoberfest visitors.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/M. Siepmann
Dancing — yes, please!
Having a beer in a festival tent is a must for every Wiesn visitor. Once you're inside, you'll be carried away by the music and the fun. People sway and dance. The rules are quite clear: on benches, yes, but not on tables. Those who try to dance on a table risk being thrown out. And it would be a shame for a visit to Oktoberfest to end like that.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Hörhager
Bringing your own food — no!
A beer tent isn't a beer garden! That's why you're not allowed to bring your own food. Those who do are quickly thrown out. Usually there are beer gardens in front of the tents where you can enjoy your snack without upsetting anyone.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/P. Pavot
Hendl chicken — yes, delicious!
Anyone who drinks needs food to line their stomach. Hendl — Bavarian for roast chicken — is the perfect choice: Crispy, greasy and easy to eat with your fingers. To prevent beer mugs from slipping out of your hands after the meal, wipes are included.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K.-J. Hildenbrand
Liftoff — yeahaaaa!
The Olympia Looping roller coaster serves only one purpose — fun! But wait a minute: every Oktoberfest visitor should consider the order of their Wiesn activities. Our recommendation: First roller coaster, then chicken and beer. Otherwise, centrifugal forces might have a devastating effect on the stomach.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/B. Strenske
Flirting — yes, but of course!
Bavarian traditional attire is clever, as it gives you the chance to let people know your relationship status. If you tie the apron bow of your dirndl on the right, it means you're in a relationship. If you tie it on the left, it means you're single.
Image: Christoph Hardt/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance
Drinking beer — yes, most certainly!
Drinking beer at the Wiesn is a rigorous sport-like activity, especially for the upper arms. The beer is served in liter mugs and its consumption requires some stamina. But one must drink correctly: Only grasp the handle, not the whole glass. It's not for those with weak wrists — though some revelers (pictured) still have some practice to do.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Hase
Drink too much beer — absolute no-no!
Getting tipsy is part of the Wiesn fun. But binge drinking is simply ugly. People who stumble around Oktoberfest drunk and who empty the contents of their stomach into the crowd spoil the event for themselves and others. After all, you didn't come all the way to Munich to forget everything because you drank too much.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/R. Peters
Peeing in public — no way, yuck!
At some point, your bladder will start complaining about all the beer you have drunk. But whatever you do, don't get put off by the queues in front of the toilets and urinate behind the tents. You wouldn't do that at home either, would you? Getting caught incurs a fine of up to €100 (about $96). So it's better to plan in enough time to make your way to the next toilet — there are hundreds of them.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/R. Kutter
Stealing a beer mug — no, not under any circumstances!
Admittedly, it's a coveted souvenir. And some people think they'll just take the mug with them. Every year thousands of beer mugs disappear. Not a good idea: Stealing a beer mug is theft. And that means a fine! So it's better to buy one marked with a colorful plaque, identifying it as an honestly acquired beer mug.
Image: Sven Hoppe/dpa/picture alliance
Keeping a seat free — no, that's very uncool
Tables like these in the beer tents are in great demand. The tents regularly have to close their doors to newcomers due to overcrowding, especially on weekends. Nevertheless: Do not ever take a bench and reserve it for friends. Service personnel and stewards will quickly ensure that the free seating is offered to waiting patrons.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/M. Siepmann
Photographing topless exhibitionists — no way!
Taking pictures of women in a party mood is OK. But it's definitely not OK to photograph women who spontaneously take their tops off, called Blankzieherinnen in German. Stripping isn't the problem — photographing people who do it is. Women don't want their Wiesn striptease going global on the internet. What happens in the tent stays in the tent.