Munich's mayor has tapped a first barrel of beer to kick off one of Germany's most popular festivals. Record beer prices at Oktoberfest this year are not expected to reduce visitor numbers.
The first beers have been served at Oktoberfest, with State Premier Markus Söder (left) getting the first sipImage: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture alliance
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Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter gave the Oktoberfest in the Bavarian capital its traditional launch on Saturday, opening a barrel of beer and marking it with the time-honored phrase "O'zapft is!" (Bavarian for "It is tapped").
Reiter then handed the first mug to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder with a wish for a peaceful festival, with the day's sunny, late summer weather auguring well for its success.
Oktoberfest opens for 190th time
"O'zapft is" — this rallying cry of "It is tapped" by Munich's mayor has kicked off 16 days of beer-fueled revelry. Take a closer look at the world-famous Oktoberfest with DW.
Image: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture alliance
First mug to Bavaria state leader
It's tradition at Oktoberfest that the first mug of beer goes to the Bavarian premier. Mayor Dieter Reiter (center) who tapped the keg, handed it to him.
Image: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture alliance
Lederhosen run
As soon as the gates opened on Saturday, visitors made a run for the tents, with these two men in "Lederhosen," traditional leather shorts, looking very keen on being among the first.
Image: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture alliance
Böllerschützen (gun saluters) parade
Festivities begin with the Munich breweries' parade where innkeepers are welcomed with gun salutes. This custom symbolizes the beginning of the festival.
Image: Felix Hörhager/dpa/picture alliance
Brewery horses
Horses pulling carts, accompanied by a Munich band are part of the parade kicking off festivities. These cars were traditionally used by breweries to transport kegs of beer from the breweries, but today are mainly seen for promotional purposes and at festivals.
Image: Felix Hörhager/dpa/picture alliance
Dirndl not just for women
Traditional Bavarian costume is a common feature at the festival, and it's not just donned by locals. These English men truly got into the spirit by putting on "Lederhosen" — and even, in one case, a dirndl dress.
Oktoberfest waiters and waitresses famously carry between seven and up to 18 beer mugs. One mug contains one liter, which costs around €15 (17,70) this year.
Leonie Splitter (left) also donned a dirndl to mark being picked as the Wiesn-Playmate for 2025 by Playboy magazine. "D'Wiesn" is the local dialect term for the Oktoberfest. She is accompanied by her title predecessor, Vroni Sbrizzai.
Image: Felix Hörhager/dpa/picture alliance
Partying in the sunshine
Visitors to Oktoberfest can also enjoy a variety of fair rides, or listen to performances of Bavarian folk music. And all of this under (currently) blue and friendly skies.
Image: Felix Hörhager/dpa/picture alliance
Wiesn Lebkuchenherzen
Ginger bread hearts with messages like "I love you" or "You are my sweetheart" written in icing are a staple at German fairgrounds. Prices at Oktoberfest start at €6.
Ahead of the tapping, Söder described Oktoberfest as chance to get some relief in a period of multiple crises and a place where "pure high spirits" prevail.
Germany's biggest tourist event
The event held on the Theresienwiese fairground in central Munich is known as the world's largest beer and folk festival.
Belying its name, Oktoberfest always begins in September, running this year from September 20 bis October 5.
As the country's major tourist event, the annual festival, now in its 190th edition, is expected to attract at least 6 million visitors, with a record of 7.2 million set in 2023.
Oktoberfest also features fairground attractionsImage: Sven Hoppe/dpa/picture alliance
The amount of beer drunk at the festival is commensurate with visitor numbers, with revelers downing 7.4 million liters (1.95 million gallons) of the amber-hued, yeast-based beverage in the same year.
However, some might be in for a shock at what they now have to pay for a mug, with prices reaching record levels this year.
In addition to consuming beer in any of the numerous tents erected for that purpose, visitors can go on amusement rides, participate in games and enjoy traditional Bavarian dishes or other comestibles from the food stalls.
Many people gathered at the venue from the dark early hours of Saturday morning waiting for admission at 9 a.m. local time (7 a.m. GMT) so they were sure of getting a table in one of the tents, and then had to remain sitting patiently until the first beers were served at noon, after the opening.
