Tens of thousands of people were on hand at the start of Munich's Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival. An hour ahead of the official opening, several tents had already closed their doors due to overcrowding.
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Tens of thousands of people ran through the entrance of the Oktoberfest beer festival grounds on Saturday, racing to get a seat in one of the festival's massive beer tents after organizers opened the gates in the Bavarian city of Munich.
An hour ahead of the official opening, several tents had already closed their doors due to overcrowding. Even those on the tents' guest lists were not being admitted, organizers said.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter tapped the first keg on Saturday with two blows of a hammer and the cry of "O'zapft is" — "it's tapped." As tradition demands, he handed the first mug to the state's premier, Markus Söder, and the pair drank to a peaceful festival.
Beer isn't cheap
The number of visitors to Oktoberfest will likely be high this year, with around 6 million people from around the world expected at the festival before it ends on October 6. Attendance in 2018 increased by 14% compared to the previous year, with 6.3 million people attending the festival.
Even though it attracts millions of visitors every year, the beer isn't cheap: One liter can cost up to €11.80 ($13). As in previous years, backpacks and large bags are banned for security reasons.
The first Oktoberfest, in 1810, was actually held in October. Although it's still known as Oktoberfest, it now opens each year in September. The reason for that is Bavaria's bad weather. It's even been known to snow in October, which would be a problem for the festival. The world-famous beer celebration was moved up to September in 1904.
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.