I came across this interesting documentary that covers a lot of the behind the scenes of Oktoberfest. It's not your typical tourists take on the fest and more of the perspective of those working and supporting the fest and thought I would share.
It reminds me a little of the Oktoberfest episodes of "Achtung Kontrolle!" (like a German version of "COPS!")
DJ
My wife and I put on our trachten, and headed downtown to German it up.
The big Oktoberfest question is "What about 2021?" Anyone hear anything? I attended my first 'Fest 64 years ago ( courtesy of Uncle Sam ) and am getting elderly and expect to run out of travel energy/capability in the near future..
Be safe!!!.
We were supposed to be there opening weekend this year. Instead, we went with the friends we were going to be traveling with to a local Biergarten, where we were able to eat, drink and be merry in a socially distanced way. I’m now planning another trip for next fall. Even if Oktoberfest happens in 2021 there’s no way I’ll feel comfortable in a crowded situation like that. Even with a vaccine. Our itinerary is going to be very different and I just hope we can travel safely by then.
There's also a new show on Netflix starting today called Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood that sounds quite intriguing, in German, so I will be watching when I can concentrate on the subtitles.
Always wanted to know: Why is Oktoberfest in September? Weather in Germany in October often not suitable for an outdoor event?
Why is Oktoberfest in September?
You guessed it. It’s the weather. From Wikipedia “ Later, the Oktoberfest was lengthened and the date pushed forward because days are longer and warmer at the end of September.”
DJ
I am missing not only Oktoberfest but also my regular visit to Munich (at least once a year), tour of biergartens, brezels, nurnberger sausages, beer, bustling Neuhauser strasse and Stachus, nobility of Theatinerstrasse, tranquility of Englisher garten, morning coffee in Schwabing, cobbled streets, Pinkotheken... the list goes on and on... Can't wait this to stop and to go there after first full year that I was not able to visit Munich in many years. In the meantime I am watching this one, again and again. Probably the closest to how I experienced the city https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBmIkdH5v0
Oktoberfest is largely in late September, with the last weekend of the fest being the first weekend in October.
I lived in Augsburg, 50 miles west of Munich for four years and did the big fest three times. It was great.
One year, I stood on the street for 3 hours so I could see the parade, which is at the beginning of the fest. The parade has beer wagons with people in traditional costumes.
Go to the fest early in the afternoon when it is not as busy. When I went you didn't need reservations, not sure about that now.
Remember, the beer is stronger than what you get in the USA and you are served a full liter of beer.
My record over a full day was six. I probably did too much.
I was told two things when I was there: locally its called Wiesenfest for the Wiesen - meadow the fairgrounds are in. Secondly its celebrating the coming of October, the harvest time being over, not the month itself.
Maybe some of our German friends will enlighten.
Maybe some of our German friends will enlighten.
Well, let's try. In fact, the Oktoberfest simply owes its name to the date of the first festival held on October 17, 1810 (in the form of a horse race) to celebrate the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The name has nothing to do with the arrival of October. The fest was only brought forward to September in 1872, for the sole reason that October is often quite cool. Since then, the first Saturday after September 15 is the official beginning. In Bavarian it is simply called the Wiesn (the meadow) after the venue (Theresien)wiese.
Drinking a Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier (.5l), Alk. is 6.3%. Seems to me a Bierkästen of Oktoberfestbier from any Münchner Brauerei is a little harder to get this year than years before. I'll guess the Bier sales are taking a tumble. Don't forget the Brezel. A local Brauerei Fest will be via radio with Promis and Musik instead of the usual weekend Fest, with your own party at home. Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit. Six Maß Festbier would probably put me under the Bierbank. Just FYI an original Maß was a unit of measure before the meteric system and is just a little over a liter.
