Octoberfest, is it really that intresting?

I've never been tempted to go to Oktoberfest. I used to belong to a German club with a lot of Bavarians, and I think their events were a lot like Oktoberfest. Yes, they were fun - German band, singing. But what I've seen at the Hofbräuhaus has been a lot like a little Oktoberfest. Considering the difficulty and cost of staying in Munich at Oktoberfest, I'm content to go at other times and go to the Hofbräuhaus.

It's a party, so some people may say, "the bigger, the better" when it comes to parties. I enjoyed all the different tent decorations, rotisserie meats, costumes, and even the midway, complete with SchnappsHutte. I sat at a table outside a tent and had a conversation with "new friends" there. If you're in Munich on the first Sunday, the traditional costume parade from the city center is excellent. I like the smaller, regional festivals, too; those I attended were for wine.

Yes, in my opinion it is worth going at least once because it is very interesting. If you go in the early to mid afternoon time frame you will avoid the crowds, loudness, and boisterousness of the evenings. In addition, at that time of day you will not run into the problem of all the tables being reserved. You can go into any tent and get a table. It is also very easy to get to the fest using public transit.

It's not worth it to me. Mainly because many other towns and cities hold very similar beer, wine and harvest fests. Most of these attract few of the rowdy internatonal frat boy types that are fast ruining Oktoberfest a little more every year.

I much prefer Bad Durkheim's Wurstmarkt, Nurnberg's Volksfest, Regensburg's Burgerfest and Stuttgart's Canstatter Volksfest.

I thought it was a lot of fun. Every tent has its own atmosphere, music, and revelry, and you can meet people from all over Europe. You will see people of every age group, although I think it's a lot more fun if you're on the younger side. Obviously if you have little tolerance for noise, drinking, and a state fair/carnival type of atmosphere, then perhaps it wouldn't be so fun, but I had a great time. I'm not sure going on stomach turning roller coaster rides afterward would be ideal, although lots of people do that as well.

Rob I didn't want to go, but I was glad I did. Its one of the most famous events in the world, so why not go and see ? Its easy enough to get to and free if you decide its not your thing and turn around and go back. Its not just the beer tents, its a much bigger than that, with plenty of smaller attractions and fun people-watching. I've described it as the biggest state fair you've ever seen, but not overwhelming.

I had always wanted to experience Octoberfest as a well experienced and dedicated beer drinker. I went in 2009, and to be honest, I was prepared for the crowds and the hype, we went on the Monday after opening weekend. The crowds were not bad, the tents (we were able to sit in two, probably could have hit more), and we had a great time. The tents are a wonder to behold, very fun for a beer drinker. You do have to appreciate the scene, and even then, you should think about experiencing it once. I will be there again in a few weeks, again opening weekend and the Monday following, and excited as heck. We will also be hitting Volksfest in Stuttgart, and beer towns in Bavaria and Franconia.

The only negative I would have to say is that years previous, you could wander into the fest grounds look around, go into the tents and look, if there was a spare table have a beer. This year, due to security measures, you need to leave your bag at home, go through a security check point then enjoy the grounds. It may mean long lines, but it could mean fewer crowds. But I will still be there.

I went back in 2007 and it was worth it for me. Like others said, if you do not like crowds and drunkness, you wouldn't like it (nor anything else with crowds and drunkeness). Sure there is the history and culture behind Oktoberfest and you might have to dig a little to find it, but mainly, I appreciated the spectacle of it all. It isn't just the massive beer hall/tents, there is also a carnival with rides and so forth. In fact, I would definitely go again if given the chance.

Have lived in Germany almost 30 years and have never, ever had the desire to go to Oktoberfest. The massive amounts of drunkenness, the high prices and the crowds just really put me off wanting to visit. Watched too many videos on YouTube.

There are so many other wonderful festivals to visit that Oktoberfest is way down at the bottom of my list of fests to visit.

"I'm wondering about why there is so much interest in Octoberfest." Can't explain it other than to say it falls into that category of travel experiences that is often used to impress the folks you left back home... ("Wow, Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein, and Rothenburg - well then, you really have seen Germany!")

I've been - it was quite a long time ago. Never entertained the thought of returning. It wasn't a highlight of my trip back then and wouldn't be now either. This year the security plan includes random checks of purses and small bags AFTER you've already cleared security at the entrance. Even if O'fest is the sort of fun you're looking for, there's a point of diminishing fun returns...

Been twice and had a bang-up time. It is a chance to meet others, from all over the world, in an atmosphere of "we're all having fun here, relax". You sit at a table and, by the third mass, you're "best friends for life", even though you will never see each other ever again. I've never witnessed any "excessive drunkenness", but maybe the next time?

I guess to chime in on the general impression that the whole thing is a rowdy drunkfest, it was not from what I witnessed. I was there in the afternoon until early evening, and while people were having a good time, I was not stepping over bodies or dodging drunks. I am sure if you were to hang around to closing time, it ratchets up a few notches. I think this year there is also the Landwirtschaftsfest, the farm festival, on the south end of the grounds, more historical/cultural aspect to the fest.

...come to think of it, a few months after I returned from that trip I was chatting with a German woman about my trip and when I told her that I'd gone to Oktoberfest she responded with a grimaced "...how did you like it?" with a fully implied "why would you want to go there???" look on her face.

I guess it's as if someone from Europe came to vacation here in the States and telling me the highlight of their trip was dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (in any city).

KC, I think maybe Germans think that it will give a bad impression of Germans as being drunken oafs. The reality is that any festival event in the US based on beer-drinking is likely to be a much worse and (dangerous) place to be.

I remember a thread here a long time ago, in which someone from Germany wanted to know what image of Oktoberfest Americans who had never been had in mind. I think the overwhelming answer had to do with scenes from the movie European Vacation.

This is kind of like asking "does pizza taste good?"

Thanks everyone for great responses. 2 weeks from today we will be in Munich. We didn't plan to be there during Octoberfest, it just worked out. We plan to go on Monday, early. Have a beer, wander the tents, each lunch and move on. I'm actually looking forward to it and it checks off a bucket list item for my husband.

I'm going for the third time in four years, mainly because I have a friend living there and because I generally like Europe in September (I usually combine this with another country or city I have not visited to keep it fresh.) Oktoberfest a lot of fun, and I say this as someone who generally likes to keep most things low-key. The beer and conversations flow, and the festival atmosphere is fun and to me unique.

If you want to avoid too much craziness, go during the day on a weekday. Still busy but not as wild as the night or weekend crowds. And if you don't like it, you can always leave and do something else. Munich is a great city with or without Okfest, so I feel like trying it is not such a risk except for maybe the premium you pay on the hotel. And by staying a little far out from the city but near a train, we are paying a decent rate for our hotel anyway.

Is it worth it to go to Times Square the night of December 31? Dunno, I suppose it depends on whether the "glass is half empty" with all the rowdiness, hullabaloo, crowds, messy streets and the awful time getting there and getting back to the hotel, etc.--or, is "the glass half full” with me/us being in the middle of a kazillion strangers who don't want to be anywhere else but there and all are having a good time just because. . . they’re there.
My wife and I (we're "seniors") were at the site of Oktoberfest for the Munchener Fruhlingsfest a few years ago and it was great, and we understand it is only the “warm up” for Oktoberfest. Where else could two old fogies go inside a tent that holds 5,000-6,000 people and sit on benches at a table 50 feet or so long with people who all have smiles on their faces. And when the rock band started "Amazing Grace” at 120dB or so the folks we were sitting with (about the age of our grandchildren) said we must stand up on the bench and swing with the rest of the crowd? If this sounds good, then Oktoberfest is a hoot, if it mortifies you, better head for the countryside.