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Gadling's 2007 Oktoberfest Coverage
Grüss Gott!
Ah, Oktoberfest -- the world's largest fair with some six-million revelers gathering each year. Beginning September 22, 2007, when the mayor of Munich, Germany kicks off the festival by shouting, "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!") and lasting until October 7th, this year's d' Wiesn will surely break records. Last year, over 6.1-million beers were served, and 219,443 pairs of sausages were scarfed down. Have a look at our galleries, articles, travel guides, and maps covering this year's Oktoberfest -- it's not to be missed!
Explore the Beer Tents! (click on the map below)
Map of Munich:
Ah, Oktoberfest -- the world's largest fair with some six-million revelers gathering each year. Beginning September 22, 2007, when the mayor of Munich, Germany kicks off the festival by shouting, "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!") and lasting until October 7th, this year's d' Wiesn will surely break records. Last year, over 6.1-million beers were served, and 219,443 pairs of sausages were scarfed down. Have a look at our galleries, articles, travel guides, and maps covering this year's Oktoberfest -- it's not to be missed!
Gallery: Girls of Oktoberfest
- How to Eat Weisswurst in Munich -- If you're heading to Munich for this year's Oktoberfest, there should be no escaping the traditional Bavarian breakfast of weisswurst. But there are rules to follow -- traditions to be aware of -- before you can dip a cut off of the albino veal sausage into a pool of sweet Bavarian mustard.
- How Much Would You Pay For A Pair of Lederhosen? A new world record has been broken recently -- most expensive pair of Lederhosen. How much did they go for?
- Learn your way around the city -- check out the Munich travel guide.
- It's not all beer and sausage. Oktoberfest's Funfair has some of the best carnival rides on the planet! Have a look at the video we've got.
- Paris Hilton banned from Oktoberfest 2007? Find out why.
- Explore the beer tents! (Or use the map below.)
- Learn the Chicken Dance! Oktoberfest wouldn't be complete without it.
Gallery: Oktoberfest!
Explore the Beer Tents! (click on the map below)
Map of Munich:
View Larger Map
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
W. Kroemer Sep 14th 2007 9:19AM
From past participants: Which are the top two tents and the best beer?
Vernon M Schiller Sep 23rd 2007 3:43PM
Is it possible to buy this Years Beer Stein and have it mailed to me here in the USA? Let me know. Thanks.
Alan Ford Sep 23rd 2007 4:19PM
What is oktoberfest?
Joe Sep 23rd 2007 5:35PM
To Allen Ford
The first "Oktoberfest" took place on October 12, 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival grounds) organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12, the horse race on October 17, therefore there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest).
The first 100 years
Theresienwiese one day pre opening 2006In the year 1813, the Oktoberfest was called off as Bavaria was involved in the Napoleonic war. In 1816, carnival booths appeared. The main prizes were silver, porcelain, and jewelry. In 1819, The town fathers of Munich took over festival management. They decided that the Oktoberfest should be celebrated every year without exception. Later, it was lengthened and the date pushed forward. The reason being that the end of September in Bavaria often has very good weather. The high temperature in the first week of Oktoberfest nears 30 °C which stimulates the thirst of the visitors. However, today the last week of Oktoberfest is still in October.
To honor the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, a parade took place for the first time in 1835. Since 1850, this has become a yearly event and an important component of the Oktoberfest. 8,000 people — mostly from Bavaria — in traditional costumes walk from Maximilian Street, through the center of Munich, to the Oktoberfest. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl.
Bavaria statue above the TheresienwieseSince 1850, the statue of Bavaria has watched the Oktoberfest. This worldly Bavarian patron was first sketched by Leo von Klenze in a classic style and Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler romanticised and "Germanised" the draft; it was constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller.
In 1853, the Bavarian Ruhmeshalle was finished.
In 1854, 3,000 residents of Munich succumbed to an epidemic of cholera, so the festival was cancelled. Also, in the year 1866, there was no Oktoberfest as Bavaria fought in the Austro-Prussian War. In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war was the reason for cancellation of the festival. In 1873, the festival was once more cancelled due to a cholera epidemic. In 1880, the electric light illuminated over 400 booths and tents. In 1881, booths selling bratwursts opened. Beer was first served in glass mugs in 1892. At the end of the 19th century, a re-organization took place. Until then, there were games of skittles, large dance floors, and trees for climbing in the beer booths. They wanted more room for guests and musicians. The booths became beer halls.
In 1887, the Entry of the Oktoberfest Staff and Breweries took place for the first time. This event showcases the splendidly decorated horse teams of the breweries and the bands that play in the festival tents. This event always takes place on the first Saturday of the Oktoberfest and symbolises the official prelude to the Oktoberfest celebration
In the year 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated its 100th birthday. 120,000 litres of beer were poured. In 1913, the Bräurosl was founded, which was the largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time, with room for about 12,000 guests (today, the biggest tent is the Hofbräu-Festhalle, which holds 10,000).