The good, bad and ugly sides of Oktoberfest: dos and don'ts
Every year people from around the globe descend on Munich to celebrate German beer (and sausages), but there is so much more to do than quaff and scoff
The Good
The 183rd Oktoberfest gets under way next Saturday with a traditional parade through the streets of Munich. Cheered on by large crowds, horse-drawn carriages haul giant beer barrels to the festival grounds, where, at noon, the mayor of the southern German city opens the first keg and declares the event officially open.
Oktoberfest traces its origins back to a royal wedding in 1810. Citizens were invited to attend the celebrations, which lasted for five days. There were shooting displays and a horse race around a meadow on the edge of Munich but, ironically, no beer was sold. Such was its success; the gathering became a regular affair, moving to late September, so festival goers could enjoy the warmer weather.
Fast forward to 2015 and six million visitors from every corner of the globe guzzled 7.3 million litres of the amber stuff. That’s enough to fill almost three Olympic-size swimming pools. To soak up all that booze, there’s a belt-loosening array of munchies, from fresh pretzels and slow-roasted ox to apple strudel and chocolate-covered strawberries on a stick. And if you like sausages, you’ve come to the right place. Germany boasts more than 1,200 varieties and at Oktoberfest you’ll soon know your Weisswurst from your Mettwurst.