München (Munich) Oktoberfest

Every autumn, colonies of tourists make the unholy pilgrimage to Munich to make merry in true Bavarian form. From noon on the penultimate Saturday of September through early October, participants chug five million liters of beer after eating 200,000 Würste. Oktoberfest is the world's largest folk festival—in fact, it has gotten so large and so out of hand that the city has stopped advertising it. Those who plan on attending better have some close Bavarian friends with extra beds, as most budget accommodations are booked up to a year in advance and prices can double or triple depending on the venue.

Oktoberfest began on October 12, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of the future king Ludwig I of Bavaria. Representatives from all over Bavaria met outside the city gates, celebrating with a week of horse racing on fields they named Theresienwiese in honor of the bride (U4 or U5: Theresienwiese). The bash was so much fun that Munich's citizens have repeated the revelry (minus the horses) ever since. An agricultural show, inaugurated in 1811, is still held every three years, and a panoply of carousels, carnival rides, and touristy souvenirs continues to amuse beer-guzzling participants.

The festivities begin with the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, a parade that ends around noon with the ceremonial drinking of the first keg, to the cry of “O'zapft is!” or “It's tapped,” by the Lord Mayor of Munich. Other special events include international folklore presentations, a costume and rifleman's parade, and an open-air concert. Each of Munich's breweries set up tents in the Theresienwiese. The Hofbräu tent is the rowdiest. Arrive by 4:30pm to get a table. You must have a seat to be served alcohol. Drinking hours are relatively short, about 10am-10:30pm, depending on the day, but fairground attractions and sideshows are open slightly later. Those who share a love of alcohol with their kin will appreciate the reduced family day prices every Tuesday noon-6pm.

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