September 20, 2023
Today was the day, the day that was the reason as to why I went on this trip, Oktoberfest or locally called d'Wiesn. I was excited beyond words! I started my morning off with breakfast (two hard boiled eggs) and then I proceeded to get ready. One of the girls on my trip braided my hair and another helped me get my dirndl on, it was fun getting ready together and it reminded me of when I would get ready with my girlfriends in college. Our whole group met in the lobby dressed in dirndls and lederhosen, everyone looked great! We took the public bus and train to get to the festival grounds. Once we arrived, we had a little bit of time to explore before our table reservation...
Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world. The festival is held annually in Munich from mid or late September to the first Sunday in October. There are more than 6 million international and national visitors each year who attend the event. The festival has been held since 1810. There are six breweries that can produce Oktoberfest beer: Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spatenbräu, and Staatliches Hofbräu-München. There are a series of regulations for the beer, and it must be brewed within the city limits of Munich to be served at Oktoberfest.
Here is a breakdown of the large tents featured at Oktoberfest gathered from Wikipedia:
Marstall - One of the larger tents, it is the first tent that many visitors see. Traditionally, in the evening, the Oktoberfest band Münchner Zwietracht plays Oktoberfest classics.
Armbrustschützenzelt - Translates as the "Crossbowman's Tent", a competition that has been a part of the Oktoberfest since 1895.
Hofbräu-Festzelt - The counterpart to the famous Hofbräuhaus, this tent is especially popular with Americans, Australians and New Zealanders.
Hacker-Festzelt - One of the largest tents on the Wiesn, they have a rock band that plays during the brass band's evening break. This tent markets itself as Himmel der Bayern (Heaven of the Bavarians).
Schottenhamel - Reckoned to be the most important tent at the Oktoberfest, mainly because it is located at the beginning. On the first Saturday of the event, no beer is allowed to be served until the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg, at exactly high noon. Only then can the other tents begin to serve beer. The tent is very popular among younger people.
Winzerer Fähndl - Literally translates as "Winzerer's little flag" and refers to the name of an old crossbowmen's guild, itself referring to a military unit for the Thirty Years' War: Fähnlein being a 16th-17th century German word for the equivalent of a company/battalion of approximately 400 mercenary soldiers. Kaspar III. Winzerer was the famous Bavarian captain of such a unit. This tent is noted for its huge tower, with a Maß of Paulaner beer sitting atop it.
Schützen-Festhalle - This is a mid-sized tent. Situated under the Bavaria statue, the current tent was newly built in 2004.
Käfer Wiesn-Schänke - The smallest of the large tents at the Oktoberfest, it is frequented by celebrities, and is known for its especially good - and expensive - food. In contrast to the other tents (which must close by 11 p.m.), it is open until 12:30 a.m., and it can be very difficult to gain admittance.
Weinzelt - Translates as "wine tent". This tent offers a selection of more than 15 wines, as well as Weißbier.
Löwenbräu-Festhalle - Above the entrance is a 4.50-meter (15 foot) -high lion who occasionally drinks from his beer. This is overshadowed by yet another tower where an even larger drinking lion sits.
Bräurosl (Hacker-Pschorr) - Translates as "brewer's Rosemary". Named after the daughter of the original brewery owner (Pschorr), this tent has the usual brass band and yodeler. On the first Sunday of the festival, this tent hosts the hugely popular gay and lesbian party, Rosa Wiesn.
Augustiner-Festhalle - Considered by many locals to be the best tent, due to the fact it sells the favorite local brew, Augustiner, from individually tapped wooden kegs rather than stainless steel vats used by the other tents.
Ochsenbraterei - True to its name, this tent offers a great variety of roasted ox dishes.
Fischer-Vroni - Translates as "Fisher's Veronika". Another of the smaller tents. Fisch is the German word for fish and this tent carries a huge selection on its menu. The main dish is Steckerlfisch, which is grilled outside of the tent.
...Our reservation was at Schottenhamel. We enjoyed half a chicken and two beers at this tent while listening to music and dancing on our table benches. We had a ton of fun! After our reservation, we went back out to explore the grounds further and popped in and out of tents. We continued our antics throughout the night while also stopping at Teufelsrad (Devil's Wheel). My friends and I ate a pretzel bigger than the size of our heads, bought souvenirs, and of course drank more beer.
I am very pleased with my first Wiesn experience and I would love to attend the festival again! I am so incredibly grateful for my experience and for my new friends in whom I was able to share it with. Words cannot compare to experiencing the festival firsthand and I highly recommend attending at least once in your lifetime. Please enjoy my photos from the festival below as photos can share more depth than words, prost (cheers)!
Of course, an end of night McDonald's trip was necessary where I got a snack wrap, salad, and fries. You can bring the Americans to Germany, but you can't take the American out of us.
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