Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany during late September and early October. It is one of the most famous events in the city and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. Other cities across the world also hold fairs, modeled after the Munich event, called Oktoberfest.
The event takes place during the 16 days before the first Sunday in October on an area named the Theresienwiese, often called "d' Wiesn" for short. Beer plays a central role in the fair, with every festival beginning with a keg of beer tapped by the Mayor of Munich who declares "O'zapft is!" (Bavarian for "It's tapped!"). A special Oktoberfest beer is brewed for the occasion, which is slightly darker and stronger, in both taste and alcohol. It is served in a one-liter-tankard called Maß. The first "mass" is served to the Bavarian Minister-President. Only local Munich breweries are allowed to serve this beer in a Bierzelt (beer tent) which is large enough for thousands.
Oktoberfest Numbers
30% of the year's production of beer by Munich breweries will be consumed in the two weeks of Oktoberfest.
12,000 People are employed at the Oktoberfest. Of these, 1600 are waitresses.
There is available seating for 100,000 people.
The six Oktoberfest breweries, (Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu) sold 6 million mugs of beer in 2005 (5.5 million in 2004).
Roasted oxen: 88
Sausages: 219,443 pairs
Roast chickens: 459,279
Price of a Maß
One of the biggest talking points among citizens of Munich in the lead up to the Oktoberfest each year is how much a litre of beer will cost. In 2006 the official price range is between €6.95 and €7.50, as opposed to €6.65 and €7.10 the year before. In the past price hikes have been a contentious issue.
Theft of beer mugs
Oktoberfest beer mugs are made from heavy glass and typically have a decorative brewery logo on the side, thus making them very popular souvenirs among visitors. It is however strictly forbidden to steal the mugs, but they can be purchased in the tents at a reasonable price. Visitors are strongly advised to keep the receipts because police are known to search them for stolen mugs even away from the fest area. Often when police catch someone stealing a beer mug, they are fined up to €50.
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