Oktoberfest Munich, Germany _ it is the world’s largest folk festival celebrating the rich Bavarian culture. Bavaria is in the southeast corner of Germany and is famous globally for its annual beer production. Each year millions of people travel to Munich to participate in the festivities of 2-weeks long Oktoberfest festivities. 

If this 2024 Oktoberfest is your first experience then you have come to the right place. In this article, you will get all the necessary information on how Munich people celebrate German Oktoberfest. If you have attended this annual festival in the past then this is also the right place to memorize all important events again since you must have forgotten a few points and tips.

Where is Oktoberfest? 

Let’s sort out the obvious for the newbies, Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany takes place on the Theresienwiese fields for over 200 splendid years. Theresienwiese is the largest field in Munich where the first-ever Oktoberfest was celebrated. Originally, it was a wedding celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Theresienwiese. Later on, the field was named after the bride and is still known as Wies’n Fields. It is located in the southwest of the city centre and anybody can approach these fields by taking Munich’s U-Bahn train. 

When is Oktoberfest? 

Well, Don’t take its name seriously, Oktoberfest does not start in October. In Germany, Oktoberfest starts at the end of September and the celebration lasts for almost 16-18 days based on the first Sunday of October. If the 1st Sunday of October falls before 3rd then the events are extended until then. 

3rd October is the national holiday and is known as German Unity Day. The day is about reminding the anniversary of Germany’s reunification in 1990. 

Oktoberfest Dates & Venues

As we all know, Oktoberfest is based on the days and not on the dates, each year this festival falls on different dates. As far as this year’s Oktoberfest dates are concerned: 

Oktoberfest 2024 Saturday, September 21st – October 6th 2024

Oktoberfest 2025 Saturday, September 20th – October 5th 2024

From fun rides to sceptical musical nights, parades and games, there is much more action going on inside the beer tents. There are almost 14 major beer tents in the Munich field and each has a different personality. These beer tents are either owned by the 6 biggest brewers of Munich or by private companies. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough budget to land in the big beer tents. In Wies’n fields, you can also find 20 small beer tents representing different themes such as seafood, dumplings, chicken, cheese and much more beyond our imagination. 

Oktoberfest typically runs from 10:00 am to 11:30 pm on weekdays and from 9:00 am to midnight on the weekends. So whether you are looking forward to attending the first keg opening ceremony, the annual parade or the music nights, don’t forget you are basically diving right into the Bavarian culture. 

Oktoberfest Events _ What Munich People Do on Oktoberfest 

Wait a second!!!

Don’t tell us, you all just think Oktoberfest is all about beer tents or musical nights? Except for eating traditional pretzels, drinking beer and dressing in Bavarian-style Oktoberfest outfits lederhosen/dirndl, there is much more to explore about Oktoberfest than that. 

Turns out, there is a whole different feast that goes on in the form of parades, celebrations and gun-firing parades at Bavaria Library. Let’s take a look at these special events in Munich Oktoberfest that you don’t want to miss out on… 

Opening & Closing Ceremony of Oktoberfest

Well, the first and last day of Oktoberfest is more important and almost more than a million people (including locals and tourists) attend these days. 

Opening Ceremony: it takes place inside the Schottenhamel Tent with the Lord Mayor of Munich tapping the first keg and uttering the most important phrase “O Zapft Is!!” 

Closing Ceremony: this celebration takes place on the last night of the Oktoberfest inside the Hacker-Pschorr Tent. Sing along with thousands of people, sparkle the dark beer tents, and go ahead and count down till next year’s Oktoberfest. 

Oktoberfest Parades 

Do you know why people in Germany celebrate Oktoberfest? Every year thousands of people gather in the same fields to celebrate the rich Bavarian culture, relive folk stories and take part in recalling the 200 years old German history and there is no better way to experience all these than participating in the festival parades. Experience the opening day parade featuring the traditional horse-drawn beer carriages, led by the Munchner Kindl. Take part in the final and closing day parade featuring 10,000 participants dressed in Oktoberfest outfits. 

Do you know, according to a report of Forbes, world witnessed the largest celebration of festivities in 2023’s Oktoberfest in the field of Munich.

Traditional Oktoberfest Mass

During this traditional festival, there is a religious mass held every year in the Munich church providing an opportunity for locals and tourists to get baptized. 

Gay Sundays

Not so traditional but nowadays, the first Sunday of Oktoberfest has been officially or unofficially celebrated as Gay Sunday. The festivities of this event take place in the Pschorr-Brausol tent. Here you can witness whip-snapping performances of gay people. 

Family Day 

Of course, how can we forget about our family? Well, instead of going to drink beer all day with your friends, spend a fun day with your family enjoying music nights, carnival rides and top performances. You can also enjoy multiple family discounts on concerts and food. 

Gun Parties & Concerts 

Mix with locals and don’t miss out on the outdoor fascinating concerts of brass bands traditional alphorns and Munich’s landlords at the feet of the Bavarian statue. Did we mention before there is also a crossbow shooting competition? Take part in gun salute marking at the end of the Oktoberfest featuring the winners of the crossbow competition. 

In the End 

Those mentioned above are just the highlights of the festivities going on during Oktoberfest, there is much more to do in Munich. From taking all-day trips to Neuschwanstein and Salzburg, the list of enjoyment and fun activities is endless. 

P.S: Don’t forget to buy your festival dresses beforehand because you will not find a shop selling dirndl or Lederhosen in the fields of Wies’n. You can order your costume from Oktoberfest Outfit, we are selling premium-quality and durable outfits that last long many washes.