It was a rainy day in Munich for the opening of the 183rd Oktoberfest but that didn’t dampen the spirits of plenty of festival goers who began queing before sunrise for prime open ceremony positions. Some 6 million people are expected to attend this years festival.
As is tradition, the first keg was tapped in the Schottenhamel Tent by the Mayor of Munich followed shortly after by the other tents.
Construction of the beer tents at Theresienwiese in Munich is well underway with Oktoberfest 2016 due to begin on September 17th. Of course the local Oktoberfest events here in Australia tend to begin long after Munich has settled down and the beer tents are going back into their storage containers.
Image Source: www.oktoberfest.de
For those lucky enough to be attending Oktoberfest in Munich this year, there are a few security changes due to recent events both in Germany and around the the world.
Previously entry to the Oktoberfest grounds was uncontrolled with patrons free to come and go as they please. Begining this year the number of entry points will be reduced with fencing put in place and security checkpoints at those remaining entries.
Image Source: www.oktoberfest.de
Backpacks and large bags will be prohibited inside the grounds however places to store them will be available nearby. Handbags and the like are still permitted however will be subject to inspection on entry. ID checks will also be conducted so ensure you carry some form of photo ID for hassle free entry.
With 5.9 million people attending Oktoberfest last year, that’s a lot of beer drinkers to keep safe!
Do you want to go a step further in bringing that authentic Bavarian beer garden or Oktoberfest experience to your own home? Well there’s a certain style of table and bench seat that anyone who’s been to Munich would be quite familiar with.
They’re in all of the Oktoberfest beer tents, they’re in the beer gardens at the Englischer Garten and Augustiner Keller and just about any other outdoor beer garden in the region.
They’re strong, sturdy and built for beer drinking! You can cram in at least 5 people on each side and the seats can handle being danced on!
BBT Import in Sydney sell authentic Bavarian beer tables. The traditional style tables are 2200 x 500mm and will set you back around $330 with a pair of bench seats, not including shipping. They also sell variations on the original including different colours and a wider 700mm version. The original 500mm table is fine for drinking and eating at, however if you’re wanting to put platters or similar in the middle of the table then things can become a little cramped.
The tables do require a little wood maintenance if you intend on leaving them outside permanently in the weather unless they’re under shelter. Ideally they’re best packed away during the wet winter months to preserve them, however I personally like the weathered look mine has developed from 3 years permanently in the back yard.
Check out their website at www.beertable.com.au.
The German Club in Adelaide is run by the South Australian German Association which was formed in 1886 by German immigrants and their descendants. Of course is goes without saying that if you’re looking for an Oktoberfest celebration in Adelaide, it doesn’t get much more authentic than theirs.
Hosted over 4 Fridays in October (9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th), the event will be sponsored by a different German beer each week and the opening night will begin with a keg tapping by the Adelaide Lord Mayor.
Entry is $12 at the door and includes an Oktoberfest stein to keep. Be sure to get there early on the night of your favourite beer!
www.facebook.com/AdelaideOktoberfest
WEEK 1: FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER
Beer of the night – Hofbräu
Adelaide German Band
Bund der Bayern Dancers
DJ Herbert
The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin Haese, will be tapping the keg to officially open Oktoberfest.
WEEK 2: FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
Beer of the night – Warsteiner
Adelaide German Band
Bund der Bayern Dancers
Party Band “Happy Endings”
WEEK 3: FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER
Beer of the night – Weihenstephaner
City of Enfield Brass Band
Bund der Bayern Dancers
Party Band “Amplitude”
WEEK 4: FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER
Beer of the Night: Erdinger
City of Enfield Brass Band
Bund der Bayern Dancers
Party Band “Rushmore”
Every Oktoberfest München TV is broadcast on regional television with hosts Marion Schieder and Alex Onken. They cover the entire festival from a live broadcast daily from Hofbräu Festzelt along with prerecorded segments throughout the day. Even if you don’t speak any German you can get a real feel for the atmosphere at Oktoberfest.
You can watch the München TV live stream at www.muenchen.tv/livestream. Every now and again they speak to random people in the crowds and a few Australians have popped up in previous years, although the hosts tend to move on pretty quickly when they don’t speak any German.
If your internet connection isn’t up to the task, you can watch prerecorded segments on the München TV youtube channel at www.youtube.com/user/muenchentv.
The Brisbane Showgrounds plays host to Oktoberfest over two weekends, 9-11th and 16-18th October. Running since 2008 last years event boasted 37,000 visitors.
A traditional style Oktoberfest event suitable for all ages with Sunday’s being more family orientated, in fact under 18’s receive free entry but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Entertainment consists of bands playing traditional Oktoberfest tunes, yodeling, dancing, rides and games.
To guarantee yourself a table, $700-$900 will reserve you a VIP table with a prime position in the main tent which seats up to 8 people and covers entry for all guests. Single adult entry will cost you $15-$25 depending on which day you attend and how early you purchase tickets. Family tickets are also available.
For more event info and to buy tickets go to www.oktoberfestbrisbane.com.au
The 182nd Oktoberfest began a few hours ago with the tapping of the first keg by the mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter and cry of the traditional “O’zapft is” meaning “it’s tapped”. The Schottenhamel beer tent hosted the Oktoberfest opening ceremony after the morning parade as it does every year. When it began in 1867, Schottenhamel had only 50 seats but these days seats around 10,000 guests at any one time making it the biggest of the Oktoberfest beer tents.
Perth Oktoberfest fans would know about Oktoberfest In The Gardens which has taken place over in the west since 2011. As the events popularity has grown its organisers now take it on the road to include Melbourne for the first time in 2014 and Sydney also to be included this year.
The dates for this years events are;
Prices vary between $45-$65 however tickets are almost sold out already!
They have traditional Oktoberfest beers available including Hofbrau, Paulaner and Lowenbrau, along with a few others. Traditional foods are also available including bratwurst, sauerkraut, park knuckle, curry wurst and pretzels.
Entertainment starts off mostly traditional with brass bands, yodeling and accordions with the DJ’s coming on stage later in the evening with more of a music festival vibe setting in.
www.oktoberfestinthegardens.com.au
The 182nd Oktoberfest is about to begin in Munich, Germany in less than 24 hours. On Saturday the 19th of September at 6:45pm Australian Eastern Standard Time to be precise. For those of use who aren’t lucky enough to be in Germany for the real deal, there’s plenty of events and things to do to experience some of that Oktoberfest feeling.
Oktoberfest Downunder is a place to find information about all things Oktoberfest and German beer culture that you can see, do and taste, right here in Australia.
So let us look upon the hard workers putting in the final touches to the beer tents before over 6 million people descend upon Theresienwiese tomorrow for the 16 day festival.
