Start Planning for Oktoberfest 2021 – Everything You Need to Know

Everything You Need to Know About Oktoberfest 2021

It’s a sad thing that Oktoberfest 2020 has been canceled due to the pandemic. But don’t worry guys, it will be back in 2021!

Are you one of those who planned your whole year around a visit to Oktoberfest 2020? If you are, we know how this worldwide Covid situation must have frustrated you. But we’re sure you understand. After all, canceling it is for the safety of everybody, organizers, and tourists.  But take heart, if you still want to visit the famous and largest beer party in the world, you can plan on visiting Oktoberfest 2021!  Read on to learn more about Oktoberfest 2021 and how to start planning your visit.

First, let’s learn a bit more about the history of Oktoberfest.

History of Oktoberfest

This famous event looks back on long-time traditions. Oktoberfest has been around for more than 200 years! Now, how many events have you known to have lasted that long, right? The first Oktoberfest celebration was in 1810. It was the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (who later became King) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The wedding occurred on the 12th of October 1810. Citizens of Munich were invited to attend this big royal wedding. The field was named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s fields”). This was done to honor the Crown Princess. The local citizens also call it the “Wies’n.”  Since then, this festive event has been happening from September to October every year with the gala Oktoberfest celebration spanning 16-18 days.

Today, the elaborate event attracts visitors from all over the world. Italians, Asians, Australians, Americans, and so many other nationalities all want to share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience!  An estimated 6 to 7 million people travel to Munich and go to Theresienwiese to celebrate. Millions visit this event to enjoy the many fairground rides, the delicious snacks, and traditional Bavarian music.  And best of all, they gather in the huge tents to taste of the world-class beers!

Oktoberfest in Munich is one of the most famous festivals around the world. It’s no surprise that many cities across the world have also done their own Oktoberfest celebrations. These are all patterned after this original German event. Countries that host their own Oktoberfest include China, many states in the USA, and Brazil. But of course, the original Oktoberfest in Munich will always be the best.

Dates and Venue for Oktoberfest 2021

The dates for next year’s Oktoberfest are from 18 September to 03 October 2021. It will be held in the traditional fields in Theresienwiese, Munich.

The opening ceremony is on September 9, 2021 at 12 pm when festivities begin with the grand parade of horse-drawn beer wagons bringing the beer kegs to the field to be tapped and served in the enormous beer tents.  Throughout the festival, stalls usually open from 10 am and don’t close until midnight. For Carnival and rides, the opening day for carnival and rides is 12 pm to midnight.

More Details on Oktoberfest 2021

Beer and Food

Flickr by: 5chw4r7z

Needless to say, Oktoberfest features the best-tasting beers in the world! Beers are served in one-liter mugs. But of course, there are still other drinks other than beer available. Germany is also known for its excellent white wines and of course, there is soda and water available.

For food, don’t forget to try native Bavarian food. Munch on the famous large pretzels, sausages, huge radish spirals, or enjoy the fire-roasted fish and chicken cooked on spits just outside of the tents. You will surely love it!

Tents 

Every year Oktoberfest has 17 large tents that seat hundreds of people and numerous small tents as well.   The tents can hold up to 10,000 people! Each tent serve the best-tasting beers and you will find all of the major German breweries represented here. You can get specially Oktoberfest brewed beers from the Munich breweries (Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, and Lowenbrau.

The bigger and most famous tents are: Armbrustschützen-Festzelt, Augustiner-Festhalle. Festzelt Tradition, Fischer-Vroni, Hacker Festzelt, Herzkasperlzelt, Hofbräu-Festzelt, Käfer Wies’n-Schänke, Kufflers Weinzelt, Löwenbräu-Festzelt, Marstall Festzelt, Ochsenbraterei, Paulaner Festzelt, Pschorr Festzelt Bräurosl, Schottenhamel-Festhalle, Schützen-Festzelt, Zur Schönheitskönigin.

There are smaller tents as well.  Despite the fact that the Oktoberfest tents can host thousands of people at once, it often becomes overcrowded.  It is important to make seating reservations in your favorite tents in advance, especially if you are visiting as a group.  Most tents have online reservations available on their website.  But if you want to chance it, all tents leave 25-30% of their seats open for walk-in visitors.  Admission to the tents is free, but of course, you are expected to order beer and perhaps food as well.  Be sure to locate and remember where the bathrooms are well in advance of when you’ll need them.  You will most likely encounter a line at the door, so plan well in advance!

Smaller tents also give a wonderful atmosphere as well. The smaller tents have traditional music and delicious tasting Bavarian delicacies. And of course beer…beer… and beer!

The first Saturday opens up with the Procession of the Wiesn-Wirte. The beer tent operators and staff ride onto the Theresienwiese in wonderfully decorated carriages.  The first Sunday showcases the Costume and Hunters’ Parade with a very big procession. It has 9,000 participants coming from Bavaria and from different parts of the world. They parade around Munich’s city proper on the route to the Oktoberfest field.

There is also the Standkonzert der Wiesn-Kapellen. This is a big music concert that happens on the second Sunday. It is held at the foot of the Bavaria Statue.  Last Sunday has a gun salute. It is fired in front of the Bavaria Statue and is part of the Oktoberfest shooting competition.

Fairground Rides

You may think that Oktoberfest is only for adults who want to have a blast drinking beer, but in practice, even families with children come to enjoy this event! What? Yes, that is true! Oktoberfest is also a celebration of the year’s harvest and it is an agriculture fair as well.

There are so many fairground rides, both gentle and wild rides! Tuesday is Family Day. The rides are discounted on Tuesdays. Popular rides are Krinoline,  Teufelsrad (Devil’s Wheel), Olympia Looping, and Toboggan.  Krinoline,  Teufelsrad (Devil’s Wheel) are traditional fairground rides. With the Teufelsrad, you have to hold on as long as you can. The Olympia Looping is a 5-loop rollercoaster. Lastly, the Toboggan is a slide that goes up through a very fast-moving conveyor belt.

Exciting details, huh? We are as excited as you are! Start preparing now as hotel space and flights book up well in advance. Save as much as you can so you don’t have to worry about the prices.  Keep an eye out for Oktoberfest packages that can help you with logistics like a hotel, local transport, and beer tent reservations.

When you go to the Oktoberfest, don’t forget to pick up the Oktoberfest map so you can find the tents and attractions that interest you. Also, download the Oktoberfest app to get all the other details you will need. Wear comfortable clothes.

See you at the Oktoberfest 2021!

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Images:  Pixabay.com, Wallpaperflare.com