The History of the Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest. Held in Munich Germany, it is a 16 day festival that runs from mid-September to the first weekend in Oktober. Over six million people attend Oktoberfest ever year, from every country around the world. The festival has been held since 1810, and originally was a wedding celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

At the end of the wedding event, horse races were held for the Royal Family as the whole of Bavaria celebrated. This was repeated the next year, and the Oktoberfest was born.  Over the years events were added such as an Agricultural show and later bier stands, a carousel and eventually a fair. The event grew and developed into the Oktoberfest we see today. This event is supported by the local brewers who now have the famous beer tents and halls that can be found on the Oktoberfest Grounds, or the “Wies’n (the fields).

While Oktoberfest has run almost every year since 1810, it has not been untouched by war, or the economy. In fact several years the Oktoberfest was not held due to the Cholera outbreak, war and even hyperinflation.

Oktoberfest popularity as increased around the world with many locations holding their own festivals at the time. Many do not realize it is the celebration of a wedding many years ago, but find it a wonderful time to celebrate German culture, eating German food and listening to German music.