In my post about the biggest festivals in Europe, I mentioned Octoberfest. Indeed it’s one of the most visit-worthy festivals in Europe. Since Oktoberfest 2022 is approaching rapidly, let’s have a look at the 3 most important things you need to know before you go to make sure you will get the most of the Oktoberfest 2022 experience. Enjoy!
1. Name is Oktoberfest 2022 but it actually starts in September
This year, Oktoberfest 2022 starts on 17th September and lasts till 3rd of October. Oktoberfest 2022 is a 187th edition of the festival. On the first Saturday of the festival, the 17th September, the tents will be opened from 9 a.m. however the beer will be available from noon. So, if it starts in September, why it’s called Oktoberfest (meaning October festival)? Very simple, first edition of the festival took place in 1820, on October 12th, to celebrate the marriage of the crown Prince of Bavaria (later Luis the I) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It took 5 days and ended with a magnificent horse race (called Theresienwiese). Later, next year, they combined the horse race with agriculture show and in 1818 they introduced booths with food and drinks. In later years the boots evolved into large beer tents and this is how Oktoberfest was born. Each of the brewers shows off their latest and best creation. Total consumption of beer during Oktoberfest is estimated to be around 2 million gallons (about 75 800 hectoliters). Why it starts in September you might ask? Also very simple – they wanted to leverage longer days and warmer weather still in September so they moved the start date to earlier. However, to keep up with the tradition, last days of the festival are always in first days of October.
2. Organize your trip to Oktoberfest 2022 to enjoy it to the fullest.
Access to the festival is free. This includes the festival aera, tents, etc. The only thing you need to pay for is access to the historic Oktoberfest section called “Oide Wiesen”. It’s only 4 EUR so nothing to worry about. However, considering this is one of the largest, and most visited festivals in Europe, make sure you’ve planned and booked your stay in advance. As always, you can do it with Expedia, which you can access under this link.
In terms of finding a place in the tent, they keep a lot of spots without reservations, which makes sense because then people want to try the experience. Basically, on weekends, until 5 p.m. half of the spots are no-reservation, after that 35% (with some small exceptions). But be ready for some crowds. You can always refer to Oktoberfest barometer to check how busy it is and how long are the queues, under this link here.
3. What to do during the Oktoberfest, other than beer tasting
Oktoberfest brings you plenty of various activities to enjoy.
The Tapping of the Oktoberfest.
For example, the opening ceremony, called “The Tapping of the Oktoberfest” will take place on the 17th September, at 12 noon, in the Schottenhamel festival tent. Traditionally, the Mayor of Munich, at 12 noon, taps the first beer barrel. People scream O’zapft is, which means it’s tapped. After that 12 shots are fired and the festival is officially opened. Reservations for this event are sought after, but if you cannot get one, you take come early and take your spot.
Costumes and Hunters Parade
You should also check out the traditional costumes and hunters parade – it’s been taking place since 1950 and really a fun thing to watch. It will take place on Sunday, the 18th at 10 a.m. You can see hunting clubs, historic reconstructions groups, music bands and flag waivers parading from Munich City Center to the Theresienwiese. Fun thing to watch and you can get those Instagram-worthy pictures there. If you want the best spot to watch the parade, there are special stands along the route so that people can watch from there. You need pay to use it. Not cheap at 35 EUR but of costume parades are your thing, then totally worth it! If you want to purchase the spot, you can do it under this link.
Oktoberfest 2022 closing ceremony
On the last day of the festival, the 3rd of October, there is a closing ceremony that involves a lot of gun shots and a lot of smoke. At noon, about 30 shooters gather around the Bavaria statue and the salute starts. It’s not only a lot of noise but also a lot of smoke. Definitely something to experience, if you stay till the end!
In summary – the Oktoberfest experience
Even if you’re not a big fan of big festivals like this, I’d put Oktoberfest on your bucket list. This is really once in a lifetime experience. And the really remarkable thing about Oktoberfest is the atmosphere – carefully created with clothes they are wearing, jokes they are telling and fun that they have. People are just having fun, enjoying themselves and trust me, there is a lot, like a lot of people there. Even if you’re in a bad mood, the moment you get into the festival, the moment you get your beer, hear the music, you will start smiling. I am telling you this from experience. Even though I am not a big fan of traditional Bavarian food and music, the moment I enter Oktoberfest, I have the best time of my life. And don’t worry about the food – if you eat meat, you should try everything they have available. Again – once in a lifetime! And if you’re a vegetarian, also don’t worry – they always have plenty of vegetarian options so you will definitely eat well and drink even better. I wish you the best time of your life during Oktoberfest 2022. See you there and have fun!
P.S. If you want to explore other festivals in Europe, read my post about them here!
Photo by Brett Sayles
[…] If you’re planning on attending Oktoberfest, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance as hotels in Munich are often fully booked months ahead of the event. Also, remember to pack your lederhosen or dirndl (traditional Bavarian clothing) – you’ll fit right in and have a lot more fun if you do! Read the 3 things you need to know before you go to Oktoberfest in my new post here. […]