Travel Guide to Oktoberfest 2023 Holiday in Munich
When is Oktoberfest in 2023: All You Need to Know
When: Saturday, 16th Sept 2023 to Tuesday, 3rd Oct 2023 (18 days)
Where: Theresienwiese fairground, Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest holidays are among the most prominent reasons travellers from the UK and the world over book all inclusive cheap holiday packages to Germany each year. Millions of tourists throng the renowned Theresienwiese fairground in Munich, hosting Germany’s most popular beer festival, dating all the way back to the 1800s. In fact, Oktoberfest is largely accepted to be the largest, most extravagant beer festival worldwide!
While securing cheap Oktoberfest packages is pretty easy these days, knowing why you’re headed to this fantastic beer festival in Munich and what exactly to do there can help you plan the holiday in more detail. Here’s everything important first-timers need to know about Oktoberfest - the most spectacular Germany beer festival one can ever expect to be a part of!
What is Oktoberfest, and Why is it Celebrated?
Oktoberfest is the largest Volksfest in the world, which typically combines a travelling carnival and a beer festival. The fantastic and vivid event is hosted each year in Munich, Bavaria, generally around mid to late September. Occasionally, it can fall on the first Sunday in October. Locals refer to the festival as Wiesn, which has been held in the country since 1810. Countless countries worldwide host their own version of this famous German beer festival, modelled after the original one. However, many prefer to book an Oktoberfest holiday to Munich each year for a taste of the authentic event. It is inarguably the best beer festival Munich has to offer!
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Why is the Beer Festival in Munich Held at All?
Learning a bit about this popular event can make your cheap holiday to the region more exciting. The uber-popular Germany beer festival can be traced back to 1810, when the entire town of Munich was invited to be a part of celebrations that followed the matrimony of King Ludwig I with Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. These were held on the expansive fields that lay ahead of the city gates. It included everything from horse races and beer and wine tastings to performances held in honour of the newlyweds. The 42-hectare land remained pretty much undeveloped, and the festival continues to be held almost each year since then. Today, Oktoberfest packages are booked worldwide by beer enthusiasts who come to witness this marvellous spectacle firsthand.
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How the Oktoberfest Holiday 2023 will Start
Oktoberfest holidays begin the same way each year. As per tradition, the Wiesn tapping is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 16th September 2023 at 12 in the afternoon. The very first barrel is opened (or inaugurated) by the Lord Mayor after the vibrant parade. This action is accompanied by the traditional exclamation of O'zapft Is! (translated, it means “it has been tapped”). Other Munich beer festival events quickly follow suit, such as the conventional costume and riflemen's processions and the stand-up concert.
Over the years, this incredible German beer festival has become famous for a plethora of exciting things. These include fun rides like the 50-metres Ferris Wheel, food stalls serving delicious Bavarian cuisine, exciting games, and catchy live music all across the festival grounds. The popular ‘Wiesn landlords’ concert usually held on the second day of Oktoberfest holiday is an absolute treat for music lovers everywhere. It features at least 300 skilled musicians performing mesmerising pieces. If you stay until the grand finale, you can witness thousands of vibrant and colourful balloons released among the spectators. Undoubtedly, it is features like these that rank Oktoberfest among the best beer festivals Munich has to offer!
Traditional Oktoberfest Attire: Beer Festivals
German beer festivals aren’t really demanding when it comes to attendee attire. But while you can wear anything you want to the Oktoberfest holiday, it will definitely heighten the experience if you opt for the traditional costumes that go with it. These stunning apparels have become a must-have for Germany beer festival enthusiasts, with many collecting multiple variants to take home as souvenirs.
Ladies are usually dressed in what’s called a dirndl, a spunky attire consisting of blouses paired with colourful, festive aprons. For the men, the attire is typically conventional shirts and jackets paired with fine leather pants. These clothes can make the German beer festival experience even more memorable, as family holiday travellers become one with the locals.
Quick tip: Ladies wearing Dirndls at the beer festival in Munich can indicate their relationship status (single, committed, or widowed) by which side they place the apron bow.
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Oktoberfest Beer Tents: Tickets & Reservations
Although many book Oktoberfest packages to come see the spectacle of the carnival, the beer tents are where the action lies for beer lovers arriving in the region on adults only holidays. The magnificent Oktoberfest holiday offers 14 major beer tents for visitors to explore. The tents are owned by private owners or by the six major breweries permitted to serve beer at the Oktoberfest. You will also come across over 20 much smaller tents, each with unique themes like poultry, dumplings, cheese, or seafood. The "small" tents can each accommodate around 60 to 900 at a time. Imagine the sizable number the 14 major ones can hold!
One thing first-timers at the beer fest Germany must know clearly is to get a drink, they simply MUST be seated. with millions of visitors each year, this can be harder to do for most. So, pre-plan! You must buy the tickets for the Germany beer festival directly from the beer tents. It is illegal to acquire them from third party vendors. Another (and quite possibly riskier) way to get a coveted table at the beer festival in Munich is to take a chance and head directly to one of the tents with the hope of grabbing a seat. You'd be more successful if you went on weekdays and early mornings instead of Fridays or the weekends when the crowds are more vast.
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Oktoberfest Holidays Highlights
Knowing about a few of the most exciting things to look forward to at this super-popular beer festival in Munich can help luxury holiday visitors be better prepared to experience it to its fullest. It will justify their investment in Oktoberfest packages, ensuring they enjoy total value for their money. Here’s what to look for at the Germany beer festival:
● Barrel Tapping: After the vivid and lively parade reaches the event grounds, the Lord Mayor proceeds to the Schottenhammel tent as per tradition to open the very first beer barrel. This is a pivotal act that marks the beginning of the much-awaited festivities. This occurs at precisely 12 in the afternoon, following which around 12 gunshots are fired as a signal to the restaurateurs to begin serving the beer.
● Parade of the Breweries and Restaurateurs: An important ongoing event right since the 1930s, the parade is led each year by the incumbent Munich Mayor. It is followed by beautifully decorated floats and carriages of the breweries allowed to serve at the event, restaurateurs, and various other showmen.
● Family Days at Oktoberfest: Two whole days are earmarked as family days at Oktoberfest holidays. These are great days for families to head to the grounds as performances and rides are offered at discounts.
● Rifleman and Costume Parade: Around 8000 folks will march in this parade, embellished in festive, historic costumes. They will make their way from the Maximilianeum all the way to the event grounds - approximately a seven-kilometre stretch.
● Traditional Mass: Yes, you heard that right! A religious mass is held at the beer festival in Munich each year. Visitors will also have the opportunity to receive their first communion or get baptised.
● Gun Parties and Concerts: Visitors to Oktoberfest Munich will have ample opportunities to enjoy massive outdoor concerts involving conventional alphorns and contemporary brass bands. These are hosted typically around the Bavaria statue, and witness large crowds. Another highlight is the gun salute that marks the end of the Oktoberfest holiday festival.
Where to Stay: Book Oktoberfest 2023 Packages from UK
It’s best to book Oktoberfest 2023 packages from UK as early as possible if you wish to enjoy the event this year. You can opt for a cheap all inclusive Oktoberfest package, which can conveniently club your flights and hotel. Moreover, all inclusive deals to go see the beer festival in Munich will ensure the hotel you pick covers your meals, and in some cases, drinks and snacks, too. It’s the best way to experience the renowned German beer festival without any hassles or worries.
Top Hotels to Stay for Oktoberfest:
You can stay at plenty of the best hotels located in nearby areas when visiting Munich for the great Germany beer festival. Top-notch options include:
● A&O Munchen Hackerbrucke in Munich
● Luitpoldpark in Munich, Fussen
● Atlas Grand Hotel in Munich, Garmisch Partenkirchen
● Best Western Nuremberg City West in Nuremberg
● Rappen Rothenburg in Nuremberg
To Wrap Up
Book cheap all inclusive holidays to Germany and be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. You will experience thrills and joys like never before, enjoying a range of fun games, music shows, and not to mention, food and beer! Avail the best possible cheap deals for Oktoberfest holidays 2023.