Oktoberfest Facts

   Visitors -  about 6 million
   Pork Sausages consumed - 200,000 pairs
  

    In 2004 it is the 171st time they will have the Oktoberfest
 There are carousels and rollercoasters
Oktoberfest is held in honor of king ludwig

Why is Oktoberfest called „Oktober"-fest when it actually begins in September?

The historical background: the first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times.
 
 

When is Oktoberfest scheduled for the next years?

2005: September 17 – October 3
2006: September 16 - October 3
2007: September 22 - October 7
2008: September 20 - October 5
2009: September 19 - October 4
2010: September 18 - October 3
2011: September 17 - October 3
 
 

What is „Die Wiesn“?

The locals in Munich fondly refer to Oktoberfest as „die Wiesn“ because of its location, Theresienwiese, which was named after Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.