Introduction to Oktoberfest: History & What to Expect at Oktoberfest Munich 2023

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest (folk festival) and is best known for its beer—but it’s also host to traditional food, music, and festivities!

Let’s dive into a short history of this world-famous celebration and what you can expect as a participant.

Origins of Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest began on October 12, 1810, in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It was initially a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig—later King Ludwig I—to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities in the fields in front of the city gates—a significant gesture during that time.

The fields where this took place were named Theresienwiese (“Therese’s Meadow”) to honor the Crown Princess. The expansive site is now within Munich’s city limits due to the area’s growth over the years, and in fact, the Oktoberfest celebrations still take place in this spot! This is why locals in Munich often refer to Oktoberfest as “Wiesn.”

The first Oktoberfest ended with a horse race in the presence of the Royal Family, and was so popular that it was decided the party should be repeated the following year—and then again, and so on. In 1811, an addition to the horse races was made: a show to promote Bavarian agriculture. Beer was added by the late 1810s, and a little before 1900, the stands evolved into tents and massive halls capable of holding thousands of participants. Over the years, more attractions and events have been added, such as a carousel, swings, games, and a traditional riflemen’s parade with costumes, bands, and animals.

And while Oktoberfest was originally a one-day event, it has since become an extended festival lasting about two weeks each year. This year, Oktoberfest runs from September 16 through October 3.

Challenges & Changes to Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest has not been celebrated without interruptions.

Due to various circumstances, such as wars and epidemics, it has been canceled more than 20 times. A few of these include the Napoleonic Wars, cholera outbreaks throughout Europe, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, WWI and recovery, hyperinflation, WWII and recovery, and most recently, the COVID pandemic. During some recovery periods, a smaller version of Oktoberfest was celebrated more as a toned-down autumn festival.

The timing of the Oktoberfest celebration has also changed through the years—of course we know that the one-day festival has been lengthened to a couple of weeks, but it also was moved to start in late September rather than October, as the weather is more pleasant and just a bit warmer during this time.

Safety measures also have ramped up since Oktoberfest’s beginnings. There has been a move to swap from heavy glass beer mugs to plastic ones, though traditionalists believe it takes away from the authenticity of the experience. Bag checks, CCTV surveillance, and barriers are also installed around the festival’s perimeter. Medical tents have also been added to help partiers who’ve had too much.

What to Expect at Oktoberfest Today

The Tents

Oktoberfest 2023 takes place from Saturday, September 16 through Tuesday, October 3. The entire festival attracts over 6 million visitors from all over the world each year, and it is on a massive fairground, which gets more crowded on weekends. Seating can be scarce in certain tents and during peak times, so if you’re visiting with a group and want guaranteed seating, reservations are available at individual tents, though you’ll want to get started on choosing your tent and getting your reservation months in advance.

Or do as I did and show up, get adopted by a group of locals, and tag along with them to a spot they’ve reserved. We also went to a tent in Oide Wiesn, or Old Oktoberfest, because the 4 Euro fee to get in is just enough to keep the area from getting too crazy and crowded! 

Food & Drink

The types of beers you can choose from at the Oktoberfest event in Munich all adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, or the Beer Purity Law of 1516. This law initially allowed only for water, barley, and hops in the brewing process, with yeast added to the list later on. You’ll find Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten-Franziskaner, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, and Hofbräu at the festivities. Most beer is served in a Maß, or a one-liter glass mug.

In addition to the beer, there’s excellent fair food at Oktoberfest, including pretzels, Weisswurst (white sausage), Hendl (roasted chicken), Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle), and different pastries.

See & Do

Traveling around the festivities, you’ll run into many people wearing traditional Bavarian attire. Men might wear Lederhosen with checkered shirts, while women might wear Dirndls—you can rent these for yourself if you’re interested! But if you decide not to wear something traditional, regular clothes are perfectly fine.

You’ll hear traditional Bavarian music everywhere in Oktoberfest, with each tent having its own band—in addition to folk music, bands will play covers of popular tunes, and of course, partiers have their favorite drinking songs!

Around the fair, there are rides—like a carousel and a Ferris wheel—plus games and other activities. It’s family-friendly, so if you have little ones, check out the discounted family days, where you can enjoy the rides, food, and tents at a lower rate and with smaller crowds.

Quick Tips:

• Book your hotel or other accommodation well in advance—this is an absolutely enormous event, and you don’t want to get stuck far away or with a bad rate!
• Bring cash with you, and try to stop at an ATM before entering the festival because the lines can get super long.
• Respect the local customs and traditions, and don’t drink so much that you lose track of yourself and your surroundings.
• Public transport in the area is definitely the way to go here—even if you’re new to using a metro system, Munich’s is very easy to navigate.
• Check the weather! It can get a bit chilly and rainy, so be sure to bring a jacket.

About the Author

As the editor-in-chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me at sarah@frayedpassport.com!

Images courtesy of the author.