The world’s largest folk festival is back for the 213th time and has once again attracted millions from all over the world to Munich. Germany.
About six million people visit the week-long festival every year, a number that has only grown since its founding in 1810, to try the best sausage and beer Munich has to offer.
Guests wear their best Bavarian attire, with gentlemen often wearing lederhosen, while ladies wear ‘dirndls’, a traditional dress consisting of a low-neck bodice, a blouse and a high-waisted skirt.
The very first Oktoberfest began as a celebration of the wedding of Prince Regent Ludwig of Bavaria, the later King Ludwig I, and Princess Theresa of Saxe-Hildburghausen in 1810.
Pre-wedding festivities, which took place almost exactly 213 years ago today, saw Bavarian citizens celebrate with a huge horse race.
The people of the region enjoyed the race so much that they decided to organize another race every year thereafter, with the festival evolving to include fairground rides and attractions in the coming years.
The Oktoberfest, the 188th edition, runs until October 3 and attracts approximately six million visitors annually. The event was skipped in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with Covid-19, but returned in 2022.
A one-litre beer mug will cost between €12.60 and €14.90 (£10.86 to £12.84) this year, an increase of around six percent on last year.
Tracy Dash (left) and Dean Deville (right) enjoy a party at the Braurosl tent in Munich today
Revelers dressed in lederhosen enjoy beer steins on the second day of Oktoberfest
People in fancy dress take part in the costume parade at the 2023 Oktoberfest
Two women dressed in traditional ‘dirndls’, a traditional dress consisting of a bodice with a low neckline, a blouse and a high-waisted skirt
Women dressed in ‘dirndls’, a traditional dress consisting of a low-cut bodice, a blouse and a high-waisted skirt, wave to the crowd during the parade
Revelers dressed in traditional lederhosen and ‘dirndls’ descend on Munich for the 188th Oktoberfest
Members of a traditionally dressed costume group play in a marching band during the shooting parade
Members of a group wearing traditional costumes stroll along the road during the costume parade earlier today
A young girl in traditional clothing takes part in the shooter’s parade on the second day of the Munich Oktoberfest in 2023
A young woman performing the so-called ‘Muenchner Kindl’, which means ‘Munich child’, rides a horse during the shooting parade
A waiter in the Hofbraeu tent balances a dozen one-liter beer mugs as he carries them to a table
Revelers enjoy the sunny and warm weather on the opening day of the festival
This year, a one-liter beer mug costs between 12.60 euros and 14.90 euros
Children sit in a pushcart during the costume parade at the 2023 Oktoberfest
Hundreds of people enjoy beer and food on the second day of the festival
People in traditional clothing walk in a parade while others take part in maypole dances
Revelers drink beer from traditional beer steins in the Hofbraeu tent
Waitresses and waiters from the ‘Schottenhamel’ beer tent show off their beer mugs in the sun
A young woman in traditional clothing is accompanied by a brass band during the gunmen’s parade earlier today
A man dressed in armor waves to the crowd during the shooter’s parade
Bavarian musicians sit in the subway on their way to a traditional costume and shooting parade
Revelers dressed in lederhosen are pictured taking a rest before the beer drinking continues
Revelers drink beer from traditional beer steins in the Hofbraeu tent on the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest 2023
A young woman sips her beer from a famous one-liter beer mug