Munich
The entrance to the Munich Oktoberfest is still blocked. On Saturday morning, the first fans wait there for the opening ceremony and then rush towards the beer tent. At 12 o’clock, “Ozapft is” is displayed again. The Oktoberfest, considered the world’s largest folk festival, is expected to attract millions of visitors until October 6. Security issues are once again in the spotlight after recent attacks in Solingen and Munich that were suspected of being motivated by Islamists.
How is security at Oktoberfest?
First of all, according to Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Hermann (CSU), there are no concrete signs of danger. However, the abstract threat level from Islamic terrorism is high. The security authorities are on high alert and all information is thoroughly investigated. The Oktoberfest has a sophisticated security concept: entrance control, a ban on large bags, knives and glass bottles, a high police presence, retractable bollards and concrete flower pots to prevent vehicle attacks.
The city is stepping up its measures in recent days. Festival leader Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) announced that for the first time, around 40 handheld metal detectors will be used randomly during control. The police are said to have around 600 people on duty. There are also thousands of janitors, around 1,200 to 1,500 of whom are employed in the city alone, as well as innkeepers. “We have done what we could,” stressed Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), who opened the festival on September 21.
Is smoking weed allowed at Oktoberfest?
No. Bavaria has banned smoking cannabis at folk festivals and beer gardens under state law. Federal cannabis law prohibits smoking cannabis in the immediate vicinity of minors, i.e. at festivals where children and young people are present. Nevertheless, showmen have complained about the gap in regulations. Oktoberfest organizers welcome Bavaria’s stricter regulations, saying they provide clarity and reduce potential conflicts with guests who smoke cannabis.
How much does beer cost?
Regardless of the price, there is always a subsidy. This year there was a small protest. The price of beer has exceeded 15 euros. Prices range from 13.60 to 15.30 euros. With Oktoberfest beer, brewed according to a secret recipe, you get more alcohol for your money. The alcohol content is around 6%. So far, the price has not deterred the guests. According to statistics from the city of Munich, more than 7.4 million liters of beer will have flowed through thirsty throats in 2023. If you just want to quench your thirst, you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets and measure it. Since last year, drinking water has been provided free of charge at the on-site fountain. The cost of drinking water in the tents is on average over 10 euros per liter.
How much does food cost?
Here, too, it will be more expensive. One reason is that the VAT on food in the catering industry has increased from 7% to 19% since January. This is the pre-pandemic value. “We have to assume a 15% increase. 12% is due to adjusting the VAT to the pre-pandemic level and 3% is due to general cost increases,” says co-host Christian Schottenhamel. He points out that the federal government has broken its promise to stick to the 7% VAT on food.
How do I get a spot in the beer tent?
There are few places available for reservation. But the innkeepers are not giving up all the places. Those who are good at walking will run to their chosen tents when the festivities start in the morning. There is an opportunity for those who decide in a hurry: Guests who do not want to keep their reservations can offer them through exchange. The hosts also want to discourage the gray market. Guests are required to buy a consumer voucher, and a small fee is charged. However, the gray market adds huge costs and, in individual cases, places are not safe. Consumer advocates advise to stay away.
What kind of costumes are popular?
Dirndl and Lederhosen are considered the ultimate Oktoberfest uniform. The trendy colors for this year’s outfit: “Sophisticated purple, light mint and sage, navy, deep red, fir green and even elegant black,” says Axel Munz, managing director of the Angermaier traditional clothing chain. Dirndl designer Angelika Zwerenz also sees “lavender and lilac” and designed a “Swiftie dirndl” after pop icon Taylor Swift. For men, Munz sees hand-made leather shorts made of deer and wild deer, “with elaborate embroidery and often a vintage look.”
On the way to the festival, street vendors offer cheap versions of dirndl and leather hossen for anyone who wants to get dressed up quickly. These costumes have little to do with the traditional costumes that characterize a particular place and can sometimes cost four figures. You can see them at the traditional costume parade on the Sunday after Oktoberfest begins.
What’s the news?
Example: A 12D cinema with a “real-time” feel – when adding effects like wind and rain to the 3D, the operator described the number of dimensions, which was surprising even to mathematicians. New attractions include the rapids ride “Jim & Jasper’s Wild Water”, where 80,000 liters of water are pumped out every minute – that’s more beer than flows out of a tap in a given period. There is also the “Hupferl” from 1987 and the “Holzpfosten Scooter”, bumper cars from the 1960s and 1970s. After considerable legal wrangling, the “Boandlramerei” musicians’ tent was built for the first time in Oidn Wiesn. It replaces the Herzkasperl tent.
Fashionable innovation: a cap with the Oktoberfest logo – this is probably the only one capable of replacing the indestructible Hendl hat. For the first time, fans can even dream about the festival with an Oktoberfest turban in their kitchen.
Steep walls, flea circuses: what else is there to see?
Steep Wall Riders offer pure thrills. In a vertical arena, performers race around on motorcycles in a circle. Flea Circus has only a few seats for the audience, as the performers are very small. Here, the fleas play soccer or pull miniature carousels. They eat on the manager’s arm. Traditional Oktoberfest rides include a toboggan slide, a five-ring Olympic roller coaster, and the Devil’s Wheel, a crinoline carousel named after women’s hoop skirts, with live music. The Layerl variety show is legendary and features “live beheadings using a guillotine on a brightly lit open stage” several times a day. Last year was the 15,000th beheading.
Is Corona still a problem?
Probably not. The infections that were high in the summer have now decreased. However, Oktoberfest remains a viral superspreader event. A few days after the opening, coughs regularly start and doctors’ offices in Munich and around are full. It’s the Wiesn flu. Colds and coronaviruses are at their best in the tents. In recent years, there have been short but strong corona waves in Munich and around during and immediately after Oktoberfest.
Can I visit Oktoberfest virtually?
Oktoberfest can now be enjoyed digitally, and not just by people with virus fears. When the festival starts, the Munich studio K5 Factory’s virtual reality game “Oktoberfest – The Official Game” starts, where players take part in a folk festival as avatars wearing VR glasses. The Munich inclusion initiative vr4kids offers a virtual Oktoberfest visit with children Felix and Leah. The pair take guests on a walk around the Oktoberfest and ride the Ferris wheel. This includes children with disabilities or illnesses, as well as older people who cannot attend the festival. Leah tells the story in sign language.
How sustainable is Oktoberfest?
The festival is not an energy-saving event. Nevertheless, the owners of the large tent have set themselves an ambitious goal of becoming climate neutral by 2028 or even 2026. Last year, they started measuring their CO2 consumption. They even measured the amount of food waste to adjust the content on their plates. Green electricity has been running for a long time, and the toilets use beer glass wash water. Vegetarian and vegan cuisine is becoming more and more popular.
The question of whether Oktoberfest is only possible with organic products was previously rejected by the innkeepers. Also because it would have charged higher prices to the guests. Now they want to move forward with the organic issue and are working with organic farmers. First, they analyze whether there is enough quantity. Next year, more organic food will be on the table. The experience with organic products is varied. “We are entrepreneurs and will always focus on what our guests want,” says innkeepers’ spokesman Peter Inselkammer.
notification: This report is part of an automated service of the German Press Agency (dpa), which operates under strict journalistic regulations. The AZ Online editorial team does not edit or check it. Please send questions or comments to Feedback@az-muenchen.de.
