It’s that time of year again! Time to break out the lederhosen and dirndls, turn up the oom-pah band and get ready for the Oktoberfest. The festival dates back to October 17, 1810 in Munich, Germany, when King Maximillian Josef created a state party to celebrate the wedding of his son (Crown Prince Ludwig) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. That first celebration - with horse racing, beer, food, music and dancing - was so successful that the King did it again the next year. And the next. A tradition had been born!.

Today’s Oktoberfest draws millions of people from all over the world. It lasts 16 days, beginning on a Saturday in September and ending on the first Sunday in October. The festivities are officially opened at 12 noon on the first day when the Bürgermeister (mayor) of Munich taps the first keg of beer and declares Ozapft is! ("the keg is tapped").

The activities in the meadow throughout the festival now include seven huge Festhallen (beer tents), each with its own special Oktoberfest beer. Brass bands play their traditional Trinklieder (drinking songs) day and night. There are beer gardens and food stands featuring bratwurst, roast oxen, sausages, sauerkraut, grilled chicken, fish on a stick, and large, soft pretzels.