September 20, 2014 marks the 181st celebration of Oktoberfest. The 16-day event kicked off in Munich where millions of beer-drinkers gathered to join in the festivity. Newly elected Mayor Dieter Reiter was present during the event and tapped the first barrel of beer.
Despite the downpour, people waited outside the tents for the opening of the traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest festival at the Theresienwiese in Munich, southern Germany. According to an article in Telegraph.co.uk, this event is said to be the biggest of its kind with around 6 million people attending the previous year. Visitors had "Muenchener Hofbraeu" beer during the opening of the traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest festival.
People from different countries and Bavarians dressed in Lederhosen (men) and Dirndl (women) enjoyed a day filled with oompah music and, of course, overflowing beer. Not only that, visitors had fun riding the merry-go-round with swings.
The opening day of the festival is marked by a colourful parade of carriages, floats and people in a variety of costumes winding its way through the streets of Munich. The Costume und Riflemen's Procession takes place on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest; a week later there's the open-air big band concert. The main Oktoberfest was held on the meadow in honour of Ludwig’s bride, the Theresienwiese (shortened to the “Wiesn”), a short tram ride from the centre of Munich.
So what do expect from this year’s Oktoberfest? Aside from the usual tents, the Marstall (successor to the Hippodrom), which will have a horsey theme and seating for up to 3,500 inside and 900 in the garden outside. The other newcomer is the Kalbsbraterei tent.
Oktoberfest will run from September 20 to October 5, 2014.
