What is the Oktoberfest?
The Oktoberfest is by far the biggest party or event of its kind in Europe. Every year a huge non-descript park in the middle of Munich called the Theresenwiese (known locally as the Wies’n) is transformed into a massive fun fair party. Half of the Wies’n is covered by some amazing rides, side shows, food stalls and schnapps tents. The other half boasts 14 beerhalls. Like everything about the Oktoberfest the beerhalls or tents are big. Each local brewery has their own beerhall which seats over 4000 people inside and 2000 in surrounding beergardens. Seated at tables you are served steins (1 litre jugs) of the local brew by the frauliens, entertained by oompah bands…the atmosphere is fantastic. The Oktoberfest always finishes on the first Sunday in October. It runs for 17 days straight beginning at noon on Saturday September 17 2011 and finishing on Monday October 3 – an extra day has been added! It’s history is fairly simple – 201 years ago, back in 1810 Crown Prince Ludwig married Pr
