Oktoberfest events are now held around the world, but the original—and most famous—festival is in Munich. Each year, over 6 million people gather in the German city to attend, consuming around 6.5 million liters of beer combined as they celebrate Bavarian culture.
The festival begins in September, which begs the question: Why is it called Oktoberfest?
When was the first Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest began as a five-day wedding celebration that started on October 12, 1810. The festivities honored the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, the future King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The wedding reception ended with a horse race held in an open area that became known as Theresienwiese, the site of Munich’s modern-day Oktoberfest. The celebration was so popular that it became an annual festival, retaining the name associated with its original October celebration.
In 1811, the horse race was held in conjunction with an agricultural show organized by the Bavarian Agricultural Association. By 1818, booths served food and drink, and the late 20th century saw temporary beer halls built from plywood.
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