MUNICH — Oktoberfest is open. Mayor Dieter Reiter officially started Oktoberfest at noon Saturday when he inserted the tap into the first beer keg, signaling the 189th start of the festival. Festivalgoers enjoy the first glasses of beer Saturday, the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival, in Munich, Germany.
Thousands of beer lovers celebrated in the Munich fairground as the first to clink their mugs during the world's largest folk festival. Servers immediately began ferrying trays — each carrying up to 8 glass mugs — to tables. Revelers started clinking their mugs and taking deep gulps of beer in the stuffy heat of the tent.
A waitress carries beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent Saturday, the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival, in Munich, Germany. The celebration runs through Oct. 6 in 18 large tents covering the Theresienwiese fairground.
This year's festival includes stepped-up security in the wake of a deadly knife attack in Solingen , a city roughly 292 miles northwest of Munich. The violence on Aug. 23 left three people dead and eight more wounded, and the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, without citing evidence.
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Illini What’s next in the federal investigation into Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his alleged co-conspirators Former Husker 'Champ' is part of new Lincoln roofing company Man arrested in woman's shooting death at their house As a result, organizers added metal detectors to the security lineup for the first time in Oktoberfest's history, but said there were no concrete threats. Oktoberfest tightens security after a deadly knife attack in western Germany By STEFANIE DAZIO and PIETRO DE CRISTOFARO - Associated Press Tens of thousands of people lined the streets early Saturday to watch the opening parade as others raced to claim tables inside the tents. They gossiped, played cards and walked around the fairgrounds to check out the food options and amusement park rides to kill time before they could start drinking.
Revelers sprinted through the fairgrounds at 9 a.m. as soon as the entrances opened, despite security officers' attempts to keep the procession orderly.
They laughed despite the morning chill — someone could be heard shrieking "why are we running!" — and raced to get in line again, but this time to be first inside the tents. About 6 million visitors are expected over the festival's 16 days — up to 600,000 each day — and can expect to shell out between 13.60 and 15.
30 euros — $15.12 to $17.01 in U.
S. currency — for a 1-liter mug of beer. This year's prices are roughly 3.
87% more than in 2023. The Oktoberfest hosts arrive Saturday for the start of the 189th beer festival in Munich, Germany. Mikael Caselitz, 24, was born and raised in Munich and has attended Oktoberfest for years.
He said everyone should travel to Munich for the festival at least once in their lives. "It can get really crowded and disgusting when people puke on the side of the road," he joked, "but overall it's a really fun experience." Ollie Standen woke up at 6 a.
m. to get in line early for Oktoberfest, where the beer starts flowing at noon. The 21-year-old from England is in Munich this year for a university exchange program and a local friend told him he had to join the festivities.
He said he's looking forward to trying different German beers that aren't usually found in the United Kingdom. "It's a great German tradition and I'm excited to be here," he said. People enjoy the first evening of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival Saturday in Munich, Germany.
The event was skipped in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with COVID-19 , but returned in 2022. The first Oktoberfest was held Oct. 17, 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Theresa of Saxony.
The venue, a meadow on the edge of Munich at the time, was called "Theresienwiese" to honor the bride. While that name remains, the start date has moved up to September, when the temperatures in Bavaria are usually warmer. Oktoberfest 2024 opens in Munich Paulaner brewmaster Christian Dahncke taps the first beer barrel Saturday, the opening day of the 189th 'Oktoberfest' beer festival, in Munich, Germany.
Beer mugs are prepared in a marquee Saturday for the start of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Young visitors await the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival Saturday in Munich, Germany. The Oktoberfest hosts arrive Saturday for the start of the 189th beer festival in Munich, Germany.
Traditional music bands parade Saturday at the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany. People cheer with mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent Saturday, the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival, in Munich, Germany. A woman sells pretzels Saturday at the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent on the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany.
Police secure the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival Saturday in Munich, Germany. Waitresses and musicians prepare Saturday morning in the Augustiner marquee for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany. A woman prepares a gingerbread stand Saturday for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany.
Visitors wait in the tent of the Hacker-Pschorr brewery Saturday for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany. A waitress carryies beer mugs Saturday in the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent during the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany. A waitress carries traditional food dishes at the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent Saturday, the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany.
Waitresses film the opening start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival Saturday in Munich, Germany. A visitor in traditional Bavarian clothes and a moustache is seen Saturday at the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!.
