Oktoberfest

A photographic tour of the world’s largest fair

The 180th Oktoberfest kicked off this weekend. This huge party – usually hosting more than 6 million visitors – started off as a horse race to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig in 1810. So successful was the event that it got repeated every year, becoming Germany’s now famous fest, with copycat parties across the world. They dropped the horse bit in 1938, conceding that everyone was more interested in the beer.

©Martin Siepmann

The sixteen-day event starts with a parade through Munich and an official opening ceremony, in which the mayor ‘taps’ open the first Octoberfest beer barrel.

©Martin Siepmann

And then the real fun commences. Frothing, litre-sized tankards of beer and snacks such as roast pork, pretzels, German sausages, pickles and sauerkraut are served by buxom lederhosen-clad waitresses in gigantic decorated tents full of revellers.

©Eurasia

©Eurasia

All the beer served at the fest must be brewed within the city limits of Munich, and contain approximately 6% alcohol or more – stronger than your average German brew. So perhaps it’s not surprising that some young people drink more than they can handle, becoming what is known as ‘Bierleichen’ or ‘beer corpses’.

©Eurasia

©Berndt Fischer

Many local party-goers – both young and old – dress in traditional Bavarian lederhosen, a source of great national pride.

©Eurasia

©Klaus-Peter Wolf

The fest takes over a huge, 42 hectare area with the beer tents, rides and carnival entertainments. The combination of beer, ferris wheels, waltzers and roller coasters perhaps has obvious consequences as the evenings draw in.

©Karlheinz Irlmeier

©Franz Marc Frei

©Robert Seitz

See more photos of Oktoberfest here