Oktoberfest

Well, I had to interrupt my brief break between visitors and do a post, because today is the last day of Oktoberfest 2017. 

My favorite mobile
game got in the spirit
with their most
recent theme.

It’s also a holiday—German Unity Day—which means everything’s closed except for restaurants and some attractions (like Oktoberfest!).

Although Munich has been celebrating the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen for the past 207 years, this was my first time experiencing the event.

So here are a few pictures from our Oktoberfest expedition during my family’s recent visit. 

First impression? Oktoberfest is a lot different than I expected—very family-friendly, like the world’s largest beer-drinking carnival.

Just as important as beer is the food.
Ox is traditional, wurst is everywhere,
but most places serve you a 1/2 chicken along with your beer.

We went on the day the Bavarian bands gave a traditional concert at the base of the Bavaria statue. The brass bands were great, and there were also some singing and dancing performances. 



But what we were really waiting for 
were the Alpine horns. Awesome!

Afterwards, all of the bands marched through the fair grounds.

Many of the halls had their beer wagons and horse teams out on display.

Just because the event caters a lot to families doesn’t mean that we didn't see plenty of public drunkenness, a bit of public urination, elbow-to-elbow crowds, and a police report of a couple leaving their baby behind at the grounds.

My parents at Oktoberfest in 1978.
Back then, the focus was
beer tents and Bratwurst.

My parents at Oktoberfest in 2017.
They were amazed at the difference
in atmosphere.

Oktoberfest etiquette: don't grab the handle,
and don't call it a Stein of beer. It's a Maβ.

Now I understand why folks might go back for multiple days over the three-week run.

I’m looking forward to multiple visits myself next year, by which time I might have broken down and gotten myself a Dirndl. 😊

Prost!