Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, during late September and early October, It is one of the most famous events in the city and the world’s lagers fair, with six million people attending every year.
The event traditionally takes place during the 16 days up to and including the first Sunday of October. The festival is held on an area named the Theresienwiese- Field of Therese. Beer plays a central role in the fair. A special Oktoberfest beer is brewed for the occasion, which is slightly darker and stronger, in both taste and alcohol. Visitors also consume large quantities of food, most traditional hearty fare such as sausage and sauerkraut along with Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails.
The first Oktoberfest took place on October 12, 1810, for commemoration of marriage Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
In 1813 the Oktoberfest was called off as Bavaria was involved in the Napoleonic war. In 1816 carnival booth appeared. In 1819 the town fathers decided that the Oktoberfest should be celebrated every year without exception.
To honor the marriage of King Ludwig and Therese of Bavaria a parade took place for the first time in 1835.
In 1854 Oktoberfest was canceled due to outbreak of cholera. There was other Oktoberfest canceled to war or other reasons.
Since 1960 Oktoberfest has turn to world-famous festival, were people from all over the world come to drink and eat famous beer and sausages. Germans wear traditional outfits: men in Lederhosen and girls in Dirndl.
Oktoberfest in 2007 is from September 22nd to October 7th.
Last year at Oktoberfest:
12,000 people were employed, 1600 waitresses
Sitting for 100,000 people
Sold 6.1 million beer
Roasted oxen 102
Sausages: 219.443 pairs
Roasted chicken: 459.279
60% of people arrived by public transport
Nearly 1,000 tons of garbage
1,800 toilets are available
Oktoberfest 2008September 20th - October 5th. Source: Wikipedia