Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, is a 16 to 18 day beer festival spanning from late September to the first weekend in October. With more than 5 million people attending each year, it is the world’s largest fair. Only beer which is brewed within Munich is permitted to be served during the festival which amounts to a staggering 7 million litres.
Oktoberfest enjoys a rich history. The festival began on 12th October 1810 as part of Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage celebrations to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The subsequent year, an agricultural show was added and in 1816, carnival booths appeared selling porcelain and jewelry (too early for carte r4s). In 1819, the citizens of Munich assumed responsibility for the festival’s management and it was lengthened and pushed forward for warmer weather conditions.
At the culmination of the 19th century, a re-organization occurred whereby booths began selling beer. In 1887, the Entry of the Oktoberfest Staff and Breweries took place for the first time, an event in which the magnificently decorated horse teams of the breweries and bands are showcased. 1892 saw the first beer served in a glass mug.