Oktoberfest Festival(Also known as Oktoberfest Festival , munich germany stein, octoberfest, munich beerfest, munich beer fiesta, beer fest, bavaria beer festival, bavarias beer fest, beerfest, beerfestival, german beer fest, cerveja fiesta germany, stein beer fest, stein beerfest, munich stein beer festivities, munchen fest, munchens beer fest, munchen beer celebration, die Wiesn, das wiesn, der wiesn) 
A reputation for being the biggest party in the world, rivalled only by the carnival in Brazil, downing stein beer at Oktoberfest festival is one thing you must do before you die. Built on a solid culture of “different” music and diverse clothes this event will immediately rouse your curiosity. Whilst the cool flawless beers and the warm welcoming smiles will enchant you forever. When Usually begins the Saturday of the second last weekend of September and finishes the first Sunday in October. This year (2007) it begins on September 22 and finishes October 7. Where In the city of Munich in the province of Bavaria, South-West of Germany (Europe!)
Ok now for some answers ! Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later crowned King Ludwig 1) wanted people to share the celebration of his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Ludwig organized a horse race inviting everyone in Munich. This royal shindig had over 40,000 guests a proper knees-up even by today’s non-Oktoberfest standards. Such was the success that it was decided the horse race would be held again in 1811, in conjunction with the state agricultural show. Time passed and people began to recognize why they loved this festival and it wasn’t the agricultural show or the horse races! This part of the event really ate into drinking, singing & dancing time. However many traditions have retained such as the traditional dress of the people – lederhosen, the traditional beers, the tents pertaining to each beer and the enjoyment of beer. The celebrations still takes place on the original location of Theresienwiese (Theresa's fields), in front of the city gates.
Some traditions have been ameliorated to accommodate the growing numbers that attend this rite of passage. This is evident in the capacity some of the Oktoberfest Festival beer tents which can more then 8,000 beer connoisseurs (The Hoffbrau tent, Lowenbrau tent & Winzerer Fähndl) In 2007 over 8 million people attended the fest which runs over 2 weeks and 3 weekends. Who Guys & Girls. All ages. Everyone is catered for there are 14 tents at the Oktoberfest Festival which cater for the backpackers to the wise beer sage. There is one tent devoted to wine and lots of great carnival rides to keep the children busy.
Beer Tent Beermaids Many of these trained alcohol vessels are even tastier then the sweet stein beer they cradle. Beer Tents These are the best places to drink. The tents I have the most experience of are The Hoffbrau & Lowenbrau tents. These have a very broad international clientele. The Hoffbrau is my favourite tent, with excellent traditional music and a spinning character in the center attached to the ceiling. 
It is customary for the people in the “Hoffbrau Pit” (the centre of the tent) to throw clothes (underwear) on to the giant character hanging from the roof. Also beware of surprise wedgies! It is also important to sample more then 1 tent as a different atmosphere brews in each. I have seen quite a few fights break out in the tents but only which was without reason.
There is are a lot of experienced security guards who will pin down any troublemakers in seconds with German efficiency. Expect to pay beer price will range between 6.95 and 7.50 Euros per liter. If you tip the waitresses you will get better service, because each beer is a litre size and you cant drink so many I think it’s good custom to tip. Did I forget to mention that most beer maids at the Oktoberfest Festival are hot ? Also remember these beer maidens have to work through this awesome event.
If you like your pharmaceuticals apparently the Hacker Pschorr tent might be up your street.
Oktoberfest Festival Beer Tents Opening Times From Thursday through to Sunday, I would recommend waiting outside your target tent at least 2/3 hours before they open, to make sure you get in. On opening day tents open at midday after the parade, so go there for about 9am. From Monday – Thursday tents open at 10am and close at 11:30pm, on Fridays opening at 10am closing at midnight & Saturday 9am closing at midnight Sundays and holidays 9am - 11:30pm.
"Oktoberfest 2007 ? Best Hangover ever !"
Peter O Neill
Where to stay I have stayed at both hostels and hotels during Oktoberfest Festival and can strongly recommend hotels. Because of the nature of this international drinking competition you will not sleep a lot. So when you do it must count. Comfort ensures a speedy recovery. The trade-off between cheap hostel and uninterrupted sleep can’t be overstated. The most recent Munich hotel I stayed at was Hotel Mercure München Altstadt on zwischen Stachus und Marienplatz. This is central to the city and is close enough to get the S Bahn to the Theresienwiese. I booked in May and there was quite a lot of availability. It was comfortable but expensive, service wasn't great The difference between Munich and a lot of other destinations, is that this city can really accommodate the numbers attending, so ring around.
Group Tours There are group tours run from the UK and the America to the Munich Oktoberfest Festival and can be found easily online. I have never taken a tour to this Munich festival, so I can't advise.
Where to drink Downing a stein at the young fun Hoffbrau tent or the Lowenbrau tent. The oktoberfest festival tent everyone tries to get into is Das Hippodrom - of P. Hilton fame. Celebrities and cool people go there. But with a capacity of 2000 people you need a good blagg to get in. In Munich city center, Gunther Murphy’s is a big Irish hangout with good music and crack.
Munich has an excellent nightlife at the Kunstpark Ost area. This is a taxi ride out of the city center and Theresienwiese. But be warned that most peoples night will end at the beer tent which close at midnight at latest ! Where to Eat The food served in beer tents is pretzels and sausages & chicken (not together) more then enough to get by. Good cheap pub grub at Gunther Murphys. Also Cafe Extrablatt in Leopoldstr Schwabing is good there are naked chicks in the toilet. DONT MISS THIS Every beer-tastic weekend from Thursday through to Monday. The opening ceremony with a grand parade of the Oktoberfest "landlords" and breweries, traditional dancers and costumed performers, the rifle salute to the Bavaria Statue. and music.
Try to book seats in a tent (do so on das official website below) before you go ASAP this will guarantee you place. If you try to pee in public or steal beer mugs from a beer tent make sure you do a good job – both can result in fines. Also jaywalking is a big offence my drunk friend was almost thrown in prison for this. Booking in advance can also enable you to jump the que at some tents. You can only be served when you are sitting down but you can easily borrow a fellow beer guzzlers seat just for the order.
Dangers/annoyances Drunken fights can break out, so don’t make too much eye contact ! With so many people it can be easy to get lost and have no phone coverage, try to set a meeting point area if you are in a group.
Also try to bring your camera charger/batteries/enough film/adequate European adapter. I have always run out of camera battery by day 2. This is largley due to bad planning and copious litres of beer. Prost !
Some people will step over their own mother to Prost a beer drinking colleague.
Beer tent beer mugs by their very nature are very tough glasses. However beware of beer mugs which shatter under the amount of prosting you do - see photo above. 
It's not uncommon for people to fall asleep in the beer tents. This is usually due to jetlag, or extreme beer consumption - see topless guy on right of photo asleep on table. Airports Munich airport is 50km from the city. Expect to pay €48 to get to the city centre. There is also the S Bahn S8 from the city centre directly to the airport & back every 20 mins. Train Germany has an excellent railway service. The S Bahn provides excellent instant (tickets are virtually unpoliced- don't blame if you're caught !) underground access to the city details at www.mvv-muenchen.de more then half of the people arrive to the Oktoberfest Festival by the Bahn and it can hold the numbers Bus This is not as efficient as the S Bahn, so don’t use it especially during Oktoberfest festival. Internet Kaufhof centre on Kaufingerstrasse Bank/ATM It’s an old city and when you see one use it because it may the last you will see for a while, there are no ATM’s at oktoberfest festival or in the beer tents(if there is I couldn’t find them) Weather Expect Oktoberfest temperatures to range from 9 and 20 degrees. Watch out for der Föhn, a dry, warm wind that is blamed for everything from headaches to crankiness and apathy. This can test a hangover. Rain can occur, but never in a beer tent. 
Festival Pig Fact The sweet German Stein beer does not give you a hangover. The Oktoberfest festival consumes near 6 million litres of beer annually this is roughly 30% of annual produce. 12,000 people are employed for the 2 weeks. Sausages are the most popular Oktoberfest snack. Cholera and War have been the only things to postpone the beer festival. Neither looks likely this year ! Check out the UNOB 2007 Beer Festival Guide for great beer fests from around the world! A little tight on cash ? apply for work at Oktoberfest 2007 on the Go to Oktoberfest ForumOktoberfest Festival Official Website
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