14 Fun Facts About Oktoberfest

Posted on September 2, 2019

oktoberfest group celebration

The first Oktoberfest was held in Munich, Germany in 1810. That’s right – over 200 years ago! The celebration has changed a bit over those years, but the tradition is kept alive both in Munich and in countries all over the world.

Here are some interesting facts about the widely-celebrated event:

Oktoberfest actually begins in September, despite the name.
In 2005, Germany introduced the concept of “quiet Oktoberfest” in order to make the celebration amicable for families and elderly folks. This means that only quiet brass music is played until 6:00 PM which significantly reduces the party mentality during the day. Things still get rowdy later in the evening, however!
At the yearly celebration in Germany, only beer that is brewed within the city limits of Munich is served.
The traditional Bavarian hats worn by many at the festival are called Tirolerhüte. The more goat hair on a person’s hat, the wealthier they are considered to be!
In 2013, almost 6.5 million people visited Oktoberfest in Munich, and almost 7 million liters of beer were served.
There is an official gun salute at the beginning of the festival every year lead by the Mayor of Munich.
If you want to open a tent or food stall at Oktoberfest in Germany, the waitlist is nearly 20 years long!
The majority of the beers served at Oktoberfest are 6% alcohol content or above.
Not a beer drinker? There’s a Weinzelt (wine tent) every year at the festival with 15 types of wine as well as champagne.
Oktoberfest in Munich has its own post office where attendees and festival-goers send over 120,000 postcards and gifts each year!
In 2018, at least 5,800 people attending the festival in Germany visited the Red Cross tent to receive medical attention.
Oktoberfest helps the economy in Germany every year by providing jobs for nearly 13,000 people!
There are nearly 150 food stands and restaurants at the festival every year.
Oktoberfest in 2019 will end on October 6 in Germany…and it will be the second and final day of our Oktoberfest celebration here in Carroll County, too!

Still haven’t gotten your tickets to our Rotary Oktoberfest of Carroll County celebration? Click here to get them today and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

See you there!

Categories: 2019