2005

The Munich Oktoberfest, known to the locals as "Wiesn", is the biggest public festival in the world and and will be held for the 172th time in 2005.

The festival is attended by about 6 million visitors who drink around 5 million liters of beer and eat over 200,000 pairs of pork sausage, mostly in the beer tents put up by traditional Munich brewers.

At the foot of the Bavaria statue, the sprawling Oktoberfest grounds also provide merry-go-rounds, roller coasters and all the spectacular fun of a fair for the enjoyment and excitement of visitors of all ages.

The festivities are accompanied by a program of events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest landlords and brewers, the Costume and Riflemen's Procession and a concert of all brass bands represented at the "Wiesn".

Dates and General FAQs

When will Oktoberfest 2005 take place?

On Saturday, September 17th, the Schottenhamel tent is the place to be, if you want to catch the official opening ceremonies. At noontime, 12pm, the lord mayor of Munich will have the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. Once the barrel has been tapped, all visitors will then be allowed to quench their thirst. It pays to arrive early in order to experience the festivities up close and personal and it’s quite common for visitors to come around 9am to secure good seats. The festival will last until October 3, 2005.

What are the opening hours?

Beer Serving Hours

• Weekdays: 10am - 10:30pm
• Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 9am - 10:30pm
• Daily Tent Closing Time: 11:30pm

The "Käfer Wiesn-Schänke" and the "Weinzelt" are open until 1am. Last call for alcohol: 12:15am.

Sales Booths (souveniors, cigarettes, etc.)

• Monday - Thursday: 10am - 11:30pm
• Friday: 10am - 12am (midnight)
• Saturday: 9am - 12am
• Sundays and holidays:9am - 11:30pm

Carnival and Rides

• Monday - Thursday: 10am - 11:30pm
• Friday, Saturday: 10am - 12am
• Sundays and holidays: 10am - 11:30pm

Family Days

• Tuesday, September 21, 2004: 12pm unitl 6pm
• Tuesday, September 28, 2004: 12pm unitl 6pm

Discounted ride, entrance, and sales prices!

When is Oktoberfest scheduled for the next years?

• 2005: September 17 – October 3
• 2006: September 16 - October 3
• 2007: September 22 - October 7
• 2008: September 20 - October 5
• 2009: September 19 - October 4
• 2010: September 18 - October 3
• 2011: September 17 - October 3

Why is Oktoberfest called „Oktober"-fest when it actually begins in September?

The historical background: the first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times.

How much will a liter of beer (the „Maß” Oktoberfest Beer) cost this year?

The beer price will range between 6.65 and 7.10 Euros per liter. (Previous year: 6.30 to 6.80 Euros)

The average prices for alcohol-free drinks will be as following: One liter of table water - 5.55 Euros (last year: 5.36 Euros), one liter of Spezi - 6.45 Euros (last year: 6.26 Euros), and one liter of soft drink – 6.06 Euros (last year: 5.84 Euros).

Are children allowed to visit the beer tents?

It depends on the age: Children under the age of six must leave the tents at 8pm even if they are in the company of their parents. A crowded tent wouldn’t be much fun for either the childern or the parents.

What is „Die Wiesn“?

The locals in Munich fondly refer to Oktoberfest as „die Wiesn“ because of its location, Theresienwiese, which was named after Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

Is there a program of events to observe during this folk’s festival?

The main highlight of the Wiesn events and an important must-see is the Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen’s Parade. The parade happens every year on the first Wiesn Sunday which will fall on September 19th this year.

Other important events are the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Official Tapping of the Keg, the Oktoberfest Mass , „Böllerschießen“ (handheld canon salute) in front of the Bavaria statue and – this year- an agricultural festival.