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Oktoberfest, it’s not just about the beer!



Oktoberfest 2019 was my first visit to the Weisn. Yep, that’s what the locals call it! It’s not just about the beer. Okay, fine, it mostly is about the beer, but it is much more than that! The place is as bustling as a bee farm in the middle of a lavender field in full blossom on a warm spring afternoon.


Oktoberfest is the beer drinking festival of the world. Unless you’ve been to Munich, Bavaria, Germany, you have not been to Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest any other part of the world is nothing close to this. The Weisn is like nothing you have ever seen, the drink of the gods flows like a river of molten gold from deep inside a mountainous cave. Just being here, gives you the hope of endless laughter, cheers and entertainment you wish would never end.


Held annually and lasting about 3 weekends, the event is held in the Theresienweise. It all began when the King Ludwig decided to throw a communal gathering to celebrate his wedding to Princess von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. And well, he’s king, so he decided to name the place where the event was help after his wife. The event was so successful, he decided to keep doing it year after year. A little over 200 years later, the kings and queens are all but gone, yet the celebration continues. Besides the beer, there is a carnival – and a big one at that. How people are allowed to ride roller coasters and Ferris wheels after all that drinking still surprises me.

Day one was so much fine, the vibe completely electric, I went for day two as well and ended up with the friendliest group of Germans! “I loved it yesterday, I came back for day two”, I said. “You must be crazy, one day at the Weisn is more than enough! If it wasn’t, you were not drunk enough! “commented Anna Karenina. Wiser words have never been spoken! I took Anna's advice about day 2.


Pro tips:


The Weisn: Oktoberfest as it is, is not a cheap experience. If you do it right, expect to spend around 150 Euro per day. A Maß is one liter [yea, don’t expect pints, they don’t serve them out there!] costs 11 Euro, but tip the waiters and waitresses if you expect to get decent service. The beers are high ABV, about 8%, so pace yourself! And then there’s food – highly recommend the amazing Bavarian favorites during the season - pork knuckle and roast chicken! Cash only! Accommodation will also run at about $100 a night! But hey, no entrance fees.


Lederhosen and dirndl: Ladies, if you are able, get a dirndl pre-season, and get it fitted, I’ve been told an ill-fitting dirndl is one of the worst things you could wear, besides not looking very nice. Guys, look on eBay for a faired priced, awesome looking, genuine deer skin version. Yes, the most authentic one are made of deer skin!! Get the right size and it’ll feel like second skin. Don’t forget long socks and a plaid shirt! Don’t buy the generic tourist version if you want to stand out from the crowd! Dressing up is not mandatory, but it totally earns you some respect. Wearing a jeans and t shirt makes you look like a stinky toe with a fungal infection that has not been washed in two years. Don’t be that guy.

If you want to get a buzz going on the cheap, pre-drink! The beer outside is just as strong and so much cheaper! Also, beer on the streets is fully legal!


Bags and Backpacks: A no-go. They do have a drop off location by the main entrance, but save yourself the trouble and leave it at home. Cash is really the only thing, you can bring your cell phone if you like, good luck with not losing it in your drunken stupor though! Women are allowed a small purse though! And for heaven’s sake, leave the passport locked up at your hotel! They do not ID you at the fest and the worst thing that can happen if you are traveling is losing your travel documents.


Tents: There are plenty of posts online about the tents, so I’ll skip on going into this in detail, but I would recommend Schottenhammel and Hacker-Festzelt, and then Augustiner-Brau and maybe Lowenbrau. You want to be inside a tent, because that’s where you truly feel the atmosphere of Oktoberfest. You can stroll around the grounds, get food and drinks in smaller stalls, take carnival rides, or sit in a beer garden outside, but you really have to get inside a tent to experience the true spirit of Oktoberfest. here’s no such thing as holding a table for someone at Oktoberfest. If you see a free table or a free spot at a table — it’s yours. That doesn’t apply to reserved tables, though. They also close doors when at capacity, so if you like the space, stay because there is no guarantee you’ll get into one unless you have a reservation. How do you get a reservation: Unless you know locals who are willing to give you a spot, don’t even worry, the tables are booked out for probably the next ten years! Not kidding here!


Traditions: 'Prost' before every beer and look your friends in the eye, or bad sex for 7 years [I have no idea why, but hey, I do not know many people willing to take that risk! I’m sure you’ve figured it out, but prost is the German cheers! Also, only clink the bottom of the heavy steins, so as to not chip them Although I don’t think they ever will. These things are as heavy as your cat! Another one of my favorites: if you stand on the table, you are expected to finish your whole Mass. About 10,000 will cheer you on! Isn’t that quite the feeling? If you do not, the same 10,000 will boo you!


That’s pretty much for my Oktoberfest post, comment below if you have any questions or want more tips that I do not wish to disclose here yet 😉 Also, a huge shout out to Hannah Taylor[@_college_kitchen_] for the awesome company, laughs and kebab craziness! Go follow her page with quick and easy recipes for delicious home cooking!

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