What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (2024)

Every year, millions of revelers descend on a tent-filled meadow in Munich to celebrate the love of long-ago Bavarian royals at a celebration known as Oktoberfest.

Just kidding: These days people flock to Munich's Oktoberfest with the hope of consuming liters upon liters of beer, indulging in German delicacies from bratwurst sausages to giant pretzels, and showing off their finest dirndls, traditional bodices for women, and lederhosen, traditional breeches for men.

The annual event held in Germany is the largest folk festival in the world—and also the largest beer festival, with revelers consuming approximately six million liters of ale each year. Inside its tents, you can fill your stein with lager to your heart’s content, dance to German folk music, and even go on carnival rides.

(A guide to Munich, Germany's boisterous beer capital.)

But there’s one odd thing about Oktoberfest: The 16-day festival actually mostly takes place in September. Why is that—and why do we celebrate Oktoberfest in the first place? Here’s what to know.

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (3)

When was the first Oktoberfest?

The original Oktoberfest was, in fact, held in October—on October 17, 1810, to be exact, in honor of the nuptials a few days earlier of Bavarian crown prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Legend has it that a member of the national guard came up with the idea of a festival for the common people, but scholars have cast doubt on those claims.

(Life for this other Bavarian princess was no fairy tale.)

What we do know is that Bavaria at the time was a brand new kingdom: After years as an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, the German state had recently been elevated as a result of King Maximilian I’s alliance with Napoleon. In addition to celebrating his son’s marriage, the festival held in its capital city was thus also an opportunity to foster and showcase a newfound sense of national pride.

The original Oktoberfest was a week of games that centered on a horse race, a particularly beloved tradition in Munich back then. Although most of the trappings of the modern Oktoberfest were not yet part of the event—beer concessions began in 1815—it was considered a rousing success. The meadow where it was held (and is still held today) has since been named "Theresienwiese" in honor of the bride.

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (4)

How did Oktoberfest evolve?

Bavarians clamored for more. But without a royal wedding to foot the bill, someone else had to take over the event planning. The following year, the Bavarian Agricultural Association stepped in—a local power player at a time when agriculture ruled in Bavaria. In addition to races, they held cattle markets and displays of prize-winning animals akin to a modern state fair.

The city of Munich took over after 1819, however, and in the decades after that the modern Oktoberfest began to take shape with the addition of merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels, and chicken roasteries. While the official Oktoberfest is still held on the same field in Munich, there are now Oktoberfest events held throughout the country as a celebration of German heritage.

(Can't get to Munich? Here are our top 10 other Oktoberfests.)

And how about the beer? It quickly became a quintessential part of the festivities. In 1835, historian Jeffrey Gaab writes that revelers consumed 250,000 liters of beer, and in 1895 breweries began to build temporary beer halls to accommodate visitors.

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (5)

Why is Oktoberfest in September?

So why is Oktoberfest celebrated in September today? The answer is simple: weather.

As early as 1828, festivalgoers had begun to complain about Bavaria’s rainy October weather, writes Moses Wolff in his Oktoberfest guide Meet Me in Munich. They pushed to move the celebration to a more temperate time of year—mostly unsuccessfully, as the city didn’t want to disrupt harvest season.

By the 1890s, however, city officials began to heed these demands by occasionally moving the date—and by 1905 it appears that the festival was officially set for the end of September. Today, it almost always ends the first Sunday of October.

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (6)

How is Oktoberfest celebrated now?

Through the years, Oktoberfest has only been canceled 26 times, including for the Napoleonic wars in 1813, various cholera epidemics, both world wars, and most recently the COVID pandemic.

Today’s Oktoberfest looks quite a bit different from the early 19th century festivities. For one, horse races are no longer part of the event, except in anniversary years to honor its origins. The amount of beer consumed at Oktoberfest has also grown considerably alongside its attendance figures—from 1.5 million liters of beer in 1950 to four million liters in 1970 and then six million liters from the 1990s onward.

Oktoberfest is now a global phenomenon as well. Not only do visitors come to Munich from all over the world for a chance to drink beer in their traditional German costumes, but communities across the world now host their own Oktoberfest celebrations. They may not remember the Bavarian royals who inspired the event, but they certainly do toast to their health.

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? (2024)

FAQs

What is Oktoberfest—and why is it actually in September? ›

As early as the fifteenth century, a beer drinking festival would be held in September and run until the kegs were empty in early October. The combination of the wedding celebration and the tradition of having to finish the remaining beer before the new harvest joined to create the Oktoberfest we know today.

Why is Oktoberfest actually in September? ›

"Because the weather in October was usually already cooler and the days are significantly shorter, one let the Oktoberfest begin in September," according to the festival's website. "Since 1872, (it has) always (been held) on the first Saturday after September 15 until the first Sunday in October."

What is Oktoberfest? ›

Oktoberfest (German pronunciation: [ɔkˈtoːbɐˌfɛst]; Bavarian: Wiesn, Oktobafest) is the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival, and is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, from mid- or late-September to the first Sunday in October, with more than six million international and ...

Why did they change the festival from October to September Oktoberfest? ›

Moving the festival into late September has allowed for better weather conditions in the always changing Bavarian climate. Because September nights in Bavaria are warmer than October nights, visitors are able to enjoy the outdoor beer gardens as well as the fairgrounds filled with carnival rides.

What really happens at Oktoberfest? ›

It's not just about beer.

It's a large-scale cultural event as well. You will see men wearing lederhosen and women wearing dirndls. Outside the beer tents, the atmosphere is carnival-like with games, rides, and haunted houses.

Why is Oktoberfest so special? ›

Oktoberfest is an annual festival held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The festival originates with a party held in celebration of a royal marriage. On October 12, 1810, Kronprinz Ludwig (later King Ludwig I of Bavaria) married the Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in Munich.

Why is it called the Oktoberfest? ›

And here's their answer: 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 17 with a horse race.

Is Oktoberfest just about drinking? ›

Contrary to popular belief held by foreigners, Oktoberfest is not all about the beer. In fact in Germany it's not even considered a beer festival, but rather a traditional folk festival for the entire family (you'll even see parents pushing prams!).

Do Germans actually celebrate Oktoberfest? ›

Oktoberfest is an annual beer festival in Germany, that attracts millions of international visitors. But did you know that not all Germans celebrate Oktoberfest? It's actually a regional festival that originates from the southeastern state of Germany called Bavaria.

What drink is Oktoberfest celebrated with? ›

One thing is for sure at Oktoberfest everyone is drinking German lager. These are called Oktoberfestbiers in and around Germany. Within this family of German-brewed lagers there are two types: the dark, malt-forward Märzen and the lighter, hoppier Festbier.

Why do Americans celebrate Oktoberfest in October? ›

The original Oktoberfest was, in fact, held in October—on October 17, 1810, to be exact, in honor of the nuptials a few days earlier of Bavarian crown prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

What is the biggest beer festival in the world? ›

Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world celebrated since 1810 in the town of Munich. Over 6 million beer-loving people rush to Germany every year and consume almost 6.9 million liters of beer. This German beer festival is known for its traditional Bavarian costumes and delicious German food.

Why is Oktoberfest in September? ›

As the festival got longer, the starting dates were moved into September because the days were longer and the weather was warmer. Visitors could stay out later to enjoy the gardens and the famous fields that make up the festival grounds without getting chilly.

What is the true story behind Oktoberfest? ›

Oktoberfest's roots can be traced back to 1810 in Munich, which is in the Bavarian region of Germany. On October 12th of that year, the future King Ludwig got married and invited the entire city to attend the celebration, which included a large feast and horse races.

Can you just walk into Oktoberfest? ›

Is the entrance to the Oktoberfest free? The Oktoberfest doesn't cost to enter; anyone can wander through the venue without needing a ticket.

Why does Cincinnati have Oktoberfest in September? ›

While it's unclear exactly when Oktoberfest was moved back into the September months, the reason for the earlier date is simple: Sunlight.

Is Oktoberfest supposed to be in October? ›

Each year Oktoberfest begins on a Saturday in September and typically ends on the first Sunday of October. Oktoberfest 2025 will begin at noon on Saturday September 20th and end on Sunday October 5th, 2025.

What was the original celebration of Oktoberfest? ›

The festival originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

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