Have you ever wondered about the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany? You have probably seen women in dirndls (traditional Bavarian dresses with a full, wide skirt and a tight waist as seen in this column's main photo), photos of steins (1 liter large traditional beer mug, see photo below),

men in lederhosen (traditional, short, leather pants often worn with a hat, see photo below), 

but is Oktoberfest only about beer and clothing?

Oktoberfest in Munich is a 16-day festival which is the largest folk festival in the world. Six local breweries set up 'beer tents' (large, covered dining halls with long picnic tables, see photo below) where they serve their local beer, entertain the tent guests with live traditional music and serve traditional food (grilled chicken, potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzels, etc.).

Outside of the tents there are many rides you can buy tickets for. 

Having lived near and worked in Munich for nearly 8 years, I visited the Oktoberfest many times.
Here are my tips for tourists:
1. don't go on a weekend
2. if you must go on a weekend, don't go on the opening or closing weekend
3. go early in the day
4. start in the beer halls - eat, drink, and then leave before it gets too crowded or they ask you to leave (some limit the time you can sit there)
5. go with a friend who can help you drink the same liter of beer because it will get warm if you only sip it slowly
6. buy a grilled chicken for lunch
7. be patient with the crowds - especially on the public transportation getting to and from the festival
8. smile and have fun!

If you like reading about international festivals and learning about how they are run or how to attend them, book a lesson with me today! I offer many cultural and travel lessons and I would love to hear about your favorite (fall) festivals, too!