Module 06

Oktoberfest and Other Festivals

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a traditional annual beer festival held in Munich

Contrary to the name the 16-day festival is actually held from the end of September to the first Sunday in October

The festivities kick off with an opening parade of more than 6,000 participants

Imag

e Co

urte

sy: w

ww

.flic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/zh

affs

ky

With more than six million visitors every year, Oktoberfest is one of the world’s largest fairs

Oktoberfest was first organized in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of King Ludwig I with Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen

The festival is declared open in traditional style—a twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first beer keg at noon by the Mayor of Munich

Only beer produced in six Munich breweries is served at the festival

Draft beer is brewed specially for the festival containing 6% higher alcohol

There are both big and small tents at the festival. The big ones can hold thousands of people

Reservations for tents are made months in advance. Do not be surprised if your table has been given away if you arrive late

If you do not have reservations, arrive before noon to get a table. When you find an empty seat, always ask before

taking the seat. Be sure to greet everyone at the table (Grüß Gott!!)

Everyone seated at the same table drinks together

The word for cheers is Prost!

It is considered rude not to make eye contact during this exchange.

All beer, except for wheat beer, is served in one-litre glassesPi

c Co

urte

sy: w

ww

.bru

guru

.com

Oktoberfest 2015 in numbers

5.9 million visitors

7.3 million liters of beer consumed

Every year over 3,000 things are lost and found

Tollwood Summer Festival

The annual Tollwood Summer Festival is a huge event with music, cabaret, street performance, theatre, circus and dance

It is held in Munich’s Olympic Park for over 25 days, and it is a destination for theatre companies, pop, rock, and jazz musicians and of course tourists

The festival also features culinary specialities with a variety of food stands and over 200 artisan booths representing about 20 countries

Klassik am Odeonsplatz

The Klassik am Odeonsplatz is Munich's great annual open-air concert and one of the cultural highlights in summer. It takes place at Odeon Square, one of the most beautiful places in the city, which turns into the best concert hall possible for this event

Munich Opera Festival

Every summer since 1876 the Munich Opera Festival is celebrated for one month. It is a must-see and -hear for all opera lovers

Held at the National Theater it offers an excellent mix of opera and ballet performances attracting visitors from all around the world

End of ModuleYou can proceed to the quiz now