Munich celebrates the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest

In Munich, the 191st Oktoberfest began on Saturday. At exactly noon, the new mayor Dominik Krause of the Greens opened the festival with the traditional proclamation "O'zapft is." He needed two strikes for his first tap before opening the first keg of beer.

After the opening, tens of thousands of visitors in dirndls and lederhosen flooded onto Theresienwiese to secure the best spots in the tents. The opening was accompanied by cannon fire, marking the start of the festival. As usual, the first Maß beer was handed to Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder.

This year, the renovation of access routes and new safety concepts were the focus. These measures aim to monitor and manage the flow of visitors on the festival grounds. The opening ceremony took place in mild weather and good spirits.

The festival grounds opened shortly after 9 a.m. However, there was a brief delay, causing the first guests to wait for hours to enter the grounds. At times, the crowd at the entrance was held back until access was granted.

During the opening festivities, numerous traditional elements were retained while also presenting some innovations. The Oktoberfest in Munich is considered one of the largest folk festivals in the world.

For two weeks, the Bavarian capital will be in a state of exception. The Oktoberfest attracts visitors from around the globe, who can enjoy a variety of attractions and culinary delights.