Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 20 Sep, 2008 CET.
Updated: Sat 20 Sep 2008 12:47 CET
Cloudy skies and cool temperatures couldn't dampen the merriment as the 175th Oktoberfest was officially opened at midday by Munich mayor, Christian Ude, who tapped the first keg of beer and uttered the famous cry, “O'zapft is!”
With that, the biggest beer festival in the world began. As dictated by tradition, the first massive mug was handed to Bavarian state premier Günther Beckstein.
The majority of first-day visitors obliged the unofficial Oktoberfest dress code by donning dirndl and lederhosen. Several beer tents had to be closed in the course of the morning already as they were overfilled.
Some 6 million people are expected to flood the Wies'n at this year's Oktoberfest, which runs until Oct. 5. But they'll be shelling out more than ever before to sample the local brews. The price per litre this year is anywhere from €8 to €8.30 – a full 40 cents more than last year.
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With that, the biggest beer festival in the world began. As dictated by tradition, the first massive mug was handed to Bavarian state premier Günther Beckstein.
The majority of first-day visitors obliged the unofficial Oktoberfest dress code by donning dirndl and lederhosen. Several beer tents had to be closed in the course of the morning already as they were overfilled.
Some 6 million people are expected to flood the Wies'n at this year's Oktoberfest, which runs until Oct. 5. But they'll be shelling out more than ever before to sample the local brews. The price per litre this year is anywhere from €8 to €8.30 – a full 40 cents more than last year.
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