What’s the ultimate beer festival in the world like? Something like a folks fest meets mardi gras, taking place in an outdoor carnival. When I landed in Munich, Germany two weeks ago I went straight from a plane to an Oktoberfest tent. I expected the big tents full of beer stein slugging drinkers, but what I did not expect was the vastness of the entire event. There were over twenty tents to choose from with each tent allowing thousands of people inside. Germans of all ages were parading around in a variety of dirndls and lederhosen. Every carnival ride and attraction one could fathom filled the Tiergarten grounds. It happened to be a beautiful sunny day when I arrived and here is what I walked into:
My first stop, my favorite childhood carnival ride, The Scorpion. My German cousin, Jannik, was not as thrilled as I was about all the spinning and flying through the air, but I could not be happier. We also got a great view of the entire Tiergarten grounds on this ride!
Then, we headed to the oldest beer house in Germany, “the Altes Brauhaus”. ?Here we started with one of Munich’s favorite and highest quality beers- the Paulaner Weissbier. I noted at this outdoor drinking porch some of the greatest lederhosen outfits were on display.
Next we visited the Hacker Festtzelt for some delicious and authentic German food (bratwurst, half chickens and of course potatoes and sauerkraut). We also stated drinking bigger volumes of beer served in classic bier steins. “Prost!”
Finally we made our way to one of the most sought after tents for twenty something year olds….the Sch?tzen Festzelt. This tent had an elaborately decorated ceiling. Thick green and yellow satin ribbons were strung in loops covering the entire ceiling, dipping in between the rafters. Enormous, circular wooden chandeliers hung throughout the tent wrapped in tree garland and glistening ornaments. It was a whimsical environment inviting all to come play. Elongated, wooden picnic benches filled the tent providing seating with eating, drinking, laughing and singing Germans a top. The environment was warm and friendly. Anyone could gather a sense of the joyousness of the occasion upon first entrance into the tent. My favorite activity besides sligning my beer stein around (do not underestimate the weight of these glasses), was singing in chorus with the entire five-hundred persons in the tent. A large stage at the center of this tent amplified German and American songs everyone knew and sang loudly along to.
First order up: Radlers. These also came in big bier steins and were half beer, half lemonade and sprite mixtures. Next, we headed to a more hidden shot bar at the back of the tent as shots are sold seperately. The Germans love their J?germeister as much as Americans love lemon drops and red headed sluts, but I was also surprised how many mixed shots were on the menu in addition to amaros and herbal liquors.
Needless to say this experience was one of the best in the partying realm I have ever been a part of. The cultural fluidity of song, conversation and dress was magical to be a part of. The evening ended with everyone lighting sparklers and singing a final song. It was a drama free evening (hard to imagine when this amount of beer was being consumed) and it was a night full of good-hearted fun and folksong singing. I had such a good time, I am already planning another rendezvous in 2015 with all my German cousins. I leave you with a couple of must know phrases for your visit to Oktoberfest:
