Oktoberfest originated as a royal wedding in 1810 in Munich and has since become the largest beer festival. Crown Prince Ludwig fell head over heels for Princess Therese. Munich threw the couple a wedding bash so legendary that nobody wanted it to end. The entire city showed up to watch horse races on open meadows they named Theresienwiese, in honor of the bride. People had such a blast that Bavarians said, "let's do this again next year," and a tradition was born. What started as a royal love story transformed into the world's largest beer festival, drawing six million visitors annually to raise steins where a prince once celebrated his bride.
The festival's popularity can be weighed by the historic fact that it is celebrated in almost every nook of the world, from the U.S.A. to Brazil.
Quick Timeline of Oktoberfest History
1810 - First Oktoberfest celebrates royal wedding
1819 - Munich takes control, makes it annual
1850 - Bavaria statue unveiled, and costume parade begins
1880 - Electric lights illuminate the festival
1910 - 100th anniversary, 120,000 liters consumed
1950 - Mayor begins O'zapft is! tradition
1980 - Terrorist bombing kills thirteen people
2010 - 200th anniversary introduces Oide Wiesn
2020-2021 - COVID-19 forces first peacetime cancellation since 1949
What is the True Story behind the History of Munich Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest has two hundred plus years of history, with many transformations over these decades.
Oktoberfest Origin (1810 to 1819)
Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese in 1810, and Munich decided to throw them a party nobody would forget. Andreas Michael Dall'Armi organized the whole affair on open meadows outside the city, which locals quickly renamed Theresienwiese. The celebration struck such a chord that the Bavarian Agricultural Association brought it back the following year. The city council saw gold in those meadows and declared Oktoberfest an official annual event in 1819. The Napoleonic Wars did force a cancellation in 1813, but Munich had already fallen in love with its new tradition.
Early Growth and Establishment (1820 to 1850)
These decades turned a simple horse race into something far grander. Carnival booths popped up in 1818, luring crowds with prizes of silver and porcelain while new entertainment kept them coming back. King Ludwig I threw his silver wedding anniversary celebration at the festival, and that year introduced the first costume parade. Locals attended the parade in traditional Bavarian folk dress. The festival got its iconic guardian when workers unveiled the massive Bavaria statue. Oktoberfest was no longer just a party but a Bavarian tradition.
The Golden Age (1850 to 1900)
This period saw Oktoberfest embrace modern technology and establish long standing traditions. Electric lights first illuminated booths, allowing celebrations to continue after dark.
The first Bratwurst stalls also opened during this time period while beer began being served in glass mugs, and small beer stands transformed into massive beer halls. Festival organizers moved the dates to late September in 1872 to enjoy warmer weather, though they kept the name Oktoberfest. The 1887 brewery parade with decorated horse wagons became the official opening ceremony.
Wars and Cancellations (1854 to 1918)
Oktoberfest proved it could take a punch and keep coming back. Cholera epidemics swept through Munich and shut down the celebration multiple times. Austro Prussian War and Franco Prussian War brought military cancellations that emptied the fairgrounds.
World War I dealt the hardest blow as it was the longest shutdown in festival history. Germany limped back with smaller Autumn Festivals in 1919 and 1920 as the nation struggled to find its footing again. Each crisis tested the festival, and each time Munich dusted itself off and fired up the beer tents once more.
Dark Times Between the Wars (1920 to 1939)
Economic chaos and political turmoil left deep scars on the festival during these years. Hyperinflation crushed Germany, and the currency became so worthless that a single beer cost billions of marks, and Oktoberfest simply couldn't happen. The celebration bounced back in 1925, but darker forces soon took hold.
The Nazi regime seized control and twisted the festival into a propaganda machine, renaming it Großdeutsches Volksfest. Jewish workers found themselves banned from the grounds as the Nazis turned this beloved tradition into a tool for spreading their ideology.
World War II and Recovery (1939 to 1949)
World War II silenced the festival completely for the second time in its history. Allied bombs reduced Munich to rubble, and rebuilding homes mattered far more than pouring beers. Small celebrations returned between 1946 and 1948, giving war weary citizens a taste of joy while the city pieced itself back together. Breweries repaired their equipment, workers restored the grounds, and Munich set its sights on 1949.
The Modern Era Begins (1950 to 1970)
This time period marked a turning point when Mayor Thomas Wimmer tapped the first keg at Schottenhamel tent with the cry O'zapft is!. This ceremonial tapping became the most important tradition of Okotberfest, complete with twelve gunshots from the Ruhmeshalle. The horse races were replaced by an agricultural show every four years. The 1960s saw steady growth in attendance and international recognition, establishing Oktoberfest as a global destination.
Oktoberfest Cultural Evolution (1970 to 1990)
The 1970s brought social changes that made Oktoberfest more inclusive and diverse. Rosa Wiesn began when the Münchner Löwen Club reserved space at the Bräurosl tent, creating LGBT gathering.
A tragedy happened in 1980 when a terrorist detonated a bomb at the main entrance, killing thirteen people and injuring over two hundred. The attack led to permanent security changes, including removing all trash bins and redesigning entrances.
Global Phenomenon (1990 to 2010)
Oktoberfest went global during these two decades. Better infrastructure and savvy international marketing pulled visitors from every corner of the planet. The 1999 festival packed 6.5 million people onto the grounds. Munich rolled out the Quiet Oktoberfest initiative, capping afternoon music and keeping things traditional with brass bands. Behind the scenes, the festival embraced the digital age with electronic payments and online tent reservations. Even the environment got attention as organizers switched to renewable energy, though brewers kept their traditional methods untouched.
The 200th Anniversary (2010 to 2019)
The bicentennial celebration introduced Oide Wiesn, recreating the early years of the festival with vintage rides and traditional dark beer. This historical area proved so popular that it became permanent.
The smoking ban took full effect in 2011 in Bavaria, making all tents smoke free despite initial resistance. Modern Oktoberfest balanced tradition with innovation, using sustainable practices while preserving authentic Bavarian culture.
Oktoberfest Hit by Pandemic and Recovery (2020 to Present)
COVID-19 forced the first peacetime cancellation of Oktoberfest since 1949. These cancellations cost billions in lost revenue and left millions of fans disappointed worldwide. The emotional 2022 return saw enhanced safety measures, digital reservation systems, and contactless payments becoming standard.
The festival shattered records with 7.2 million visitors, proving the resilience of the event. Today's festival continues evolving with millions of visitors consuming liters of beer. Many new attractions to the Oktoberfest have been added in the recent years including rides, food stalls and much more so that people can have the best time here.
Oktoberfest Historical Traditions
Some of the important traditions that count as integral pillars of Oktoberfest are:
Oktoberfest Landlord and Breweries Parade
The parade tradition started in 1887 when manager Hans Steyrer led a procession from his meadow to the Theresienwiese grounds. He brought his staff, a brass band, and beer. In 1935, all major breweries joined the opening parade for the first time. Today, the Münchner Kindl leads the march, followed by the Munich mayor riding in the Schottenhammel family carriage.
Decorated horse-drawn carriages from breweries, restaurateurs, and entertainers roll through the streets while brass bands from the beer tents play lively music.
Keg Tapping Ceremony
Oktoberfest officially starts at noon after restaurateurs parade from downtown to the festival grounds. The lord mayor taps the first beer barrel inside the Schottenhammel tent and shouts O'zapft is, meaning it has been tapped.
Twelve gunshots echo from the Ruhmeshalle stairway to signal that beer service can begin at all tents. The Bavarian Minister President receives the first liter of beer. Everyone watches to see how many strikes the mayor needs, with Christian Ude and Dieter Reiter holding the record at just two strokes, while Thomas Wimmer needed 19 strokes back in 1950.
Costume and Riflemen's Parade
The costume parade claimed its permanent spot on the calendar in 1950 and has grown into one of the greatest traditional processions. Every first Sunday of Oktoberfest, thousands hit the streets in authentic German attire. Men wear Lederhosen and women come in colorful dirndls.
The Münchner Kindl leads the march, followed by city officials, costume clubs, marching bands, and flag wavers putting on a show. About 40 horse drawn carriages roll through the streets, each one decorated to the nines. The parade kicks off the festival with a spectacle that gets cameras clicking from start to finish.
Munich Brewed Beer
Oktoberfest plays by strict rules when it comes to what fills those massive steins. Only beer brewed within Munich city limits following the Reinheitsgebot earns a spot at the festival. Beers passing this test carry the Oktoberfest Beer label, a trademark the Club of Munich Brewers guards fiercely. Drinkers choose between two styles: the rich, amber Märzen lager or the lighter, golden Festbier. Just six breweries hold the keys to the taps, including Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spatenbräu, and Staatliches Hofbräu-München. These Big Six keep the brewing legacy flowing one stein at a time.
Summarizing What is Oktoberfest & Why It's Celebrated
Oktoberfest started in the 18th century in Munich, Germany. It was a simple marriage celebration with the locals invited by the royal family as the guests of honor. The celebration was full of fun mixed with Bavarian traditions. Considering the success of the event, officials presented the idea of making it a yearly celebration, which started contributing to Munich’s economy. The original Munich Oktoberfest is now a global phenomenon, with efforts to make it an economic success for the country. German Oktoberfest faced wars, pandemics, and terrorism, but stood its ground till today.