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I'm shocked!
Crazy.
That was talent.
I'm in Munich for my very first Oktoberfest.
I came prepared —
I have my dirndl and I'm really excited
to go in one of the beer tents later, of course.
But although I've lived in Germany
for over a decade, there are some
things here that really surprised me.
I'm going to tell you what they are.
And I'll also tell you everything
you need to know about Oktoberfest.
We'll check out what there is to do,
learn about Bavarian traditions and
what exactly brings millions of
people here from all over the world.
Can I say I think that...
I think that color really suits you.
Where are you from?
Spain.
Everyone's here for:
The best party in Germany.
It's the best party in Germany, yeah.
The best party in Germany.
You heard it here.
You might be surprised to know
that Oktoberfest is free to enter.
You don't need a ticket.
And it takes place on this huge area.
A lot of it is a fairground.
Which I have to say I was not really expecting.
I come from the US, where
Oktoberfest is basically seen as an
alcohol-fuelled party for adults.
But actually, there are lots of
families and even little kids here.
So this is really a family-friendly event
that celebrates Bavarian traditions.
I'm here on opening day for the big parade.
The tent owners, event hosts, and
their families arrive on carriages
to open the 16-day celebration.
It's so cool to see the brass
bands and traditional clothing.
So Bavarian.
I love it.
Over 6 million people come here every year.
Tours from the US make up
the largest group of international visitors.
I started hearing them as soon as I arrived.
Where are you from?
I'm in Chicago.
Chicago.
Chicago, Chicago, D.C.
What are you most looking forward to?
The beers.
The beers!
There's nothing like this in the US,
so we wanted to make it here.
Experience the culture.
They rented Lederhosen in
Munich, which you can do too.
But what does Oktoberfest mean to Bavarians?
We're coming here every year,
so it's just like a family thing for us.
It's surprising to see how
many people are wearing
the Bavarian attire,
the Dirndl and Lederhosen.
Honestly, this is not
something you see in Berlin.
So for me, it's pretty bizarre.
I've never seen anything like it.
In Bavaria, it's not only for Oktoberfest.
You wear it for weddings, for
parties, for special events, or just for,
I don't know, go dancing
if it's Bavarian style,
then you wear it as well.
And here's something
I wanted you to check out.
These are the Lebkuchenherzen –
gingerbread hearts.
You can actually eat these, by the way.
They say very sweet things,
like "Süße", "sweetie",
"my favorite person".
And some in Bavarian dialect.
Can someone translate this for me, please?
"Boah, du schaust gut aus."
Boah, du schaust gut aus.
Yeah, you're looking damn good.
You're looking damn good.
That's one to take for
your sweetie back home.
Let's check out the rides.
There are so many options, some
blasting techno, some more relaxed.
It's a sensory overload.
And there's a famous one,
unlike anything I've ever seen:
the Teufelsrad, Devil's Wheel.
The winner is the last person to stay on.
And ladies, if you plan on trying it,
wear some shorts under your dirndls.
Yeah, I'm not going to
be doing that one today.
It's not for me.
It's fun to watch though.
Fortunately, I found
something that's more my vibe.
The Weissbierkaroussell.
I have never seen anything like this
before, so we have to check it out.
Let's go.
It's a ride and it's a bar, right?
It's a bar that's also a ride.
How fitting for Oktoberfest.
Prost.
It's my first Oktoberfest beer, finally.
Oh, and unlike in the US and many other countries,
in Germany you can generally
drink alcohol in public places.
In the US that's usually illegal.
Now it's time to check out the Oide Wiesn.
This is the traditional and
more historical area of Oktoberfest.
And to answer the question
everyone has had on their mind:
Why is Oktoberfest actually in September?
It started with the wedding of Crown
Prince Ludwig von Bayern to
Princess Therese von Sachsen-
Hildburghausen in October 1810.
The event was such a hit, Bavarians
made it an annual celebration.
And to take advantage of
more daylight and better weather
the celebration was moved
to September some years later,
where it stayed ever since.
I really like the Oide Wiesn.
It's very quirky.
You have all these old games,
some that are over 100 years old, rides.
It's really nice.
You can really discover a lot here.
Oh, no, that was talent.
Time for a pretzel and the historic Kegelbahn.
Okay, can someone hold my pretzel?
Thank you.
I guess it's like old-school bowling, basically.
There's always something
unexpected happening around here.
Like a brass band playing in
front of some vintage tractors.
Why not?
I just got an offer to ride on an old tractor.
So, you know, when you get an opportunity,
take it.
But now, the main event!
It's time to go into one of the beer tents.
I'm very excited.
Here we go.
There are 35 tents at Oktoberfest.
Even if they're called tents, some
are giant wooden structures with
space for up to 10,000 people.
Here's a tip:
either reserve a table months
in advance or get there early
to avoid long lines.
This fun zone is also a
major business operation.
These ladies have the
hardest jobs, that's for sure.
The Oktoberfest waitstaff are famous for
carrying many of these
heavy mugs called Masskrüge.
Filled with beer each weighs about two kilo.
Nadia has been working at
Oktoberfest for two decades.
What do you like about
your job here at Oktoberfest?
For one thing it's a real challenge, of course,
to see how much I can do.
On the other hand, as a mother,
it's just 16 days away from home,
which is great.
And it's fun.
You can be yourself.
You meet people from all over the world.
She tells me some things are not allowed.
No, you cannot get onto the table,
and dance on the tables,
that's a no-go.
Because when you fall,
you hurt too many people.
It's too dangerous.
You're allowed to dance on the benches.
And the beer mugs?
Well, we've got girls here, they're
able to, like, carry 14 beers and
make their way through the crowds,
and they have no problem with that.
I stick by between 8 and 10.
I felt compelled to give it a try.
Yeah, I could do this.
Next year, Oktoberfest!
That's enough now.
I order the classic beer and a half chicken.
The waitstaff are paid on commission,
so be generous when you tip.
My fresh Helles beer,
brewed just for Oktoberfest!
It's around 6.2 percent.
This year a Mass costs between
14.50 and 15.80 euros, which,
considering it's over two pints, is not bad,
although for Germany, it's expensive.
It's not the most relaxing place to have a meal,
but ideal for dancing on the benches.
All the different cultures,
all the different people coming together –
it's like a huge giant melting pot.
People are coming together
to celebrate the same thing.
It's amazing.
Oh my gosh!
My first time at Oktoberfest!
It was full of surprises!
I really had a blast.
Great people, good food,
amazing beer, so much more.
And how about you?
What did you like about
my trip to Oktoberfest?
And would you like to go?
Let me know in the comments.
See you next time!
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