Oktoberfest crowds sprint for tent seats after overnight wait

Visitors sprinted towards the beer tents as Munich’s 191st Oktoberfest began on Saturday, in a more orderly opening than last year, BR reported.

Some people had spent the entire night behind barriers at the Theresienwiese festival grounds to secure places in the tents. The entrance at Bavaria opened at 9:07 a.m., while the main entrance was released at 9:11 a.m.

The waiting crowds then broke into a full sprint. Some people fell over one another, got back up and continued running. Many had gathered in the queues to play cards and meet other young people from Munich and the surrounding area.

Beer service starts at noon

The rush for tent seats was followed by another wait. Beer could not be served until Munich Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first keg at noon. One visitor in the crowded Schottenhamel tent offered a simple way to pass the time after a sleepless night: “First, get some sleep.”

Last year, people in the queues counted down to 9 a.m. and overran security. This year, announcements to those at the front helped keep the lines orderly as they moved towards the entrances.

The festival will run until October 4. Organisers expect around seven million visitors, with more than one-fifth coming from abroad. The first litre of beer after the tapping traditionally goes to Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder.

A litre of beer now costs up to 15.90 euros. Drinking water is available free of charge at 10 outdoor taps, and entry to the festival grounds is free.

The festival features 14 large beer halls, numerous smaller tents, around 180 stalls and almost 250 amusement attractions, including new high-tech rides. The Oidn Wiesn area offers three additional large tents and historic rides, with tickets costing 1.50 euros.