Every year, millions of people around the world raise their steins, put on lederhosen or dirndls, and shout “Prost!” in celebration of Oktoberfest. But if you’ve ever looked at a calendar, you might have noticed something odd: Oktoberfest doesn’t really happen in October. In fact, the official kickoff is September 20th, and the majority of the festival happens before October even arrives. So, what gives? Why is a festival named after October actually a September tradition?
A Royal Wedding That Started It All
The story begins back in 1810 in Munich, Germany. Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12th, and the whole city was invited to celebrate. They threw a massive party with horse races, food, beer, and music. The festivities were so much fun that the people of Munich decided to make it an annual tradition. Over the years, Oktoberfest grew bigger and bigger, evolving from a royal wedding reception into the world’s largest beer festival.
Why It Moved Into September
Now, here’s the twist: Bavaria in October can be… well, cold. Germans, being practical people who also happen to enjoy drinking outdoors without freezing, shifted the party into late September to take advantage of warmer weather. The festival still ends in the first week of October, but most of the action (and drinking) happens in September. That’s why Oktoberfest starts in September but keeps its original name.
The Traditions That Make Oktoberfest Special
- The Tapping of the Keg: The mayor of Munich kicks things off with the traditional cry of “O’zapft is!” (“It is tapped!”) as the first keg is opened. Only then does the beer officially start flowing.
- Lederhosen & Dirndls: These outfits aren’t costumes, they’re traditional Bavarian clothing. They symbolize heritage and pride… and also make dancing on benches look a lot more fun.
- Beer Tents & Polka Bands: Giant beer halls are filled with long communal tables, steins clinking, and oompah bands blasting lively German folk music. By the end of the night, everyone is singing along whether they know the words or not.
- Food, Food, and More Food: Pretzels bigger than your head, sizzling bratwursts, roast chickens, and rich German desserts fuel the marathon of drinking. Oktoberfest is as much about food as it is about beer.
Just How Big Is It?
Oktoberfest is no small backyard barbecue. Each year, Munich alone welcomes over 6 million visitors from across the globe. More than 7 million liters of beer are consumed in just two weeks, along with hundreds of thousands of sausages, pretzels, and roasted chickens. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience, but let’s be honest, not everyone can just hop on a plane to Germany in September.
Bringing Oktoberfest to Sykesville
That’s where we come in. We know it’s not easy to jet off to Munich, but at Bierbath, we’re transforming our entire place into a Bavarian-style beer hall for our September 20th Oktoberfest Party. Picture this: steins full of authentic German beers, communal tables, the sounds of live German polka music filling the air, and plenty of pretzels and bratwurst to go around. It’s everything you love about Oktoberfest, without the plane ticket.
So grab your lederhosen, bring your appetite, and get ready to shout Prost! right here in Maryland. Because this September, Bierbath is your passport to Oktoberfest.
