The world famous beer festival held every year in Munich.
Oktoberfest is a sixteen-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany during late September (and running to early October). It is one of the most famous events in the city and the world’s largest fair, with some six million people attending every year, and is an enjoyable event with an important part of Bavarian culture.
A typical beer tent at the Oktoberfest
Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening: A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the current Mayor of Munich with the cry “O’zapft is!” (”It’s tapped!” in the Austro-Bavarian dialect) opens the Oktoberfest.
By 1960, the Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous world-famous festival. After this foreigners began to picture Germans as wearing the Horse races ended in 1960.
There are many problems every year with young people, who overestimate their ability to handle large amounts of alcohol. Many pass out due to drunkenness. These especially drunk patrons are often called “Bierleichen” (German for “beer corpses”). They are brought by staff to a medical tent where drunks as well as sick people are treated.
This video from YouTube shows the fantastic fair rides that were available during the 2008 Oktoberfest.
History
The original “Oktoberfest” occurred in Munich, on October 18, 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival grounds) organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12; the horse race on October 17 — therefore, there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest).
To honour the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, a parade took place for the first time in 1835. Since 1850, this has become a yearly event and an important component of the Oktoberfest. 8,000 people — mostly from Bavaria — in traditional costumes walk from Maximilian Street, through the centre of Munich, to the Oktoberfest. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl.
The above extracts were taken from the Wikipedia entry for Oktoberfest
Visit the official site for opening times,public transport details and all the general information you’ll need if you intend to visit the Oktoberfest.