Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1525817
O k t o b e r f e s t Oktoberfest is a two-week folk festival in Munich, Germany, that kicks off in September and ends on the first Sunday in October. While Oktoberfest is now the largest global event where visitors can immerse themselves in Bavarian culture and, of course, beer, it didn't start that way. The excitement began on October 12, 1810, to commemorate the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria (later King Ludwig I) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The couple invited about 40,000 citizens to participate in the revelry, which featured a massive feast and horse races. In 1811, the race was held again, but it was combined with a state agricultural fair to draw more attendees and attention. In 1818, carnival rides, food, and the hallmark beer stalls were added to the racing event. Eventually, the phenomenon became an annual happening; it was lengthened, and pushed to September so the weather was warmer. Two hundred years later, the iconic spectacle still occurs. Over six million people flock to Germany each fall and consume over seven million liters of beer. But you don't have to travel to Europe to drink from a stein, dance to folk music, and catch people in lederhosen and dirndls. The appeal of the most popular party has spread, and thousands of cities host their own Oktoberfest to indulge in German customs, bring friends together, and let the good times roll. H o w t o C e l e b r a t e : • Listen to traditional oompah music • Wear lederhosen and dirndls • Eat pretzels, bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad, and schnitzel • Go to a local Oktoberfest celebration • Drink a German beer, like Märzen, Hefeweizen, or Pilsner • Host a beer stein relay race or yodeling contest COMING HOME MAGAZINE 17