What is Oktoberfest? Munich’s festival, history and the Wiesn
It began with a royal wedding and horse race. Today the Wiesn is a city festival with beer halls, fairground rides, food and a local name rooted in its meadow.
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A wedding, a meadow, a tradition
The first Oktoberfest was a public horse race
On 17 October 1810, Munich celebrated the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese with a horse race outside the city. The meadow was named Theresienwiese after the bride. The celebration returned the following year and grew into the festival held there today.
The name “Wiesn” is Bavarian shorthand for meadow, taken from Theresienwiese. The calendar moved earlier into September in 1872 to make use of longer, milder days, while the familiar name stayed.
What visitors find now
It is a fair, a food festival and a Munich tradition
The modern festival combines large and small beer tents, traditional music, food stands, family attractions and high-speed rides. The main grounds and tents are free to enter; food, drinks and rides are paid separately. The historic Oide Wiesn is a separate, ticketed area.
There are Oktoberfest celebrations in many countries, but the Munich Oktoberfest is held only at the Theresienwiese. For current dates, tent hours and crowd conditions, use the visitor guides below rather than assuming every event called Oktoberfest follows Munich’s rules.
Useful before you go
Common questions, straight answers.
Why is Oktoberfest in September?
The festival moved its start into September in 1872 to take advantage of milder weather and longer days. The name Oktoberfest remained.
What does “Wiesn” mean?
It is the Bavarian word for meadow, shortened from Theresienwiese, the Munich grounds where the Oktoberfest takes place.
Where is the original Oktoberfest?
At the Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany. Other cities host their own Oktoberfest-themed events.
No mystery meat facts
Sources and edition notes
Changeable details such as dates, prices, rules and opening times are checked against the linked sources. Recheck them before your visit.