Munich’s 191st Oktoberfest officially opened at noon on Saturday, following the festival’s traditional first-barrel ceremony. Green Party Mayor Dominik Krause used two strikes of the mallet to tap the barrel, then handed the first liter of beer to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder of the conservative Christian Social Union, according to DW.
The ceremony determines when beer can be served across the festival grounds. Cannon fire signaled the start of service after Krause’s tapping. DW reported that Krause had practiced with a personal tapping coach and had hoped to open the barrel in two or three strikes, matching the performance of his predecessor, Dieter Reiter of the center-left Social Democratic Party.
Krause’s presentation of the ceremonial drink marked the first time Söder had received it from a Green mayor, DW said. The ceremony is held at midday each year and is closely watched because no beer is served before it takes place.
Thousands of visitors entered the grounds after the gates opened at 9 a.m. Some had waited for hours or spent the night outside with camping chairs, sleeping bags and emergency blankets to secure places in the beer tents. Organizers temporarily released people into the grounds in stages, according to DW, to avoid a more concentrated rush.
More than 6 million people are expected to attend the festival, known locally as the Wiesn, which runs for 16 days until October 4. Alongside beer tents, the event features fairground rides, Bavarian food and live music.
A one-liter beer costs between €14.80 and €15.90 this year, with an average price of €15.61, DW reported. The average has increased 2.38% from last year and is nearly five times the comparable price in 1985, while consumer prices have risen by about 120% over the same period.