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1966

Abstract

On Saturday at the height of Oktoberfest, we met her friends to celebrate at d’Wiesn, the shortened name of the Theresienwiese fairgrounds.The whole festival is celebrated at these fairgrounds outside of Munich. Breweries set up massive “tents” with tables upon tables. I say “tents” in quotes because I was surprised to see their size and sturdiness. They are actually like temporary buildings with wooden sides, wooden floors, bathrooms, decorations, and murals.<figure id="2c27"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*RYcL3Ctln0TrVimrxIB3tg.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo of the Oktoberfest fairground outside of Munich; photo by author</figcaption></figure>If you don’t like crowds, Oktoberfest may not be the place for you. It can get downright claustrophobic and rowdy in those tents. We spent all day in the Hofbräuhaus tent. I’m not even sure how we got into the tent because there can be long lines. Luckily, I was with a group of local Germans, so they knew the ins and outs of the festival.The tent was packed with people and got more crowded throughout the day. We found a table and guarded it with care. Tables are very coveted. Only a few members of the group left at one time so that we wouldn’t lose our spot. We even made friends as people shared our table for a bit.Besides celebrating with locals, something else made my experience extra special: my friend knew someone working in the tent. Her colleague took off three weeks each year to work as the beer manager of the tent.He found the time to give us a behind-the-scenes tour. He showed us the enormous supply of beer, just waiting to be drunk. He let us sit at a table in the bar area and we watched in fascination at the scene. The waitresses lined up to get beer to take out to their tables. They carried so many heavy glasses in each hand. Some could carry four beers in

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each hand.Just to illustrate this feat of strength:1 beer at Oktoberfest = 1 liter = 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds4 beers in one hand = 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds per handNo wonder some waitresses wore wrist braces.Waitresses pay in advance for the beers and as the bartender slides frothy beers their way, they hand in pre-paid tokens. I guess the system keeps them very accountable and strict on making sure customers pay and not giving away free beers.I was fascinated by the clothing. People dressed in old-time clothing. Women wore traditional dirndls and aprons and men wore lederhosen and suspenders. I think the women lucked out because being in such a crowd, I can imagine that the leather pants would get quite sweaty, but I guess the spilled beer would roll right off the pants.People got up to dance on the benches and tables as the house band played.I danced to German songs. I sang John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” at the top of my lungs. At the time, someone told me that the song is the most played song at Oktoberfest, but I haven’t fact-checked it. I was surprised to hear so many other American songs, including “Hey Baby” and “Sweet Caroline.”The lager beer went down easily. I tried beer mixed with lemonade for the first time. We at half-chickens and soft pretzels. We talked, we sang, and we people-watched.Eventually, I had to hold my glass beer mug with two hands. Those beers are heavy. It’s a heavy mug, plus one liter of fluid, and my wrist hurt the next day.I wish I could say I remember more of the end of the night, but the beer flowed freely and it’s never a good idea to try to keep up with Germans at Oktoberfest. I guess that’s one minor downside of seeing a country’s festival with locals.</article></body>

Beer Flows Freely At Oktoberfest

Celebrating with Germans at their iconic festival

Photo of the inside of the massive Hofbräuhaus tent; photo by author

Being in a country for a famous holiday or festival tends to be the most interesting time to visit. Experiencing the customs, traditions, and festive atmosphere firsthand makes the culture come alive.

And what’s even better? In my opinion, it’s to celebrate a country’s holiday with the locals themselves. This may not always be possible, especially as a tourist, which makes it even more special when it happens.

I’m not one to plan all my travels out, so I’ve found myself in locations when it happens to be a holiday or festival. It’s a happy coincidence, but I’m completely unprepared to take full advantage of the celebrations.

But years ago, I made plans in advance to meet a German friend in Munich for Oktoberfest.

Good thing I did some research and planned the travel because, despite its name, Oktoberfest is not actually in October. Well, most of it, that is. The festival is in mid- to late-September and ends around the first Sunday in October. I would have been sadly disappointed if I showed up in mid-October expecting a rowdy party.

My friend was a German exchange student that I knew in high school. She happened to be living in Munich at the time and I was studying abroad in France, so it was a great time to go.

After a long train journey, multiple transfers, and trains that got more crowded as I approached Munich, I finally made it. I was in college at the time, so it was normal to just crash at someone’s apartment, rather than get a separate hotel or hostel.

On Saturday at the height of Oktoberfest, we met her friends to celebrate at d’Wiesn, the shortened name of the Theresienwiese fairgrounds.

The whole festival is celebrated at these fairgrounds outside of Munich. Breweries set up massive “tents” with tables upon tables. I say “tents” in quotes because I was surprised to see their size and sturdiness. They are actually like temporary buildings with wooden sides, wooden floors, bathrooms, decorations, and murals.

Photo of the Oktoberfest fairground outside of Munich; photo by author

If you don’t like crowds, Oktoberfest may not be the place for you. It can get downright claustrophobic and rowdy in those tents. We spent all day in the Hofbräuhaus tent. I’m not even sure how we got into the tent because there can be long lines. Luckily, I was with a group of local Germans, so they knew the ins and outs of the festival.

The tent was packed with people and got more crowded throughout the day. We found a table and guarded it with care. Tables are very coveted. Only a few members of the group left at one time so that we wouldn’t lose our spot. We even made friends as people shared our table for a bit.

Besides celebrating with locals, something else made my experience extra special: my friend knew someone working in the tent. Her colleague took off three weeks each year to work as the beer manager of the tent.

He found the time to give us a behind-the-scenes tour. He showed us the enormous supply of beer, just waiting to be drunk. He let us sit at a table in the bar area and we watched in fascination at the scene. The waitresses lined up to get beer to take out to their tables. They carried so many heavy glasses in each hand. Some could carry four beers in each hand.

Just to illustrate this feat of strength:

1 beer at Oktoberfest = 1 liter = 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds

4 beers in one hand = 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds per hand

No wonder some waitresses wore wrist braces.

Waitresses pay in advance for the beers and as the bartender slides frothy beers their way, they hand in pre-paid tokens. I guess the system keeps them very accountable and strict on making sure customers pay and not giving away free beers.

I was fascinated by the clothing. People dressed in old-time clothing. Women wore traditional dirndls and aprons and men wore lederhosen and suspenders. I think the women lucked out because being in such a crowd, I can imagine that the leather pants would get quite sweaty, but I guess the spilled beer would roll right off the pants.

People got up to dance on the benches and tables as the house band played.

I danced to German songs. I sang John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” at the top of my lungs. At the time, someone told me that the song is the most played song at Oktoberfest, but I haven’t fact-checked it. I was surprised to hear so many other American songs, including “Hey Baby” and “Sweet Caroline.”

The lager beer went down easily. I tried beer mixed with lemonade for the first time. We at half-chickens and soft pretzels. We talked, we sang, and we people-watched.

Eventually, I had to hold my glass beer mug with two hands. Those beers are heavy. It’s a heavy mug, plus one liter of fluid, and my wrist hurt the next day.

I wish I could say I remember more of the end of the night, but the beer flowed freely and it’s never a good idea to try to keep up with Germans at Oktoberfest. I guess that’s one minor downside of seeing a country’s festival with locals.