190th Oktoberfest starts in midsummer temperatures
(20.09.205, 14:30) Mayor Dieter Reiter tapped the first barrel with two strokes today, officially opening the 190th Oktoberfest. In keeping with tradition, the first pint went to Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder. The ceremonial tapping in the Schottenhamel festival hall was preceded by the entry of the Oktoberfest hosts. Thousands of onlookers watched the spectacle in glorious late summer weather.
The traditional tapping ritual in the Schottenhamel Festhalle
Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter routinely tapped the first barrel with just two powerful strokes. The ceremonial tapping took place traditionally in the tapping box of the Schottenhamel festival hall. Prior to this, the festival hosts and breweries had marched from Josephspitalstraße to Theresienwiese in festively decorated carriages and magnificent brewery carriages. Thousands of onlookers lined the streets and watched the colorful procession of Munich's breweries, accompanied by music groups from the large Oktoberfest tents - and all in glorious sunshine. A total of 50 floats with around 1,000 participants took part in the festive parade.
The photos of the official tapping and the entry
Celebrations continue until October 5
The first visitors flocked to the festival grounds as early as 9 am. On the opening day, the festival tents and showmen were already very busy at lunchtime. Even in the beer gardens, there was hardly any room left in the summer temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Compared to the previous year, the festival grounds were similarly crowded. Nevertheless, a peaceful and festive atmosphere prevailed. There have been no major incidents so far. The situation on the streets and at the entrances was relaxed.
The pictures of the run on the festival grounds
The history of the tapping ritual
In 1950, a Munich mayor tapped the first beer barrel in the Festhalle Schottenhamel for the first time. At the premiere, Thomas Wimmer, the city's mayor at the time, set an unprecedented record: With 17 timid strokes, he drew out the serving of the first measure of beer significantly longer than any of his successors in office. Nevertheless, he established the fine tradition of the mayor himself tapping the beer at the Oktoberfest. The world-famous exclamation “Ozapft is” has now achieved cult status. Interesting fact: Since 1980, the incumbent Bavarian Prime Minister (at the time none other than Munich's Franz Josef Strauß) has been presented with the first pint of beer at Oktoberfest.
