The Oktoberfest final

The last Wiesn Sunday: a grand final with a tinge of sadness

At the Wiesn final, there is a very special atmosphere. When the band plays one last time after all the bars have closed on the last Wiesn Sunday, a sea of sparklers lights up the beer tents. A moving Oktoberfest finale.

One last stroll around the Oktoberfest

When the Oktoberfest ends, you can feel a tinge of sadness mixed in with the cheerful party mood at the Munich Theresienwiese. You can feel it when you get ready for your last visit to the Wiesn. At 12 noon, the gunmen end the festival with a bang. At the foot of the Bavaria statue, the winners of the Oktoberfest shooting competition are selected with a collective salute. Shots are fired from all barrels, accompanied in true Bavarian style by a brass band playing the Bavarian anthem. Now locals and tourists have the chance to take one last stroll around the Wiesn. Beer glasses are raised, ride chips cashed in one last time, and the last roast chickens are served. It might seem hard to believe, having experienced this lively Volksfest, but Munich is capable of wistfulness too. The good news is: there is always another Wiesn!

Gallery: The highlights of the Oktoberfest

O'zapft is! Here the tapping takes place on the first Wiesn-Saturday

Great fun watching in front of the Toboggan

No Wiesn without a gingerbread heart! The classic souvenir

View from the Bavaria over the Wiesn at night

The Wiesn is twice as much fun together and in traditional costume

Mugs with freshly tapped Wiesnbier, friendly served

Typical folk festival atmosphere in the Paulaner tent

The final in the beer tents

When the last night of the Wiesn reaches its end, there is a very special atmosphere in the beer tents. The Wiesn finale begins. The bands play the full program one last time and create an all-round cheerful mood. Shortly before closing time, sparklers are passed around. Now the Wiesn staff finally get to enjoy a well-earned pint, of which they have carried so many during the past few weeks. You can physically see the tension lift of them when they celebrate the last song of the year together with the Wiesn crowds. In the Hacker tent, the traditional farewell song is “Sierra Madre”, while in the Hofbräu tent, the sound of Robbie Williams’ “Angels” can be heard. It’s not rare for tears to be shed among the sea of lit sparklers. No one wants to believe that it’s already over. But it’s true: “All good things come to an end!”

The Oktoberfest final

The last Wiesn Sunday: a grand final with a tinge of sadness

One last stroll around the Oktoberfest

Gallery: The highlights of the Oktoberfest

The final in the beer tents

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