Traditions in Bavaria: Oktoberfest begins in sunny climate | EUROtoday

Ozapft is: The Munich Oktoberfest has begun. Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) tapped the primary barrel of beer with two photographs on Saturday at precisely 12:00 midday within the Schottenhamel tent, thus opening the pageant. Gunfire introduced the beginning of the pageant – and the beer being served. Reiter historically handed the primary freshly tapped liter of beer to Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) to toast with him to a peaceable Oktoberfest.

Weather: Sunny and dry

With autumnal gentle temperatures and sunshine, the Wiesn hosts drove to the pageant grounds in festively embellished carriages. The forecasts for the primary Wiesn weekend look good – not less than on Sunday it can keep round 20 levels. After that it’s going to get cooler once more – and rain too.

The first Oktoberfest followers – principally in dirndls and lederhosen – had already been ready on the entrances for the pageant grounds to open early within the morning. When the gates opened at round 9 a.m., a whole bunch of individuals rushed in the direction of the pageant tents to get a great place.

Around six million guests are anticipated to attend the Oktoberfest, which is taken into account the most important folks pageant on this planet, by October 6. Last 12 months, 7.2 million friends got here to the pageant, which was prolonged to 18 days – in response to the depend by town of Munich, the organizer, that is the best quantity since statistics started in 1980.

Increased safety measures

The Oktoberfest began below tightened safety measures. As a consequence of the presumably Islamist-motivated assaults in Solingen and Munich, controls on the entrances might be intensified for the pageant days, together with the usage of hand-held metallic detectors for the primary time. Around 600 law enforcement officials might be on obligation over the 16 days of the pageant. There may also be 1000’s of stewards. 1,200 to 1,500 are deployed by town alone.

Checks on the entrances and a excessive police presence have lengthy been a part of the subtle safety idea, as has a ban on giant luggage, knives and glass bottles. There are additionally bans on drones flying over the location. Video cameras assist to observe the location.

Beer costlier, ingesting water free

Beer is as soon as once more turning into costlier. A liter of beer prices between 13.60 and 15.30 euros. Table water prices a mean of over ten euros per liter. Since final 12 months, ingesting water has been accessible freed from cost at fountains on the pageant grounds. The conventional Oide Wiesn takes place within the southern a part of the Theresienwiese with brass music, folks dancing and historic rides.

Tragic accident

The development of the pageant was overshadowed by a deadly accident at work. A 20-year-old employee was hit by a practice throughout a take a look at experience on the well-known Olympia Looping curler coaster and died in hospital. The coaster was alleged to open on Saturday after the TÜV approval.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:240921-930-239066/2