What Is Oktoberfest?

A Wedding Anniversary

Many people may not realize that Oktoberfest's origin is a 19th century wedding between a Bavarian king and queen. That's right—the entire festival is just one huge, recurring wedding celebration. The original one took place in October, hence the event's name. It's since been moved up to begin in September, allowing participants to take advantage of warmer weather.

The 17-18 day party marks the wedding date of King Ludwig I and his wife, Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, in 1810. It's known as the world's largest Volksfest, or beer carnival, but it's essentially just a wedding anniversary party that's occurred annually—for 205 years. This year it will take place from September 19 to October 4.

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An Excuse to Drink Tons of Beer

Literally, tons. Over 1.5 million gallons of beer are consumed every year at Munich's Oktoberfest. The beer is sold by the liter, and each one costs about 11 dollars. That means Oktoberfest revelers spend over 67 million dollars in total each year just on beer alone, not counting food or souvenirs.

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A Carnival

After 205 years of Oktoberfest, crowds still turn out in such enormous numbers that many of the beer tents hosting music and drinking close before 11 am. The festival offers much more, however, including a Bavarian costume parade, carnival rides, and souvenir shops. The event has something for everyone.

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Food Heaven

Authentic German food is as important to Oktoberfest-goers as the beer. Vendors will sell soft pretzels, sausage and bratwurst, fish, chicken, ox, pickled ham, and desserts. Food can only be ordered inside beer tents if you have a seat at a table, so be sure to get inside early if you want an authentic Oktoberfest experience.

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Free

Believe it or not, you can attend Oktoberfest free of charge—aside from all the beer and food you'll buy, of course. Tickets are not required, and most beer tents are open to the public. However, it's best to reserve a seat far in advance—typically reservations fill up by February. To book a seat, contact a tent here.

This is important because you can't order beer or food in a tent without getting a seat. First-come-first-serve seats are typically full by 2:00 pm on weekdays and 11:00 am on weekends. There are additional seats available outside, where attendees can head the music from inside the tents and bring their own food. To get the most out of the festival you'll have to reserve a spot at least six months ahead of time. Otherwise, be sure to get there early.

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Family-Friendly

From rowdy study-abroad students and tourists to families and couples, you'll see all types of people at Oktoberfest. While tents don't allow anyone under 18 inside beyond about 8:00 pm, the carnival is a great spot for families during the morning and daytime. This is also when you're least likely to encounter huge crowds, so don't be afraid to pay the festival a visit if you're traveling with kids.

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More from Smarter Travel:

• Rick Steves: Having Fun with Travel Cliches
• 10 Great Fall Festivals
• The 4 Best Places for Oktoberfest Celebrations

Associate Editor Shannon McMahon loves beer and soft pretzels and is always on the lookout for helpful travel tips. Follow her adventures on Twitter @shanmcmahon_.