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Oktoberfest opens as Munich mayor taps first beer keg
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- The 191st Munich Oktoberfest officially opened at noon with new mayor Dominik Krause successfully tapping the first beer barrel in two strikes, a ceremony eagerly awaited as no beer is served before it.
- Krause, a Green Party politician, handed the first liter of beer to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder, marking the first time Söder received the ceremonial drink from a Green mayor.
- Crowds arrived early, with some camping overnight to secure prime seating at the beer tents; organizers managed crowd flow to prevent congestion during entry.
- More than 6 million visitors are expected over the 16-day festival, which features traditional Bavarian food, live music, and fairground rides, with opening day enjoying favorable weather.
- The price of a 1-liter beer has risen to an average of €15.61 this year, a 2.38% increase from last year, and has nearly quintupled since 1985 when adjusted for currency conversion.
