Oktoberfestin’

Oktoberfest.

A weekend of beer, dirndls, lederhosens, pretzels, chicken, and bratwursts.

Need I say more?

To be totally honest, I wasn’t expecting to like Oktoberfest.

But I loved it!

I’m already planning a weekend trip for next year!!

I did go to Munich alone, but I stayed in a campsite (that deserves a story of its own…) and met some people to go with to the festival.

It wouldn’t be the most fun to go totally alone, though.

I got there the Thursday before the last weekend and spent that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the festival.

Namely, the Hofbräu beer tent, which is the biggest and craziest of the beer tents, holding around 7000.

It’s such a happy and relaxed festival. I feel like if the same thing went on in America, too many fights would break out.

Granted, some people did get kicked out.

Actually, this one guy was talking with us, police came through, he upset them by not moving out of the way fast enough, and he was thrown out.

Just like that.

They had zero tolerance for any resistance.

In addition to everyone being in a great, buzzed mood, the folk bands kept the mood up with the toast song every 10-15 minutes and other happy songs thrown in there.

The main songs to know before you go:

• Ein Prosit – the most popular song by far. The lyrics aren’t too difficult to pick up, as you will hear it a good 50+ times during your time at Oktoberfest
• Bevo – this is easily the second most popular song. It’s a popular Italian drinking song, not to music, that goes “Bevo, Bevo, Bevo, Bevo, Bevo. Mi ubriaco e son felice, anche se poi vomito” which means “Drink, drink, drink, drink, drink. I’m drunk and happy even if I’m vomiting.” Those classy, classy Italians.
• Hey! Baby! – the next most popular song, also doesn’t require music. They only go so far to sing “Heeeeeeeyyyyyyy! Heyyy baby! [Insert some strange grunt sounds here]. I want to knooowww, if you’ll be my girl.” and repeat. This and Bevo are the most common songs in the morning before the band starts at 12 or so.
• Fliegerlied – I heard this song before, so I somewhat knew what was going on. It was about animals, so you’re doing a lot of jumping, “swimming” like a fish, and reaching up to the ceiling like a giraffe. Just be prepared to do a lot of oooooohhhh’s, lalalala‘s, and schwimm‘s
• Country Roads (aka The West Virginia Song) – I had never heard this American song before, but it was playing at few times a day
• Sweet Caroline – Just be prepared for every. single. person. in the tents to sing “Sweet Caroline. Bum bum buuuum!” and then basically nobody singing the rest of the song
• Zicke Zacke, Zicke Zacke. Hoi!! Hoi!! Hoi!! – essentially that. I don’t know if it comes with a song even!
• Wahnsinn – This was one of my favorites. Full of energy, people on benches, throwing their hands up into the air.

 

Schedule to thrive at Oktoberfest (on a weekend, at least):

• 7:30 (or before) – join in with all the others in line. Be prepared to get close with them for the next hour and a half.
• 8:55 – get prepared to have anyone and everyone around you invade your personal space very shortly.
• 9:00 – start moving like a herd of cattle (except worse) as the guards start letting in a few people at a time. I’m pretty sure that if you could get your feet off the ground, not only would you still be upright, but you’d be moving along with everyone else.
• 9:05 – Get squished beyond belief before you finally make it past the guards to go inside.
• 9:06 – Scramble for a table like crazy.
• 9:07 – Find a table to mark as your own. Relax. This was worth it, right?!
• 9:10 – Get your first round of beers if you are up to it already.
• 9:15 – Get yourself a pretzel from one of the many vendors circling around the tent. They don’t expect tips, but they are at least appreciative if they get them.
• 10:15 – They start serving the half chickens that are everywhere. They are fantastic, but filling, so split it with someone else! They are 11 euros, or 12 with a tip.
• 11:00 – Make your way to the bathroom. This is just as packed as the opening of the gates. Expect to wait 20 minutes, so go a bit before you are about to burst.
• 11:30 – Get yourself another stein or keep working on the one you got earlier.
• (Repeat desired amount of times)
• 5:00 – Realize that you’ve been drinking for a full working day. Are you up for yet another round, or do you need to head home??

Tips:

• Book in advance!! Sure, everyone tells you this. I don’t think you really need to do this a year in advance like some sites tell you to, but don’t do it a week in advance, either. Sure, the campsite I stayed at was a fun experience, but I was so, so, sooooo cold at night!!
• Get yourself a dirndl (girls) or lederhosen (guys). You will feel so much more connected to the culture and festival itself. And for the dirndl aprons, know which side to tie the knot (left for single, right for taken)
• Don’t pick a table on the outskirts in the boxes or the second level. You will be kicked out to either the inside to stand the rest of the day (myself and two others) or kicked out of the tent completely (what happened to the rest of our group) before noon.
• In the morning, when the band isn’t playing, a lot of people like to get up on the benches (some try to get on the table, but are quickly pulled down by security guards) and chug their stein of beer. DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT. You will get booed and chunks of pretzels will be thrown at you and you will look like an idiot.
• Tip one euro or more for everything you are served. Our wonderful beer-maid on Saturday refused to serve us until she received sufficient tips.
• Make your way through and to the center of the beer hall. People will be cheers-ing you right and left and you will definitely meet some interesting people