Beer flows, crowds descend on Munich for begin of Oktoberfest

MUNICH (AP) — The beer is flowing and hundreds of thousands of individuals are descending on the Bavarian capital to have fun the official opening of Oktoberfest.

With the standard cry of “O’zapft is” — “It’s tapped” — Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the faucet within the first keg at midday on Saturday, formally opening the 18-day festivities.

Revelers decked out in conventional lederhosen and dirndl clothes trooped to Munich’s pageant grounds Saturday morning, filling the handfuls of conventional tents in anticipation of getting their first 1-liter (2-pint) mug of beer.

Minutes earlier than the primary keg was tapped, to cheers from the gang, Bavarian Gov. Markus Soeder requested festivalgoers in the event that they have been prepared for Oktoberfest to start.

“I can solely say one factor: That is probably the most lovely, greatest, most vital pageant on the planet,” he stated.

The Oktoberfest has usually drawn about 6 million guests yearly. The occasion was skipped in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with COVID-19, however returned in 2022.

A 1-liter mug prices between 12.60 euros and 14.90 euros ($13.45 to $15.90) this 12 months, a rise of round 6% from final 12 months.

This 12 months’s Oktoberfest, the 188th version, runs by means of Oct. 3.