Yesterday was the last day of Oktoberfest 2018. This time last year, I had gone to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Füssen, and, separately, Hawaii – all within the span of a month.
It was a bit wild.
Every bit of those two trips replays clear as day in my mind even now, but one of the most memorable legs was Munich during Oktoberfest.
Munich greeted us with open arms. We arrived on game day, and made our way to Allianz Arena on a very rowdy tram. Bayern Munich (our team!) played and won a soccer match, and we got to watch live in the stadium. It was packed with red jerseys drinking pints of beer, cheering and waving flags. The last sports game I’d been to was a soccer game between much smaller teams in Pasadena, so this was a bit overwhelming.
The next day, we met up with our good friends who live in Germany, who had traveled to our hotel to greet us with Bananeweizen (a delightful mixture of banana juice and Hefeweizen, meant as a breakfast drink). It’s not easy to find banana juice in the US. Believe me, we searched for almost a year before we finally found it hiding on a shelf in our local Sprouts.
Later on, we donned our dirndls (okay, Sohrab didn’t) and wandered over to the Wiesn. The Theresienwiese, named after the bride of King Ludwig, whose marriage Oktoberfest is celebrating, is the home of the largest Volksfest in the world. It’s the perfect spot for it, a huge meadow in the middle of Munich, overrun with carnival games, treats, and of course, beer tents.
I went into my first Oktoberfest with a few expectations but no understanding of what I was actually getting myself into. Bags were allowed, but checked, as we stepped onto the Wiesn. The carnival was unlike anything I could have ever anticipated. This fest, that I thought would be mostly beer, beer, and more beer, was actually a family-friendly carnival, complete with rides, games, treats, and music. The beer tents surrounded the carnival, ever-present and inviting, but unnecessary for a good time.
But of course, we ventured into a tent and fought for some benches amongst the throngs of partiers. It took a while – these tents are huge, and filled to the brim with people drinking Bier and dancing.
Between the live music and thousands of people singing and shouting along, the beer tents at Oktoberfest are rowdy, loud, and so much fun. Tables rocking, people standing on benches and sharing a “Prost!” with friends. Oktoberfest the perfect place to get in the celebratory spirit, and I still haven’t found another place quite like it.
YOUR TURN: Have you ever been to Oktoberfest?
Psst! Did you know this is my very first Blogtober? I’m posting a new piece every day this October. Check out the rest here!