Prost!: Oktoberfest celebrations will be in full swing this month
(Picture: Paul Clarke/www.paulclarke.com)Every year, millions of lager lovers around the world don their drindls and lederhosen to celebrate Oktoberfest.
The world’s largest beer festival kicks off in Munich on September 17 and continues until October 3, and over its two-week duration it’s going to get wonderfully messy.
Londoners keen to get a slice of the action won't be disappointed, with plenty of events planned in the capital over the extravaganza.
We've put together a handy guide for all the Herrs and Fraus looking to raise a glass in celebration of this fine German tradition.
What is Oktoberfest?
The festival has its origins in a horse race that took place in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
The public festivities on the Theresienwiese open ground, named after the bride, became more elaborate as time went on, with stalls and amusements and it gradually turned into a folk festival.
Now the festival in Munich attracts around six million visitors every year, with many travelling from abroad for the experience. This year will be the first since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and a few voices have raised concerns about the wisdom of holding a mass public event.
As ever, this year venues will be decorated to look like traditional Bavarian beer halls, with long communal tables, where visitors swig beer, eat sausages, pork knuckles and pretzles and listen to oompah bands. Prost!
Oktoberfest London
Londoners are rarely known to turn down a pint and festivities are set to last a little longer over here.
They take place over three weeks, from Thursday October 20 to Sunday October 2, then from Thursday October 27 to Sunday October 30 and from Thursday November 3 to Saturday November 5. The promoters, as of September 2, have not confirmed the venue to the public; however, they say it will be in the city centre.
The venue is expected to open at 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 11am on Saturdays and 12.30pm on Sundays, with an 11pm close except for Sunday, which will be 7.30pm.
What should I wear and where can I get the best outfit?
Traditional German dress is actively encouraged at all the London events – think lederhosen for men and drindls for women. Oh, and don't forget your Alpine hat.
Unless you live in Bavaria, the best best is to buy an authentic costume online, although many fancy dress shops sell them too. Be warned as these can be cheap and uncomfortable.
A lot of people do dress up for Oktoberfest, but don't feel like you have to – normal clothes will be just as welcome.
