Oktoberfest Gets Bigger And More Expensive In 2018

The annual Oktoberfest in the German region of Bavaria should be on the bucket list of every man who wants to experience an amazing beer and meat-based vacation. September 22, 2018, saw the opening of the 185th edition of the annual Oktoberfest when Mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter tapped the first beer keg and declared, “O’zapft is”, which translates to “it’s tapped.”

Oktoberfest has recently become a larger event than ever before with beer enthusiasts and men wanting to have a good time making their way to Munich in greater numbers than ever before. Around 6 million visitors are expected to pass through Munich before the festival draws to a close on October 7th. The annual festival features long communal tables, but visitors are told to arrive as early as possible as the line for tables is long and can be difficult to navigate. In 2018, Oktoberfest looks set to be the most expensive to date with a liter of beer costing around $13.50 as the cost continues to rise year on year.

The history of Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 when the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese was opened up to the public of Bavaria to celebrate the arrival of the bride from Saxony-Hildburghausen. Over the course of the initial celebrations and the following years, Oktoberfest grew into one of the most beloved events in Germany.

The relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere of Oktoberfest has changed a little over the last few years with the threat of terrorism always being assessed by local police officers. Around 600 police officers are deployed to the site for the full 16 days of the annual event with bags no longer allowed on the site of the festival.

Despite the current security concerns, Oktoberfest will feature locals and visitors from around the world arriving at the site wearing the traditional Bavarian dress. Local Governor Markus Soeder described the event as Bavaria’s “best-known calling card to the world.”