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Oktoberfest is one of the longest-running festivals in the world and as such, holds lots of meaningful traditions. Here are some of them!

The parade of the Oktoberfest tent owners

You shouldn’t miss the parade of the hosts to their respective tents, which happens at 11 a.m. on the first day of the festival. It lasts about 1 hour and attracts more than a thousand onlookers. We suggest you go there early so you can find a prime spot to take pictures from!

The opening of the first barrel by the Mayor of Munich

The Oktoberfest celebration officially begins when the Mayor of Munich uncorks the first barrel of beer using a wooden mallet. When the first mug is poured, he says “O’zapft is!” (that’s “pour it!” in German) to mark the beginning of the festivities.

The procession on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest

The Trachten-und Schützenzug is a big parade that passes through Munich, heading to the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest festival is traditionally held. It starts at 10 a.m. and over 9,500 people from all over the world take part in it, accompanied by marching bands and brass orchestras. This parade has historical significance–it was held for the first time in 1835 to honor the 25th wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, and it has become an anticipated event, broadcasted on live TV, since 1950.

Watch (or participate in) Feldl’s Teufelsrad

The Teufelsrad’s concept is very simple: A large spinning disc, where people of a certain demographic can climb on and hold tight as the spinning becomes faster. It’s quite challenging, but a lot of fun!

Watch a free public concert

The second Sunday of the festival, meanwhile, sees a big concert of around 300 musicians at the foot of the Bavaria statue. It usually starts at 11 a.m. and is traditionally conducted by the mayor and the various celebrities present at Oktoberfest. Get there early to score a great view!

Oktoberfest is one of the most anticipated festivals in the world, so if you’re attending, make sure to take lots of pictures! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so don’t forget to charge your cameras and phones beforehand. Afterward, display your favorite Oktoberfest pictures on your own Nixplay Frame! Get up to 25% off on selected frames with our Oktoberfest promo, only until October 9!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

It wasn’t originally a beer festival.

You read that right: Oktoberfest wasn’t always all about beer. In fact, not a single drop was served during the very first Oktoberfest! Held in 1810, the event originally commemorated the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his wife, Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. In fact, the open space where Oktoberfest celebrations are held is called Theresienwiese, or Theresa’s fields.

You have to wait for the go signal to drink.

You can’t just enter a tent and request for a beer stein immediately. First, there’s an official gun salute, followed by the mayor announcing ‘O’zapft is!’, then the first mug of beer is offered to the Bavarian minister-president. When this ceremony is done, only then can the drinking commence.

The beer served here is special.

Each year, 7.5 million liters of beer are specially brewed within Munich for Oktoberfest by just six breweries: Augustiner-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Spatenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, and Paulaner-Bräu, and Staatliches Hofbräu-München. Oktoberfestbier, as the special brew is called, is usually darker and stronger than most beers, with up to six percent alcohol due to a higher hop content.

You should dress for the occasion.

If you really want to get into the Oktoberfest spirit, you should deck yourself out in traditional Bavarian garb. For girls, it’s a dirndl, and for guys, it’s lederhosen. But if that’s not your style, you can deck yourself out in Adidas’ Oktoberfest sneakers, which have a waterproof leather upper and a Bavarian flag-emblazoned insole.

There’s also a wine tent.

Not in the mood for beer? There’s a tent that serves 15 different types of wine, as well as champagne and sparkling wines. Oh, and there’s around 140 food stands and eateries too–perfect for filling up before drinking!

Get into the Oktoberfest spirit with Nixplay! We’re marking the occasion by giving you up to 25 percent off selected Nixplay Frames, only until October 9. Prost!