Oktoberfest: A Traditional Bavarian Festival

Oktoberfest, a traditional Bavarian festival, is the world's largest Volksfest. It features a beer festival and carnival, which are held every year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. 🇩🇪The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 and is celebrated annually from mid-September through the beginning of October.

Around the world, many celebrations are modeled after Munich's original Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an important part of German culture. During the event, large quantities of Oktoberfest beer are consumed—around 2,000,000 US gallons throughout the entire event. Visitors can also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, side stalls, and games. There is also a wide variety of traditional Bavarian foods available.

Oktoberfest food? It's the Wurst! It's also the pretzel, Obazda (cheese spread), pork, and potato pancakes. It's hearty and heavy, the kind of food that makes you want to grow a beard, chop wood, and lift beer kegs over your head with gusto. It's certainly not the easiest place for vegetarians to find food!

Some of the most common food items consumed at Oktoberfest are:

• Pretzels: A festival staple.

• Sausages: My favorite is the Munich Weißwurst, served with sweet mustard, a pretzel, and a Hefeweizen. Unfortunately, it's only served for breakfast until 11:30 AM.

• Broiled Half Chickens (Hendl): Thousands of chickens spin quietly on rotisserie grills until they’re perfectly golden brown and crispy, ready to jump onto your plate. Crispy half-ducks are also very popular.

• Suckling Pigs (Spanferkel): Served in many juicy ways—pickled, roasted, with sauce, without sauce, or maybe just the belly!

• Oxen (Ochsen): Ochsenbraten, or roast ox, is a mouthwatering specialty cooked to perfection and accompanied by various sauces and sides.

• Rettich (Radish): Very popular in the beer tents because it's served raw with salt and a pretzel. Eating it makes you thirsty again and ready for another Oktoberfest beer.

• Bratwurst with Sauerkraut: German sausage with pickled cabbage is loved by many, except perhaps vegetarians. You can eat bratwurst on a bun with mustard, ketchup, and some sauerkraut or on a plate with potato salad. It’s not healthy, but it's hearty and traditional—especially at Oktoberfest.

• Spätzle: The German mac and cheese. Here's another one for vegetarians: simply German pasta with cheese. Very tasty and delicious! After a portion of this goodness, you'll be ready for another Oktoberfest beer.

  
  

We hope you have an incredible Oktoberfest!