Every year, Munich puts together a fantastic party to celebrate the Harvest. Oktoberfest is a two-week beer party, with parades, bands, beer-tents, food booths and general raucous fun.

A Bavarian tradition, Oktoberfest is always held at the end of September to  early October. The festivities begin with The Landlord and Brewery Parade. This parade marks the official opening of Oktoberfest and showcases the landlords’ families in decorated carriages, the horse-drawn drays of the Munich breweries, waitresses on decorated floats and all the beer tent bands.

On the first Sunday in Oktoberfest, crowds welcome the Costume and Rifleman’s Parade. This procession offers insights into the customs of Bavaria, and other states of Germany and neighboring European countries. You’ll see regional costumes, “troops” in historical uniforms, marching bands, various floats and even parading animals.

On the second Sunday of the festival, a Big-Band open-air concert of all Oktoberfest bands with some 400 musicians takes place around the steps of the Bavaria statue.

In the numerous beer-tents, Munich’s largest and most traditional breweries cordially invite you to join the festivities. Drink beer by the litre, eat traditional Bavarian food, and listen to live brass bands playing traditional Bavarian as well as more up-to-date music.

Oktoberfest brings people from across the globe to celebrate fall in Munich. Prosit!