Adventures for Anyone: Wiesn. What's that? Oktoberfest! Thanks Jen!

The Munich Oktoberfest is one of the biggest festivals in the world. I bring it up today, because not only did my friend Jen put it directly on the bucket list, but it starts for the year in three days! Post pandemic, no restrictions...Oktoberfest is back! In reality, there are Oktoberfests all over the world. America loves them and almost every city has one. Everyone loves to get together, listen to polka music, eat schnitzel, wear Liederhosen and of course, drink beer. That's the point, right?

Well, as usual, and particularly in old world Europe, Oktoberfest has an amazing history.

On October 12th, 1810 there was a wedding between King Ludwig I and Princess Teresa of Sassonia-Hildburghausen. They wanted to share their happiness and invited everyone in Munich to the party. The fields around the city have been called Theresienwiese or Teresa's Meadows, ever since. That was eventually shortened to Wies'n. The crowning glory of events at that celebration was a horse race, and that was the event that they decided to repeat every year. So, Oktoberfest was born.

Now, don't forget, that beer as we know it; I mean the basic formula, was set down by the Bavarians. Beer is their history.

A lot has changed over the years. The horse race ended in the 1960's. Rides were added pretty early on and have grown into a world class midway. In 1885 electricity came along for the first time allowing the festivities to go on into the night. Some of the largest tents in the world, 17 of them at last count, house the festival of beer. Millions of people attend the festival. There are 15 million people living in Munich to start with. Then add tourists. The numbers can become staggering.

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the festivities were cancelled and restricted and are just finally returning to normal. It takes more than that to stop one of the most famous festivals in the world.

So, why is it that this is the 187th Oktoberfest if it's been going on since 1810? Shouldn't that be the 212th? Well, life gets in the way once in a while. There's been wars with Prussia, WWI and WWII, and more recently a pandemic. Once in a while the festival has been cancelled, occasionally for years; but it never ceases to exist.

Munich is that wonderful combination of productivity and have a good time. Munich is a big industry town with BMW leading the pack on that note with beer close behind. But somewhere between going to work to make cars and beer, and celebrating fall comes that time when you see average citizens wandering around town in their Liederhosen. Bringing history to life and celebrating the harvest. It's a beautiful thing.

Once the festival got into full swing, they did move the dates up to September because the weather is just better. The festival has been called the Harvest Festival and the Autumn Festival at times over the years, but in the modern era Oktoberfest stuck and stuck hard.

I must say, if you don't drink beer, don't eat sausage or pretzels; you might not enjoy the tents at this festival. If that's the case, there's so much more to the festival. There's rides, other food, dancing, and events of all kinds. If you don't like the festivities in the tents, just go to another part. Drinking isn't all that goes on at Oktoberfest.

That being said, there's also more to do in Munich!

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, which encompasses the black forest and the foothills of the Alps. It's beautiful. It's the land of fairy tales and Neuschwanstein Castle isn't far from Munich. One of the most famous castles in the world and beautiful beyond comparison. It's a must see if you're as close as Munich.

Munich is old. It's one of those European cities that has an old town and a new town that's not much newer than the old town. They've been through Holy Roman Emperors and the Reformation. They survived WWI and WWII. Bavaria, and Munich as its capital remained part of West Germany during the Communist years with Soviets all around them.

Munich has eons of various architecture both of buildings and churches. There are several tours you can take both self guided and guided to see the buildings of this marvelous city. But, don't limit yourself. Munich continues to build cutting edge architecture, so you may want to look into a modern tour as well. As you get out of the old center of the city, amazing structures from far more recent times emerge.

There's so much to see and do in Munich. There are a plethora of museums, including a Holocaust Museum. They have a cutting edge football stadium, so sports are a plenty. There's manufacturing. There's many different kinds of shopping from A list expensive areas to outdoor markets. Their Christmas Market is one of the more famous ones in Europe. They have one of the largest inner city parks in the world, rivaling Central Park in New York. The park is full of activities, sights, hiking, gardens and more. There are amazing things to see all around town.

Note to anyone who loves something a little different. Switzerland several years back started something called river surfing. If you're wondering what that is, it's exactly what it sounds like. You get a surfboard and surf on a raging river. Munich is another one of those cities that partakes in this sport. It happens right in the middle of town on the Eisbach River.

Eating is something you'll want to spend some time with during a visit to Munich. Yes, they have sausage, pretzels and beer. However, Munich is quite the foodie destination. They have restaurants offering a myriad of different food stylings and there are restaurants ranging from ancient to modern, from on the ground to high in the air. The delights abound and should not be ignored. Remember, one of the best things about travel is the trying of new foods.

Getting around the city can always be tricky, or it can be easy. With 15 million people running around, public transportation is the way to go. There are trams, buses, subways or Ubahn, and rentals like bikes and Uber. There are even pedicabs to help you get around the city. Check into the local transportation cards before you go. It can make your visit far more delightful.

Munich is a place where you can enjoy the theater, go shopping on your own terms, surf on a river, experience art, culture and history dating back over a thousand years, enjoy beauty and food, and attend one of the largest festivals in the world.

Just remember, one of the best things about visiting a historic venue is learning some of that history before you go. It enriches your experience and gives you a truly meaningful encounter. After all, you wouldn't want to go all the way to the most beautiful part of Germany and come home with nothing but a hangover, would you?

Take the time to experience Munich and all it has to offer. But get with it, Oktoberfest 2022 starts in just three days. Enjoy!

https://www.visitacity.com/en/munich/activities/all-activities?activitiesSearchByName=Oktoberfest&campaginid=418300277&adgroupid=1280931430284851&targetid=kwd-80058432921013:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Munich%20ActivitiesM21X%20G-US-In-EUR&utm_term=oktoberfest%20tour%20munich&utm_content=Oktoberfest

https://www.booking.com/landmark/de/oktoberfest.en.html?msclkid=b5b05408ae4317373ec737281a8edbe5&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=8XSGq0VWfqzac1PZdf4VcA&aid=2119645&label=msn-8XSGq0VWfqzac1PZdf4VcA-80676780889164%3Atikwd-80676900788534%3Aloc-190%3Aneo%3Amtb%3Alp44736%3Adec%3Aqsmunich+germany+and+the+history+of+oktoberfest&utm_campaign=Germany&utm_source=bing

https://www.oktoberfest.net/history-oktoberfest/

https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/magazine/tradition/the-history-of-oktoberfest

https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/events/oktoberfest/history.html

https://www.kensingtontours.com/travels/tours/germany?c3api=bing,1307319562581963,81707615776024&iv_=__iv_m_e_c_81707563531401_k_81707615776024_w_kwd-81707615776024:loc-4086_g_1307319562581963_n_o_e__h_44736_ii_116766_p_2_b_be_d_c_vi__&mkwid=o5DGdWmd-dc%7Cpcrid%7C81707563531401%7Cpkw%7Coktoberfest%20munich%20germany%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1307319562581963%7Cptaid%7Ckwd-81707615776024:loc-4086%7C&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BING-Germany-Jul%202020&utm_term=oktoberfest%20munich%20germany&utm_content=o5DGdWmd-dc%7Cpcrid%7C81707563531401%7Cpkw%7Coktoberfest%20munich%20germany%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1307319562581963%7Cptaid%7Ckwd-81707615776024:loc-4086%7C&pgrid=1307319562581963&ptaid=kwd-81707615776024:loc-4086&msclkid=8290c4c8c96f1e511733a7e87faa5993

https://www.viator.com/tours/Munich/Private-Oktoberfest-and-Sightseeing-Tour-in-Comfort-Van-plus-1-Transfer-At-Night/d487-173111P7?m=33953&supag=1233652208695784&supsc=dat-2328903066664826:loc-190&supai=77103347463768&supdv=c&supnt=nt:o&suplp=44736&supli=116766&supti=dat-2328903066664826:loc-190&tsem=true&supci=dat-2328903066664826:loc-190&supkw=munich%20germany%20and%20oktoberfest&msclkid=e5e2db108ba61edf6d5fb8303d636743

https://www.oktoberfest.de/en

https://www.oktoberfesttours.travel/oktoberfest-munich/

https://www.introducingmunich.com/oktoberfest

https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/3-days-in-munich-during-oktoberfest-things-to-do/