Beer there, done that

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The Oktoberfest in Munich is the place to be for some frothy fun. If you haven’t booked your seat yet, now’s the time to do so.

This is one festival that attracts tourists in large numbers from all over the world. Beer flows literally and liberally, and millions of people visit Munich in Germany annually to be part of this unique celebration. We are talking about the Oktoberfest, which will start on September 20 this year and continue till October 5.

The two-week-long party sees people converging on the city from all parts of the globe to take part in the festivities. Although it might be a bit late for you to try to secure a reservation, it’s still worth taking a chance to make it to the festival. Even if you don’t have a reservation, a visit to Munich during the fest should be a great experience.

At the fest, 15 large tents are set up and if you have a prior booking then you get to sit at the allotted tables to enjoy the carnival. The tents have a seating capacity of 700 to 8,500 people. Winzerer Fähndl is the biggest tent at the festival and one of the most sought-after.

The tents come in three sizes — small, medium and big. No reservation means that you will have to wait outside and stand in queues for a long time. A beer will cost you anything between eight and 10 euros. Smokers, though, will be in for a disappointment, because a new Bavarian law banning smoking in all enclosed spaces open to the public will be in place at the Oktoberfest. This means a complete smoking ban inside the tents.

And it’s not about beer alone. There is delicious food and great wine as well as various fun-filled activities. During the 2007 fest, it is estimated, about 69,000 hectolitres of beer were consumed, along with 100,000 litres of wine and sparkling wine.

There are lots of ways to get to Munich. If you are planning a trip to Europe then the last week of September is the ideal time. Though festivals inspired by Munich’s Oktoberfest are now held in other countries around the world as well, it’s the Munich one which remains the one to attend.

If you do end up at the fest, just mind your Ps and Qs — or you may become one of the Bierleichen or “beer corpses”, German slang for people who get drunk on beer!