Oktoberfest is one of the most popular festivals in the world. It's been held in Munich, Germany, since 1810, and every year, it attracts millions of people.
The festival is held for two weeks, from mid-September to early October. During that time, millions of liters of beer are consumed.
However, the festival was canceled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. But now, it's been announced that Oktoberfest will be back this year. If you hurry, you can still buy a ticket to Munich or book accommodation with discounts, which are posted on sites with promotional codes, for example, .
The cancelation of Oktoberfest isn't possible this year
In a recent interview, Dieter Reiter, the mayor of Munich, said that the current situation might not be ideal but won't affect the festival.
"The canceling of Oktoberfest is not an option for us. We have already taken too many hits," he said.
Reiter also added that they are currently working on a security concept that will be presented to the city council in the coming weeks.
While Mayor Reiter is aware that some people don't want to risk catching the coronavirus by attending the festival, he is confident there will be enough willing to take the risk.
He's sure many people have been waiting for this moment for two years. And there will be some people who still don't feel comfortable enough to come. However, Mr. Reiter feels confident that there will be enough people attending the festival.
What's going to be different at Oktoberfest 2022
Of course, with the ongoing pandemic, there will be some changes at the festival. However, with the festival just starting soon, the city council has released some details about what visitors can expect.
First of all, the opening hours have changed. The festival will now open at 9 AM on weekdays. That gives the visitors an extra hour to enjoy the festival.
Secondly, the tents will now be open for 30 minutes longer, until 10:30 PM.
All of that means that there will be more time for people to enjoy the festival. And, of course, drink beer.
Currently, the festival has 8,000 permanent employees and over 5,000 changing ones. As a result, the beer will be priced slightly higher than in previous years, but that's expected given the current global situation.
Beer will be priced between €12.60 and €13.80. In previous years, beer was priced from €10.70 to €11.50.
What can you expect at Oktoberfest 2022
The city of Munich is expecting more than six million visitors during the festival. Of course, with the ongoing pandemic, not all visitors will be from Germany. In fact, the city expects many visitors from neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland.
The city is also expecting many young people to attend the festival. Two events that are expected to have a lot of young people are the "Wiesn Opening" on September 17 and the "Trachten und Schützenumzug" on October 3.
If you're planning on attending Oktoberfest in 2022, you should start planning now. The sooner you start, the better. That way, you can be sure to get a spot at the festival. To get the tickets now, go to Promocodius, use the promo code Seatgeek, and get a discount on your tickets.
How the future of Oktoberfest looks
With the coronavirus, the energy crisis, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the future of Oktoberfest might look bleak to some. However, the city of Munich is confident that the festival will continue for many years to come.
"Oktoberfest is a part of Munich's identity," said Reiter. "It's a tradition dear to us, and we will do everything in our power to ensure it continues."
While Mayor Reiter said he couldn't imagine someone from Ukraine caring about Oktoberfest, he's confident that the festival will continue for many years due to its importance to the city and the country.
It's a huge part of the economy and one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions. So, it's safe to say that Oktoberfest will be around for a long time.
