Beer Flows, Crowds Jam As Munich Oktoberfest Starts

Beer is flowing, and millions of people are descending on the Bavarian capital to celebrate the official opening of Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest typically attracts about 6 million visitors every year.

With the traditional cry of "O'zapft is" — "It's tapped" — Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the tap into the first keg at noon on Saturday, officially commencing the 18-day festivities, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

Revelers, dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses, flocked to Munich's festival grounds on Saturday morning, filling dozens of traditional tents in anticipation of getting their first 1-liter (2-pint) mug of beer.

Minutes before the first keg was tapped, to the cheers of the crowd, Bavarian Governor Markus Soeder asked festivalgoers if they were ready for Oktoberfest to begin.

"I can only say one thing: This is the most beautiful, biggest, and most important festival in the world," he said.

Oktoberfest typically attracts about 6 million visitors every year. The event was skipped in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with COVID-19 but returned in 2022.

A 1-liter mug costs between 12.60 euros and 14.90 euros ($13.45 to $15.90) this year, marking an increase of approximately 6% from last year. This year's Oktoberfest, the 188th edition, runs through October 3.

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