COVID-19 FORCES MUNICH TO TAPOUT OKTOBERFEST FOR 2ND YEAR IN A ROW

The coronavirus has forced Germany's Oktoberfest to keep the beer taps closed and the oompah bands at home for the second year in a row, Andrew McCathie reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur [dpa].

Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter said Monday they had agreed the autumn event should be canceled, disappointing the 6 million beer-drinking fans who head to the festival each year. "It's a decision I have to make now," said Reiter. "It makes no sense to wait."

Munich celebrated the first Oktoberfest in 1810 when it marked the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig - later King Ludwig I - with Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

Since then, Oktoberfest has been canceled about two dozen times during its 210-year history, including because of war with Napoleon, the two world wars of the 20th century and cholera outbreaks.

Last year, as is the case this year, the Oktoberfest was dropped because of another pandemic, the coronavirus.

That was also the first time the festival had been canceled in about 70 years.

The Oktoberfest is not just a Bavarian festival, but a global event, Soeder said recently.

As a result, its failure to take place again this year represents a major blow to businesses such as those directly involved in the festival as well as Munich's hotels, restaurants, taxis, and retail trade.

The annual celebration of beer drinking is estimated to have generated about 1.23 billion euros (1.5 billion dollars) for the local economy in 2019. The festival had been scheduled to take place from September 18 to October 3.

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