| The first Oktoberfest was held on Ocotber 12, 1810, | | | | and over 200,000 pork sausages, as well as large |
| in Munich to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig I | | | | quantities of traditional hearty fare such as sausage, |
| of Bavaria and Princess Maria Teresa of | | | | hendl (chicken) and sauerkraut, along with such |
| Saxony-Hildburghausen on what was to become | | | | Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails. |
| known as Theresienwieses - Theresa's fields. In | | | | Only six Munich breweries are allowed to serve beer |
| subsequent years, horse races were held on the | | | | at Oktoberfest - Löwenbräu, Spaten, Augustiner |
| fields to celebrate the anniversary of the royal | | | | (pictured right), Hofbräu, Paulaner and |
| wedding. This annual event became Oktoberfest | | | | Hacker-Pschorr. Each Bierzelte (beer "tents") hold |
| tradition. Oktoberfest is dedicated to the fall harvest | | | | some 3,000-10,000 people. There are currently 14 |
| and to beer, the region's most famous product. | | | | main tents at the Oktoberfest. A special Oktoberfest |
| People came from throughout Germany to enjoy the | | | | beer is brewed for the occasion which is slightly |
| celebration consisting of dancing, singing, and drinking | | | | darker and stronger, in both taste and alcohol. |
| beer. | | | | The festivities are accompanied by a program of |
| Oktoberfest Today | | | | events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest |
| Oktoberfest 2005 celebrates it's 172nd year. | | | | Landlords and Breweries, the Costume and Riflemen's |
| Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world, with | | | | Procession, and a concert involving all the brass bands |
| 6 million visitors from around the world attending the | | | | represented at the |
| Munich Oktoberfest each year. Each year, these | | | | "Wies'n". |
| attendees consume more than 5 million liters of beer | | | | |
