MUNICH. The Bavarian capital came alive as beer flowed freely, and millions of visitors descended upon Munich to celebrate the official opening of Oktoberfest.
At noon on Saturday, Mayor Dieter Reiter marked the commencement of the 18-day festivities by traditionally declaring, “O’zapft is” — which translates to “It’s tapped” — as he inserted the tap into the first keg.
Revelers clad in traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses gathered at Munich’s festival grounds on Saturday morning. They eagerly filled the numerous traditional tents, eagerly anticipating their first 1-liter (2-pint) mug of beer.
Just moments before tapping the first keg, to the joyous cheers of the crowd, Bavarian Governor Markus Soeder asked the festivalgoers if they were prepared for the start of Oktoberfest.
“I can only say one thing: This is the most beautiful, biggest, most important festival in the world,” he remarked.
Traditionally, Oktoberfest has drawn approximately 6 million visitors each year. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the challenges posed by COVID-19 but made a triumphant return in 2022.
This year, the cost of a 1-liter mug ranges from 12.60 euros to 14.90 euros ($13.45 to $15.90), representing an increase of about 6% compared to last year.
The 188th edition of Oktoberfest runs until October 3rd, offering attendees a vibrant and lively celebration of Bavarian culture and, of course, its famed beers.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
