I fell in love with Germany when I first visited there over the Christmas holidays a few years ago. Its wonderful during Christmas, magical really. Its also wonderful during Oktoberfest. Therefore, we have for you below a live-web-cam of this years Oktoberfest 2010 in Munich. And just for fun, we have photos and videos of the celebrations there so you can enjoy the festivities even if you can’t be there in person.
Do you have your lederhosen and dirndl ready? Its Oktoberfest and all of Germany is celebrating whatever it is that Oktoberfest is all about. My experience with Germany is that there is always a festival and Oktoberfest is the biggest of all the festivals.
So regardless of the whys, its a festival that brings a lot of fun and even more beer drinking for the good people of Germany, in particular Bavaria.
The traditional German celebration re-started in 1950 after a break for World War II with the traditional festival opening of a twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. At 12:00 on the first day of Oktoberfest the Mayor of Munich opens the festivities with by announcing ‘O’zapft is’ which in English means ‘It’s tapped!’ in the Austro-Bavarian language. That ceremony opens the Oktoberfest and the celebrations begin. This year, Oktoberfest 2010 was opened by Munich Mayor Christian Ude declaring ‘O’zapft is’.
This year’s Oktoberfest is the 177th Oktoberfest – with some years missed because of war and natural disasters. The very first Oktoberfest was in 1810 as a celebration of the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festivities continued over five days and the Bavarians were invited to join in. The festivities are ongoing through October 4, 2010.
The first beer is given to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. The first mayor to tap the keg was Thomas Wimmer. This year it is the Munich Mayor Christian Ude.
My daughter-in-law’s parents have a reserved table in the main beer tent in Munich. Even though I have been to Germany a number of times, I still haven’t been there during Oktoberfest. I hope to get there during these festivities and be able to enjoy them with my shirt-tail relatives in their booth in Munich (Munchen). I might even buy myself a dirndl.
You can keep track of the festivities by watching the Oktoberfest 2010 live webcam below and join in the fun, even if you can’t be in Munich (Munchen) during Oktoberfest this year. You can watch everything that is going on. Also, enjoy the videos below of Oktoberfest past and present. More information and web-cam views can be seen here
Oktoberfest – Photos
Drunken Band Member – Oktoberfest 2008
“I Am From Bavaria” (Oktoberfest Song)
“Oktoberfest Girls”
September 28th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I have friends that go every year…but by the time they’re through complaining about flight delays, lost luggage, etc…I ask myself why bother putting yourself through that!
I’m content to simply watch on the web
September 29th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I would love to go to Germany for Christmas! I imagine it’s like a fairy tale. Which part of Germany do you recommend for that time of year? ‘Cause one day, I’m gonna do it.
September 29th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Ginnie K – I have been in Bavaria during Christmas (Bayern). In the area from Munich to Frankfurt to the Czech Republic. The Christmas markets are wonderful as are the old Christmas traditions. Gluehwein isn’t bad either
September 29th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
What ?
I read the article and got all psyched out thinking we’d see Beth doing the octobong.
My Danish relatives used to tell me stories of Germanies uniques public works infrastructure.
The beer actually runs under ground, from the breweries straight to the pubs. Twenty years ago I’d be drilling holes in the sidewalk tapping that sht like people here tap cable.
(prolly be dead too)
I hate these booze theme partys, I cant drink so I either get stuch with a schnitzel or a green midget
September 29th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
“Germanies”?
Well I guess there was two at that time
September 29th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Hahaha Micky – there were probably two of everything when you were drinking! Did you ever see the movie Tombstone – when a bad guy tells Doc Holliday that he’s too drunk to shot him cause he’s probably seeing double. Holliday responds ‘That’s okay, I’ve got a gun for both of you’. LOL
September 29th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Theres an exclusive businessmans/womans club in Irvine, The Pacific Club. Monthly we’d have tastings of everything from Pate` to select and obscure brews.
The gentleman who gave these weekly sessions (also gave me my first taste of Paulaner) confirmed the truthism to underground direct taps. Carlsberg in Denmark delivered most its beer to any pub whithin walking distance via underground lines.
But nyeah, minus my illiteracy there actually was two Germanies… before I was seeing double Reagans.
Other than my earlier quests for a deafaning buzz I still do so miss drinking just for the flavors and characters.
September 29th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
“flavors and characters.”
Yeah, there were some characters, but I meant to say “characteristics”