Oktoberfest around the world | All media content | DW | 18.09.2017

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Culture

Oktoberfest around the world

One of Bavaria's most famous traditions is also one of its most successful exports.

  • München Oktoberfest 2017 Auftakt Fass-Anstich (Reuters/M. Rehle)

    Munich, Germany

    Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter opened the 184th Oktoberfest in Munich today by tapping the first barrel of beer at 12:00 p.m. Germany time. The mayor shouted "O'zapft is!" the Bavarian phrase for "It's tapped!" once the beer started flowing. An estimated 5.6 million people attended last year's Oktoberfest.

  • Wanren Square of Golden Sands Beach at the 27th Qingdao International Beer Festival.

    Qingdao, China

    Every year, thousands of people attend the Qingdao International Beer Festival in Qingdao city in Shandong province in eastern China. Attendees get to taste over 200 different beers from more than 40 international brewers. This year's festivities began August 4 at the Wanren Square of Golden Sands Beach.

  • Justin Trudeau taps the keg at the Kitchner-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Canada.

    Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

    Kitchner and Waterloo in the Canadian province Ontario have jointly hosted an annual Oktoberfest since 1969. Visitors have the opportunity to attend one of more than 40 family and cultural events. Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened ceremonies by tapping the first keg.

  • People perform traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest dance in a street in Melbourne, Australia.

    Melbourne, Australia

    Melbourne held its first ever Oktoberfest street parade on September 16, 2017. Up to fifty participants dressed in traditional Bavarian lederhosen and dirndls celebrated in the streets of the city's South Wharf district. Among the performances: thigh-slapping, yodelling, and pork knuckle-eating.

  • People celebrate Oktoberfest in the Festhalle during the 44th Oktoberfest celebrations in Helen, Georgia, USA.

    Helen, USA

    Since 1970, residents of Helen in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia have organized an annual Oktoberfest for the local community. Modeled on a traditional Bavarian town, Helen attracts up to two million visitors a year from around the United States.

  • The Oktoberfest area of the German town of Blumenau in Brazil.

    Blumenau, Brazil

    If you go to this small town in southern Brazil, you may wonder whether you are still in South America. Founded by German immigrants in 1850, Blumenau has retained its distinctive Bavarian character throughout the years. Residents host one of the largest annual Oktoberfest celebrations in the entire continent.

  • Men play musical instruments at the Oktoberfest celebrations in El Cajon in California.

    El Cajon, USA

    In sunny El Cajon near San Diego, residents come together every October to enjoy bratwurst, potato salad, and German beer as part of their own Oktoberfest celebrations. This year, visitors will be able to listen to the German band, Guggenbach-Baum, perform a variety of traditional Bavarian festive music.

  • Oktoberfest Zinzinnati in Cincinnati Ohio Wiener Dog's Race 2013 (picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com)

    Cincinnati, USA

    Billed as the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the US, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was first held in 1976. Every year, the festival kicks off with the "Running of the Wieners," where some 100 dachhunds wearing a hot dog bun costume race against each other. Another quirky yearly event is the World's Largest Chicken Dance, based on the original song, "Der Ententanz."


  • München Oktoberfest 2017 Auftakt Fass-Anstich (Reuters/M. Rehle)

    Munich, Germany

    Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter opened the 184th Oktoberfest in Munich today by tapping the first barrel of beer at 12:00 p.m. Germany time. The mayor shouted "O'zapft is!" the Bavarian phrase for "It's tapped!" once the beer started flowing. An estimated 5.6 million people attended last year's Oktoberfest.

  • Wanren Square of Golden Sands Beach at the 27th Qingdao International Beer Festival.

    Qingdao, China

    Every year, thousands of people attend the Qingdao International Beer Festival in Qingdao city in Shandong province in eastern China. Attendees get to taste over 200 different beers from more than 40 international brewers. This year's festivities began August 4 at the Wanren Square of Golden Sands Beach.

  • Justin Trudeau taps the keg at the Kitchner-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Canada.

    Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

    Kitchner and Waterloo in the Canadian province Ontario have jointly hosted an annual Oktoberfest since 1969. Visitors have the opportunity to attend one of more than 40 family and cultural events. Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened ceremonies by tapping the first keg.

  • People perform traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest dance in a street in Melbourne, Australia.

    Melbourne, Australia

    Melbourne held its first ever Oktoberfest street parade on September 16, 2017. Up to fifty participants dressed in traditional Bavarian lederhosen and dirndls celebrated in the streets of the city's South Wharf district. Among the performances: thigh-slapping, yodelling, and pork knuckle-eating.

  • People celebrate Oktoberfest in the Festhalle during the 44th Oktoberfest celebrations in Helen, Georgia, USA.

    Helen, USA

    Since 1970, residents of Helen in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia have organized an annual Oktoberfest for the local community. Modeled on a traditional Bavarian town, Helen attracts up to two million visitors a year from around the United States.

  • The Oktoberfest area of the German town of Blumenau in Brazil.

    Blumenau, Brazil

    If you go to this small town in southern Brazil, you may wonder whether you are still in South America. Founded by German immigrants in 1850, Blumenau has retained its distinctive Bavarian character throughout the years. Residents host one of the largest annual Oktoberfest celebrations in the entire continent.

  • Men play musical instruments at the Oktoberfest celebrations in El Cajon in California.

    El Cajon, USA

    In sunny El Cajon near San Diego, residents come together every October to enjoy bratwurst, potato salad, and German beer as part of their own Oktoberfest celebrations. This year, visitors will be able to listen to the German band, Guggenbach-Baum, perform a variety of traditional Bavarian festive music.

  • Oktoberfest Zinzinnati in Cincinnati Ohio Wiener Dog's Race 2013 (picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com)

    Cincinnati, USA

    Billed as the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the US, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was first held in 1976. Every year, the festival kicks off with the "Running of the Wieners," where some 100 dachhunds wearing a hot dog bun costume race against each other. Another quirky yearly event is the World's Largest Chicken Dance, based on the original song, "Der Ententanz."


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