Oktoberfest: [noun]- a 16-18 day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October.

As my loyal readers may know, I was desperate to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany at the beginning of my England adventure.  Unfortunately I was unable to go.  However, lucky for me, this past weekend I went to Munich and got to experience as much of Oktoberfest as one can when the festival isn't actually happening.  My cousin who is from Munich and has been to his fare share of Oktoberfests was full of information on the event and I shall now share this information with you.

For a brewery to participate in Oktoberfest it is a rule that they have to have a restaurant during the rest of the year.  Apparently breweries might not even make money from having these restaurants but because of the revenue they make from Oktoberfest, it is worth having a restaurant that breaks even.  We went to Hofbrauhaus' restaurant for lunch on Saturday.  The beer and food were delish.

 That right there is pork with gravy and potato dumplings and dark beer.

There were girls walking around selling pretzels.  Pretzel girls are to beer halls as cart girls are to golf courses.  There was also a traditional Bavarian band or, as my aunt called them, an "umpa band."

Most traditional beer hall type things in Munich have members (knights of the proverbial round table, if you will) who can store there awesome stone mugs in little mug lockers.

These regulars of the restaurant also tend to wear what you would expect someone to wear at Oktoberfest: lederhosen and a Peter Pan type hat with a feather.  Some of the feathers get very elaborate, either super fluffy or long. 


After we ate at the Hofbrauhaus we went to the Beer Museum, which was obviously cool.  I learned all about that history of Oktoberfest, it started as a wedding party for royalty if you were wondering.

Quality manikin in that last photo.  Regardless of the scary manikins, it was an extremely informative museum. 

We also went to a store that sells traditional Bavarian get-ups, like lederhosen for the boys and dresses for the girls.  This is a store where one would buy their outfit for Oktoberfest. 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ON MY WEEKEND IN MUNICH!