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topicnews · September 21, 2024

Thousands of people storm the festival grounds – US tourists at the forefront

Thousands of people storm the festival grounds – US tourists at the forefront

  1. come on
  2. Germany & World

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From: Klaus-Maria More

The countdown has begun. The Wiesnsturm begins on Saturday, September 21st at 9 a.m. Everything you need to know about the tapping.

09.16 am: The first pictures of the Wiesn 2024:

09.00 am: The festival grounds of the 189th Oktoberfest are open. The storm begins.

The Oktoberfest is open. The storm on the tents has begun. Here is the first picture.
The Oktoberfest is open. The storm on the tents has begun. Here is the first picture. © Tanja Kipke

08.53 am: Seven minutes left until the gates open. An American family has been standing in line since 3 a.m. and has managed to get first place. It’s their first Oktoberfest. Crazy.

On the far left of the right picture is an American family - they have been here since 3 a.m. and are the first in line.
On the far left in the right picture is an American family – they have been here since 3 a.m. and are the first in line. © Tanja Kipke

Update, 07:55: The queues in front of the entrances are getting longer. There should be over 1000 people at all the entrances together.

Oktoberfest crowds at dawn: everyone is waiting for the storm.
Oktoberfest crowds at dawn: everyone is waiting for the storm. © Tanja Kipke

Munich, 07.04 am – In cool 9 degrees, hardcore Oktoberfest fans have been queuing in front of the security checkpoints since 5:30 a.m. The 189th Oktoberfest opens its gates at 9 a.m. Then everyone rushes to the tents to get the best seats. Long-serving Munich residents and tourists from all over Germany are queuing up.

Funny side note: There is no beer in the tents for now. The beer mugs will only be filled at around 12 o’clock, when Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter taps the beer. Until then, there will be non-alcoholic drinks.

Oktoberfest 2024 in Munich – opening times

Am Start date Open the tents at 9 a.m., non-alcoholic drinks (except beer) will be available from 10 a.m., and beer will be served at 12 noon with the tapping of the first keg.

Monday to Friday Open the tents at 10am and close at 11.30pm.

Saturdays, Sundays and public holiday, 3.10., The bar starts serving at 9 a.m. and the curfew is at 11.30 p.m.

In the large festival halls The last beer and the last music are at 10.30pm.

In the small tents At chicken roasters, snack bars and café tents, serving drinks and music ends at 11 p.m.

Our reporters Tanja Kipke, Yasina Hipp and Nora Kraft are on site, covering the Wiesn storm and the first hours of this 189th Wiesn. Here you can read the most important news about the tapping live.

Dieter Reiter takes the lead: It is his ninth appearance

Speaking of tapping: Would you like a little tent small talk help? In 2019, Reiter needed two hits. Then, for the first time since the Second World War, the Oktoberfest had to take a two-year break (!) due to the corona pandemic. At the new edition in 2022, Reiter needed three hits, and in 2023 it was only two again. But basically the man is an experienced tapper. Reiter has been in office since 2014. Today is his ninth appearance in this role.

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