Crazy videos show how the Oktoberfest is stormed

The Munich Oktoberfest has opened. Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) successfully tapped the first barrel of beer with two taps on Saturday at exactly 12:00 noon. Around six million visitors are expected by October 6. Before that, the Oktoberfest hosts had set off for the festival grounds in sunny weather.

Crazy videos show how the Oktoberfest is stormed

They rode in carriages through Munich’s city center to the Theresienwiese, accompanied by brass bands and brewery teams. Thousands lined the streets. At exactly 9:00 a.m., the stewards opened the entrances to the Oktoberfest grounds – and the Wiesn fans stormed off toward the beer tents.

Videos show how the Oktoberfest is stormed by visitors:

Defining vicarious embarrassment#Oktoberfest #wiesn pic.twitter.com/zMzGz5K4p5

—Julian Grendel (@JulianGrendel) 21 September 2024

Germans on the #Oktoberfest Are like when cash register 2 opens at Aldi pic.twitter.com/WnyA3rqvwM

— 0⚡7 (@0_7_user) 21 September 2024

Increased security measures

Last year, 7.2 million guests came to the festival, which was extended to 18 days – according to the count by the city of Munich, the organizer, this was the highest number since statistics began in 1980. The Oktoberfest began with increased security measures – as a consequence of the suspected Islamist-motivated attacks in Solingen and Munich. Around 600 police officers are expected to be on duty over the 16 days of the festival. There are also thousands of stewards. 1,200 to 1,500 are deployed by the city alone.

Checks at the entrances and a high police presence have long been part of the sophisticated security concept, as has a ban on large bags, knives and glass bottles. There are also bans on flying drones over the site. Video cameras help to monitor the site.

Round 530 emergency personnel

Around 530 emergency personnel, including 55 doctors, will look after the health of the visitors over the 16 days of the festival. At the Wiesn 2023, the Aicher helpers treated 8,157 patients in the outpatient clinic of the same name. Around a third of them ended up in the ward due to intoxication – too much alcohol.

The beer required for this will be more expensive. The unit of measurement costs between 13.60 and 15.30 euros. Table water costs an average of over ten euros per liter. Since last year, there has been free drinking water at fountains on the festival grounds. In the southern part of the Theresienwiese, the traditional Oide Wiesn takes place with brass music, folk dancing and historical rides.

The construction of the festival was overshadowed by a fatal industrial accident. A 20-year-old worker was hit by a train during a test ride on the famous Olympia Looping roller coaster and died in hospital. The coaster was due to open on Saturday after the TÜV approval.