The Phoronix Guide To Oktoberfest 2011

There's just over 60 days remaining until the 2011 Oktoberfest gets underway in Munich, but here's the official Phoronix guide for any readers that are still contemplating a visit to this annual Bavarian festival where the yearly "PhoronixFest" meet-up takes place. Contrary to the popular American belief, the "real" Oktoberfest in Munich is much more than just being a festival about beer and is well worth visiting.

As an annual American patron of Oktoberfest, and one of the most dedicated that is there for every day of the festival (sans sometimes the first day due to the X.Org Developers Summit often landing the week prior) and one that has vowed to continue every year until death, here's a random collection of information that is valuable to know if planning to attend Oktoberfest. At the very least if not planning to attend, it's some random trivia regarding this incredible event. From reading any number of Phoronix articles or my Twitter feed, most readers are very well aware of my passion for Oktoberfest, but in reality it's more like everything about Bavaria, perhaps being a "born again Bavarian." Oktoberfest is the perfect holiday and magical utopia to relax and rejuvenate from an otherwise 60~80+ hour work week the rest of the year.

Oktoberfest in 2011 is taking place from the 17th of September to the 3rd of October (Oktoberfest usually starts around the third week of September and generally ends the first weekend of October). Like every year, it's in Munich, Bayern, Germany at the "wiesn", or more formally it's the Theresienwiese. If you're interested in the proper history of Oktoberfest, and how Oktoberfest began as an agricultural show and to honor the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese, see the Wikipedia page as this guide is more focused on enjoying Oktoberfest in the present time. The history of Oktoberfest is not to be discounted.

At least in modern American references, Oktoberfest is mostly about massive beer drinking. That's partially true. From 9:00~10:00AM until just before midnight, beer is being consumed by nearly all visitors at Oktoberfest. In 2010 there was well over seven million liters of beer served in less than three weeks.

The price in 2011 for a liter of beer (most tents will only serve a Maß, which is a one liter glass stein of beer) at Oktoberfest will be right around 9.00 EUR. I always recommend paying 10 EUR (or more) per liter to include the tip, convenience, and it being very valuable in the long-term to know the waiter/waitress. Unlike Bavarian "biergartens", at Oktoberfest there are waiters and waitresses to serve you rather than standing in a queue for food and drink.