On September 18, Munich's mayor Christian Ude will tap the first keg at
this year's Oktoberfest, and the festivities will continue until October
3, according to the event's website.
Though the jovial
celebration is an ancient tradition, it offers new sights, sounds,
tastes and experiences for those who have never witnessed the event.
This
year marks the 200th anniversary of the Munich-based Oktoberfest, and
it's likely that the anniversary will inspire even more visitors to
venture to the Deutschland for a taste of the experience.
Along
with a wide variety of craft beers, guests are likely to sample hearty
dishes such as schweinebraten (roast pork), haxn (pork Knuckle),
reiberdatschi (potato pancakes) and weisswurst (a white sausage).
Travel
expert Yvonne Salisbury recently offered those who are venturing to the
jubilee a few tips, on the website GuideGecko.com. She suggests settling on one tent for the evening, rather than hopping
from one crowded pavilion to another, and arriving at your choice of
venue at 4 p.m., because the doors are often shut at 6 p.m., according
to the travel website.
Those who have family or friends living in Munich, but aren't able to make this year's festivities, could use a prepaid
calling card to call Germany and get a first-hand account of the 200-year-old celebration.