Oktoberfest 2010

Today I received some photos of the Oktoberfest from my friend Moyra who has lived in Munich for many years. She took them today (yes I know they say 3rd October, but that's what she said), though as far as I know she doesn't drink beer. Can't exactly guarantee that mind you, since I haven't seen her since 1972!

I have already complained to her that she hasn't included enough young women in dirndls, but you can't have everything I suppose. Nonetheless I was struck by the first photo. It isn't often you see an Oktoberfest tent this quiet. This contrasts with yesterday when the area was closed to visitors with beer tents and beer gardens in the area having to be closed for several hours due to overcrowding. The historic Wiesn area was packed within 45 minutes of opening and the entrance was closed by noon. On Saturday though the 800,000 crowd got ugly according to police with the "folksy" mood being lost and incidents with beer mugs rising as the jam-packed atmosphere (and copious drinking) frayed tempers. Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the number of assaults with the festival’s famous one-litre glass beer mug rose from 38 last year to 60 this. Somehow, the thought that I might be brained by a maßkrug at Oktoberfest hadn't occurred to me. I'll bear it in mind now.

It all ends tonight in perfect weather and hopefully perfect tempers!

Additional material from The Local

Outrage Over Oktoberfest Prices

Thinking of making that long promised trip to the Oktoberfest? Well consider this. Visitors to Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest will have to dig even deeper in their pockets this year, with prices set to climb up to €8.60 (£7.36) for a one-litre Maß. That's a hefty £4.80 a pint. If you fancy some water that'll sting you too, at €6.63 per litre. Don't even think of having a wheat beer unless your wallet is particularly stretchy. A litre of wheat beer will cost up to €13.60 this year.

That's not the worst of it. Oktoberfest is notorious for its short measure and the head of a group against stingy beer portions at Oktoberfest, Jan-Ulrich Bittlinger, said the rising cost of was an outrage. “It's pure greed and it damages the character of Oktoberfest as being for everybody,” he said. “The festival hosts are the robber barons of the modern age.”

Oktoberfest starts September 19 and runs until October 4.

I am grateful to The Local for the story and the photo.