The Munich Oktoberfest is the largest public festival in the world. This year, the "Wiesn" - as it is known by the locals - will be celebrated by more than 6 million people, who will consume 5 million liters of beer, 500,000 roasted chickens, more than 800,000 wursts & sausages, and thousands of pounds of mandelin (almonds covered in melted sugar).
This nearly 200 year old event began not as a festival, but as a public celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later to become King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen of Saxonia. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend their marriage, which took place on October 12th, 1810 in a large meadow in front of the city gates. This meadow was later named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's fields" or "Wiesn") - in honor of the Crown Princess. The festivities included the re-enactment of a traditional Bavarian horse race, music, dancing, and plenty of food & beer. As yearly anniversary celebrations continued and grew in popularity, Ludwig decided to issue a royal decree making October festival time in Munich. Later, as immigrants from Germany came to North America, they continued their Oktoberfest celebrations and traditions, and today, the Oktoberfest is celebrated in more than 1,000 U.S. towns and communities.
| German-American Festival 2008
- Parma, Ohio www.fogas.org |
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June 28th - June 29th |
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| Alpine Oktoberfest - Honesdale,
Pennsylvania 31st Annual www.thealpineonline.com |
August 15th - August 17th | |
| German-American Festival
- Oregon, Ohio www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm |
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August 22nd - August 24th |
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| Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - Oregon 43rd Annual www.oktoberfest.org |
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September 11th - September 14th |
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| Torrance Oktoberfest - California 40th Annual www.alpinevillage.net/oktoberfest.htm |
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September 12th - October 19th |
| Big Bear Oktoberfest - California 38th Annual www.bigbearlakeoktoberfest.com |
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Weekends September 13th - October 25th |
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| Frankenmuth Oktoberfest -
Michigan 19th Annual www.frankenmuthfestivals.com |
September 18th - September 21st | |
| Irondequoit Oktoberfest - New
York 21st Annual www.irondequoit.org/events/oktober.htm |
September 12th
- September 15th September 19th - September 21st |
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| Cincinnati Oktoberfest - Ohio 33rd Annual www.oktoberfest-zinzinnati.com |
September 20th - September 21st | |
| Munich Oktoberfest - Germany 175th www.oktoberfest.de |
September 20th - October 5th | |
| La Crosse Oktoberfest - Wisconsin 48th Annual www.oktoberfestusa.com |
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September 26th - October 4th |
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| Fredericksburgh Oktoberfest -
Texas 28th Annual www.oktoberfestinfbg.com |
October 3rd - October 5th | |
| Ocean City Oktoberfest -
Maryland 27th Annual www.oceanpromotions.info |
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October 10th - October 12th |
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| Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest -
Ontario 40th Annual www.oktoberfest.ca |
October 10th - October 18th | |
| Tulsa Oktoberfest - Oklahoma 30th Annual www.tulsaoktoberfest.org |
October 16th - October 19th |
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This page was last updated on Tuesday, May 27, 2008