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 2010
- Parma, Ohio www.fogas.org |
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June 18th - June 19th |
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| Alpine Oktoberfest - Honesdale,
Pennsylvania 33rd Annual www.thealpineonline.com |
August 20th - August 22nd | |
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German-American Festival
- Oregon, Ohio |
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August 27th - August 29th |
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| Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - Oregon 45th Annual www.oktoberfest.org |
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September 16th - September 19th |
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| Torrance Oktoberfest - California 43rd Annual www.alpinevillage.net |
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TBA - September 2010 |
| Big Bear Oktoberfest - California 40th Annual www.bigbearlakeoktoberfest.com |
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Weekends September 18th - October 30th |
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| Frankenmuth Oktoberfest -
Michigan 21st Annual www.frankenmuthfestivals.com |
September 16th - September 19th | |
| Irondequoit Oktoberfest - New
York 23rd Annual www.irondequoit.org/content/view/89/650/ |
September 17th
- September 19th September 24th - September 26th |
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| Cincinnati Oktoberfest - Ohio 35th Annual www.oktoberfest-zinzinnati.com |
September 18th - September 19th | |
| Munich Oktoberfest - Germany 177th www.oktoberfest.de |
September 18th - October 4th | |
| La Crosse Oktoberfest - Wisconsin 50th Annual www.oktoberfestusa.com |
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September 24th - October 2nd |
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| Fredericksburgh Oktoberfest -
Texas 30th Annual www.oktoberfestinfbg.com |
October 1st - October 3rd | |
| Ocean City Oktoberfest -
Maryland 29th Annual www.oceanpromotions.info |
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October 8th - October 10th |
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| Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest -
Ontario 42nd Annual www.oktoberfest.ca |
October 8th - October 16th | |
| Tulsa Oktoberfest - Oklahoma 32nd Annual www.tulsaoktoberfest.org |
October 21st - October 24th |
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This page was last updated on Thursday, April 15, 2010