Oktoberfest: "Let's Party"

Oktoberfest is one helluva party. No wonder that it is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Worlds Largest Party. We here at Let's Party!, the worlds foremost authority, heartily agree.

It's too bad this ritual occupies only sixteen days out of the entire year. To think it all started with a wedding celebration between royalty about 180 years ago. Since that time it has evolved from a horse race and potato fair (yes, we said potato fair -- eat your hearts out Idaho), to the worlds biggest beer bash. The figures are staggering: six million liters of beer and 500,000 broiled chickens are consumed by some 8 million visitors each year. The Oktoberfest grounds are enormous. Imagine over 50 football fields -- that's how big this Party Zone is.

The stars of the show are the eleven traditional beer "tents," each with a seating capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 people. As a supporting role. there are also 40 smaller beer, wine, and coffee houses. In-between the beer tents are rides, rides, and more rides. We're not just talking about Merry-Go-Rounds (although they can be fun with a good buzz on). You'll find everything from fun-houses to 5 loop vertical Rollercoasters. Make sure to hop on the Ferris Wheel, it offers the best view of the chaotic madness below. The remaining space is filled by 200 carnival attractions as well as all varieties of Bavarian food and treats.

You can begin this beer drenching exercise at 11am day one after the Lord Mayor of Munich pops the first barrel of brew and performs a hardy 'Let's Party' yodel -- upon which his whole political career depends.

The following are some tips that will help you survive the fest: Bring lots of money, it's not cheap. A liter of beer will run you about 10DM ($8US), a whole roasted chicken (the grease helps coat your stomach) for 8DM, and rides range from 4 - 10DM. Get the five loop Rollercoaster out of your system before you get cozy with a liter stein, or it won't be all you'll be getting out of your system. It's also very important to dress as if you are going into combat (especially for you women going into the tents populated by Italians, but more on that later). That means no high-heels or dresses, in fact wear the worst shoes and clothes you own. Beer in these tents on occasion becomes airborne. German beer has no preservative and doesn't age well, especially on clothes, and you don't want your good clothes to become a souvenir of your trip to Oktoberfest.

Unlike all of the other beer tents, the Hofbrau tent is the only one that doesn't require you to be seated when ordering a beer. This is important to know because when you're in a tent with 6,000 other party-ers, you don't want to be confined to a table. So feel free to walk around with your beer greeting all the Australians and New Zealanders. Yes, that's right 'Aussies' and 'Kiwis,' but don't be alarmed if it seems like they've invaded -- they have! Both lay territorial claim to the Hofbrau tent, but it's a harmless rivalry . . . mostly.

Then there are the Italians. They may be able to hang out with the French at wine fests, but when it comes to German beer they are truly out of their league. Known by women for their grab-happy hands, they stop at nothing. For all you women out there who don't want to become part of the menu, beware, or better yet -- be prepared.

If you're a woman at Oktoberfest, the Italians consider you fair game. In fact, if there's a part of your body that hasn't been groped for a while, rest assured -- that will no longer be the case.

Hoards of them congregate near the women's rest room lining both sides of the aisle literally assaulting every female who walks between. For some women, running this lecherous gauntlet is tantamount to running a teddy bear through a buzz saw. (Navy Women: Think "Tailhook") The more you react, the more they attack. Our advice is to work on your right-cross. Sure, a good back-hand or an attempted knee to the groin can have some result, but a good smack in the jaw seems to have the same effect on the Italians as Moses had on the Red Sea. We at Let's Party! wish you luck.

The Italians notwithstanding, the Hofbrau tent is THE party tent, and is also where you will find the Let's Party! Staff until closing.

Pretty much everything at Oktoberfest closes at 11pm, but if you're not ready to call it a night just trot along down to the Hippodrome. The Hippodrome, which is on the Oktoberfest grounds, is open until 1am, but unless you're there before 10:30pm -- especially on Fridays and Saturdays -- the doors will most likely be closed. But take note: Like most beer tents, even when the front and back doors are closed, there is usually a side door where even with security present you can still get in. Although not as big as the major beer tents, the Hippodrome is simply unadulterated madness. It's the one remaining beer hall to serve a cold foamy stein of beer after 11pm, and the 'All-Star' beer drinkers converge there to consume vast amounts of beer as they rock to live, sometimes contemporary American music (that is, of course, if you consider John Denver's 'Country Road' to be contemporary).

Filled to the brim with moving bodies, the Hippodrome is not for the amateur. From anarchy and chaos at its best, to riot police and violence at its worst, the Hippodrome is a fun place for the entire family. Visit the Hippodrome . . . if you dare.

All in all, you have to go to Oktoberfest if you want to consider your Party Tour of Europe successful. Here you will meet interesting . . . and drunk. . . people from all around the world while "Prost-ing" and singing those old traditional German drinking songs like: "Ein Pro-sit, Ein Pro-sit, Gemu-tli-keit. Ein Pro-sit, Ein Pro-o-sit, Gemu-tli-keit" Oh, and let's not forget the old Bavarian cheer: "Eins . . . Zwei. . . Drei . . . SUFFA"

Prost!

c1995 As excerpted from Let's Party! Europe (Khedr/Maxam, $12.95). Reprinted in "Bavaria personal Homepage" with permission from Vagabond Publishing, Inc. For info: Vagabond1@aol.com or 800-746-2926. All rights reserved.

Used with permission from and brought to you by Chris Bussler's "Bavaria personal Homepage"
URL: http://bussler.de