By Daniel Keegan
The 2025 Oktoberfest returned to the Theresienwiese public square in Munich this year. Monstrous beers and hearty Bavarian food filled each marquee table. The place was as loud as a rock concert with guests singing their hearts out to the many drinking songs.
The 16-day festival took place from September 20th to October 5th and, according to organisers, attracted 6.5 million jubilant visitors, with around 30% coming from abroad. Additionally, they estimated that 6.5 million litres of beer were consumed.
Each day began with the anticipation of the craziness that would inevitably ensue, and in ceremonial Bavarian style, the men wore their Lederhosen, and the women wore their Dirndls. The streets surrounding the festival were crowded, and the energy was high, as everyone eagerly approached the Oktoberfest.
The first glimpse of the Theresienwiese, which showcases the towering amusements and monstrous beer tents, marvellously captures the ludicrous nature of the festival.
Photo 1 – The early morning rush at Oktoberfest from above. Every morning at 10 am, a wave of attendees arrived. There was a mix of families deciding which ride to go on first and groups of friends swiftly trying to navigate the Theresienwiese to find which marquee to spend the next few hours in.
Photo 2 – Once inside the marquee, folks quickly gathered at their tables and got settled. The waiters hurried to take their first orders of the hectic day. The excitement only grew from here.
Photo 3 – The first round of the day was a moment of pure anticipation. Glasses were full, and the energy ran high. Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together like tiny bells, followed by a chorus of ‘Prostttt’ from everyone in the marquee.
Photo 4 – Each tent is owned and run by different beer companies, so the beer you receive varies from tent to tent. However, one thing always remains the same: you are served your beer in a large glass, which is called a Maß.
Photo 5 – After about an hour of eating and drinking, a band arrived and started to play many traditional Oktoberfest songs. Initially, they focused on German Oktoberfest music, but later they raised the noise and played more internationally known songs such as Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’.
Photo 6 – However, there was no song more important than ‘Ein Prosit’. Whenever this song was played, everyone raised their Maß and chugged. The song was played every 15 minutes throughout the entirety of the day.
Photo 7 – After people had their fill of eating, drinking, and singing, they stepped outside to find a crowd of others at the outdoor activities. Many joined in and enjoyed some rides themselves.
Photo 8 – Many of the taller amusements provided great scenery of the areas surrounding the Theresenwiese. Not only was a magical birds-eye view available, but from this ride, a view of the stunning St.Paulskirche was in full sight.
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