When the entrances opened shortly after 9:00, many people rushed to get a place in the store. Thousands of people gathered at the festival grounds before the official opening of Oktoberfest.
According to an old tradition, the first keg of beer at the Oktoberfest is always served in the Schottenhamel tent. The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, knocked down the cork with two hammer blows amidst enthusiastic cheers. Then a loud shout was heard: “O”zapft is!”, which means “Uncorked!” The first cup was presented to the Prime Minister of Bavaria, Markus Soeder.
Six million visitors are expected to arrive for the celebration by October 3. The weather forecasts are better than last year, when some 5.7 million people visited. There are no longer any special concerns about the coronavirus. This time the vacation will last 18 days, two days longer than usual. It has been extended beyond the first weekend in October to Tuesday, October 3.
On the festival grounds there are 17 large beer tents and two dozen smaller tents. 200 kiosks and 160 entertainment attractions have also been built.
A one-liter glass of beer (Mass) costs between 12.60 and 14.90 euros, which is on average approximately 6.1 percent more than the previous year. For the first time, four free drinking water dispensers will be installed during the national holiday. The average price of a liter of table water in beer stores is about 10 euros.
