Munich Oktoberfest Live Cam

History

The Munich Oktoberfest, known as "Wiesn" in local dialect, is the world's largest beer festival and a beloved event that has been celebrated annually since 1810. The festival began as a royal wedding celebration for Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig, who married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. To mark the occasion, the citizens of Munich were invited to join in a public celebration held over five days on the fields in front of the city gates. This event featured horse races and various other festivities, laying the foundation for what would become an iconic tradition.

The first Oktoberfest was held in Theresienwiese, named after the bride, Princess Therese. The success of the initial event prompted the organizers to make it an annual celebration. Over the years, the festival grew in scale, evolving from a simple agricultural fair to a massive cultural event with beer, food, and music at its core. The horse races were eventually discontinued, but the beer tents, Bavarian music, and carnival attractions remained as the festival's central features.