Every year the city of Munich celebrates Oktoberfest, the nearly 200-year-old Bavarian festival of beer and feasting that draws more than 6 million revelers. Women often wear the dirndl, the colorful, full-skirted traditional dress. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
Men, young and old, wear traditional lederhosen to the event, where beer is quaffed in a glass stein known as a “maas,” which holds 1 liter. The festivities take place in 14 huge tents erected on the 100-acre Theresienwiese grounds. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
A beer hat, complete with handle and “foam,” tops off this party-goer’s Oktoberfest costume. The blue and white design reflects that of the Bavarian flag. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
Marienplatz Square is in the heart of Munich, dominated by the towering town hall built in the Flemish Gothic style of architecture. In the Middle Ages, the square was a marketplace. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Carnival-style lighting adds to the festive atmosphere inside the domed tents, where beer is served by the Big Six traditional Munich breweries. Huge quantities of food are prepared too, including half a million chickens, plus grilled oxen, suckling pig, sausage and sauerkraut. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
Funny hats and colorful kilts add to the annual party’s fun, which lasts 16 days. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
The Lowenbrau tent, with its venerable lion emblem, attracts fans. The beer is one of the oldest brands in Bavaria, dating to the 14th century. (Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times)
