Munich’s 191st Oktoberfest began Saturday with the traditional first-keg tapping by the mayor and enhanced crowd and entry security for the 16-day festival.
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Munich’s Oktoberfest opened Saturday as Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first beer keg to formally start the 191st edition of the world’s largest folk festival.
The ceremony took place on Munich’s Theresienwiese fairground, where Krause put the first keg on tap with only two strokes and the traditional call “O’zapft is,” meaning “It’s been tapped.”
As the morning drew in, thousands of revelers—many in Bavarian dirndls and lederhosen—moved toward the beer tents in search of good bench spots, setting the stage for the festival’s early atmosphere of live brass music and freshly tapped beer.
Oktoberfest’s early buzz was accompanied by familiar festival foods, including pretzels, pork roast and sausages, as visitors settled in and began singing, dancing and swaying.
The festival runs for 16 days, through Oct. 4, and organizers expect about 6 million visitors, with most coming from Munich and southern Germany.
Large numbers are also expected from across Germany and from international destinations, reflecting Oktoberfest’s status as a major global draw that brings together travellers from varied regions each year.
German authorities tightened security for this year’s festival after last year’s event was temporarily closed due to overcrowding, and measures are aimed at spotting large crowd build-ups earlier than in previous years.
According to dpa, AI-powered cameras have been installed to detect large crowds, while a ban on knives and flying objects—specifically drones—is in effect; the festival also includes entry checks and prohibits large bags.
Additional restrictions include a ban on smoking marijuana, and the policing presence is substantial: dpa reported that about 600 police officers will be on duty, alongside Bavarian riot police, specialized pickpocket investigators and international task forces from eight countries.
While the security steps are significant, the early crowd did not appear deterred, with visitors describing the atmosphere as energetic and looking forward to taking in the beer tents and celebrations during the opening days.
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