Martha Holler '25 | My Experience at München's Oktoberfest 2023
Part of my desire to study abroad during the fall semester was to have the opportunity to experience Oktoberfest in München. Growing up in the States, my family would go to local American Oktoberfest celebrations every year. Memories of running around the fair’s “Cuckoo Haus” as a child only made me want to experience the real thing even more. As it would turn out, I was not the only student wanting to go (no surprise there)!
So, six other students from Freie Universität and I scavenged Berlin for Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen and bought a group ticket on the Deutsche Bahn. Just like that, we were headed off to München! We were able to find overnight last-minute lodging in a youth hostel in Pullach, just a short train ride away from München’s city center.
Since we arrived in München the day before Oktoberfest’s opening ceremonies, we decided to explore the city. One of my favorite things we saw was the Rathaus-Glockenspiel’s incredible re-enactment of a joust.
Without having reserved tickets for a beer tent previously, we all collectively decided to get up at the crack of dawn in hopes of being first in line waiting for the fairgrounds to open. We were lined up outside the fairgrounds at nearly five a.m., and we were in good company too. At around nine a.m., the gates were opened, and everyone made a mad dash to their tents! People were elbowing and shoving in hopes of finding a spot on one of the few tables required to remain open to walk-in visitors. Fortunately, one of our friends, Noah, was able to find a spot in the Hacker-Festzelt tent amidst all the confusion. He stood triumphantly on the table, waving his arms like crazy so that we could come claim our spot.
From there, it is opening day tradition to not serve any beer until the ceremonial tapping of the first barrel of beer, normally around noon. Not to fear! In the meantime, we were able to order non-alcoholic beverages and, most importantly, several, several pretzels!
Let the festivities begin! After watching a few parades go by and enjoying the lively music, the beer began to flow, finally making our bucket-list wishes a reality. Soon, everyone was on their feet, dancing on table tops as the band serenaded us with several renditions of Ein Prosit.
After hours of singing, dancing, and, of course, drinking, we ventured away from our coveted spots and walked over to the infamous “Puke Hill.” From there, we enjoyed some iconic fun fairground games and met some awesome locals who warmly welcomed us and shared more about what the Oktoberfest festivities meant to them as Bavarians.
Oktoberfest remains one of my favorite experiences from my semester abroad, and I would leap at the chance to go again (although I will be reserving tickets next time)! I highly recommend that everyone go participate in this German tradition if possible! “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” will always be associated with the incredible memories I made with my friends at Oktoberfest, and they are memories that I will cherish forever.
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