The Original Oktoberfest

The largest beer festival in the world is likely Oktoberfest. Even while the majority of them might not be aware of its precise beginnings, it draws millions of aficionados from all over the world to Munich every year for two weeks of drinking and partying.

The first Oktoberfest was really organized to mark the 1810 nuptials of Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen and Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig, who would later become King Louis I. The entire city of Munich was illuminated for the occasion, and everyone in Bavaria was invited, according to stories from the period.

Beginning on October 12, up to 40,000 people from all across the Bavarian regions, along with the nobility, partied at locations scattered throughout the city for five days as part of the celebrations. It required months of planning ahead as businesses from the Munich area competed to honor the occasion at their homes with the most opulent setups. The top 6,000 guests were entertained at four of the best restaurants in the city, and over the course of five days, around 23,000 liters of beer were eaten along with about 32,000 buns, 3,992 pounds of cheese, 900 pounds of mutton, and 13,000 pairs of smoked sausages.

The event culminated in a horse race, and because it was so successful, it has since been held annually at the same timeframe but on a much larger scale, lasting two weeks as opposed to just five days, and with numerous more events added over the ages.