Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 16-day to 18-day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first October week-end. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event.

The Munich Oktoberfest, traditionally, takes place during the sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October. In 1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival will go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the 1st Sunday is October 2 and 18 days when it is October 1. In 2010, the festival lasts exceptionally until the first October Monday, to mark the 200 year jubilee of the event. The festival is held on an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, which is located near Munich's centre South East of the main train station.