Photo Gallery: 188 Years of Oktoberfest

Munich — toasting with cheers and boasting traditional German beers marks the beginning of the globally celebrated festival, Oktoberfest. Held annually in the capital of Bavaria, the festival runs from a Saturday in mid-September all the way up to the first Sunday of October, the final day the beer kegs are tapped and the mugs are raised. This year’s 18-day celebration rings in 188 years of Oktoberfest, and so we’ve rounded up a collection of photographs that encapsulate the festival's energy and spirit.

(Spot a few photos shot using our Lomography products such as the Spinner 360, La Sardina, Fisheye No. 2, Diana F+, Diana Mini & Flash Half-frame & Square Camera, and the Actionsampler)

Before Oktoberfest turned into the global phenomenon it is known to be today, its origin lies in the 1800s Bavarian history, with the royal wedding celebration of King Ludwig I and Crown Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, held in the middle of October. The wedding festivities consisted of celebratory beers, dances, and traditions which then evolved into a yearly event for citizens of the city to come together and celebrate around this time. The grounds on which the original wedding was held in is still the same base for where today’s Oktoberfest is located.

The festival’s influence and popularity spans borders and continents in such a way that many cities around the world celebrate the annual event as well. Cities in Australia, Brazil, the United States, and the Philippines, among others, ring in the festive spirit and gather their friends and family to drink and dance the night away.

Beyond the famous beers and drinks the festival is mainly known for, Oktoberfest is first and foremost a festival; one with its own kind of German cuisine, parades, carnival games, rides, attractions, and a space where friends and family of all ages can come together to toast and have a good time.

There is so much more to Oktoberfest than it is initially credited for. A true sensory experience for the ages; where you can only grasp the immensity of it all if you are to attend in person. As the Oktoberfest season wraps up, we celebrate the incredible event that it was by reliving the memories caught on film.

See you in 2024, Oktoberfest! Prost!

Have you been to Oktoberfest before? What’s your favorite part about the annual festival? Any tips for the community? Feel free to share them below along with your film photos from this year’s celebration!

written by macasaett on 2023-10-03 #culture #munich #gallery #germany #oktoberfest #annual