The largest beer festival in the world is returning to Munich from September 16th to October 3. Today, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival drawing around six million visitors annually. Each year, it continues to break new records from the quantity of beer consumed through to the amount of chicken devoured. But beyond the lederhosen and beer tents, there is an over 200-year history that’s rich with Bavarian tradition and culture.

On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Bavaria. The annual celebration of this event later became the world’s largest beer event. Known as Oktoberfest, it begins in late September and runs through the first week in October. Although centered in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, it is celebrated in all of Germany and the entire world. Held at the original site of the wedding, The Oktoberfest is hosted by Munich’s “big-six” breweries; Hofbräu Bavaria, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten and Augustiner. These breweries maintain elaborate “tents” which serve as expansive festhalles. Thousands of hectoliters of beer and countless sausages are enjoyed each year at the event which also includes carnival rides and horse races.

A week earlier, just outside Munich in the town of Freising, is the Volksfest, sponsored by Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest continuously operated brewery, since the year 1040. This brewery is owned by the German State (as is Hofbräu) and is home to the University of Brewing and the library of law that concerns brewing. The Reinheitsgebot was written and announced here in 1516. Although a slightly smaller occasion, the Volksfest offers the historic beer of Weihenstephaner as well as numerous local specialties such as roast duck, rolader and whole trout smoked on an alder stick.

This tradition continues throughout Germany and locals and visitors alike dress in traditional garb and drink along to brass bands playing the old songs which typify the Oktoberfest. Won’t you join us this year?