Oktoberfest in Tucson

Where did it start...

Tucson, Arizona does not like missing out on opportunities to participate in any celebrations – even those originating in other countries. Of course, Cinco de Mayo is the most notable, but don't sell Tucson's celebration of Oktoberfest short – there's a lot going on. From the center of the city, all the way to the top of Mount Lemmon, the residents of Tucson dig in and Partei stark. To get a complete list of Oktoberfest festivities in and around Tucson, Arizona – check out the Calendar of Events.

Those lucky enough to travel to Germany in late September and/or early October are well aware of what Oktoberfest is. Or at least they see what it 'appears' to be. To the casual visitor, it's two intense weeks of entertainment, beer drinking, and other revelry. Here's what the celebration is all about…

A Brief History of Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest actually starts in September, which does confuse a lot of folks (Don't worry, in Tucson, it starts in October). Originally, the festivities started on the 12 th of October, 1810. The event was started to celebrate the royal marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later called King Ludwig I of Bavaria) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The Oktoberfest activities got so much participation, and was so much enjoyed by Germans, that it happened again the next year! It only took two years of such partying to get this German tradition started. Today, people flock to Germany for this world renowned event.

By the year 1818, the celebration included some truly amazing things – for that period, anyway. There was a carousel and even a couple of rides, such as they were at that time in history. The famous beer tents didn’t really start to appear until 1896. Munich was substantially smaller than it is today, both in area and in population. This meant that the hordes of enthusiastic visitors to the German Oktoberfest had to go to a 31 hectare (3,100 acre) field that was dubbed " die Theresienwiese." This gigantic party field was named after the princess Crown Prince Ludwig had married . The residents of Munich called the field "die Wiesn."

Oktoberfest Today

Oktoberfest in Germany has transformed over time, but some things still remain intact, or intact but 'modernized.' Oktoberfest could be compared to state or large county fairs in the United States, though most states don't stress the beer gardens and beer tents so much, or at all. Like their counterpart fairs elsewhere, Oktoberfest comes complete with oodles of food, rides, merry-go-rounds, a very festive, carnival-like atmosphere, and, its signature attraction, the copious amounts of fine beer available at any of the fourteen Bavarian Beer Tents setup to serve visitors.

Some people get Oktoberfest confused with another German agricultural fair, called Zentrallandwirtschaftsfest . But that event is only celebrated every three years. Also, die Theresienwiese now lies within the city limits of Munich, so the flood of visitors to Germany’s Oktoberfest don’t have to travel very far to enjoy it.

The official start of Oktoberfest occurs when Munich’s mayor, the Oberbürgermeister, taps (opens) the first beer keg and yells O'zapft is! (“it’s tapped!”) at noon on the first Saturday of the celebration. This official opening of the event is so popular that travelers from around the world come just to see this one small part of it! In the old German culture, everything has a name – everything! This opening day and brief event is affectionately called Wiesn-Samstag.Today, the Oktoberfest festivities officially start on a Saturday in September, and end on the first Sunday in October.

Families are welcome at the Oktoberfest celebrations, and many things there actually cater to the family. In fact, visitors families can attend the two Tuesday afternoon events designated especially for families called Familiennachmittagen. Families are welcome to these special events which last from noon to 6:00 PM on these special days. If you happen to be planning a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest, be sure to check out the special travel rates and transportation discounts applicable only during these times.

Oktoberfest is held in Munich, so the primary language spoken at the event is Barisich. This unique Bavarian dialect is a bit strange, even to the Germans. They call it the die bairische Sprache (Bavarian dialect). So if you travel to Germany for the event, you won't stand out quite so much by not knowing the language – even the Germans find it to be a handful.

Of course, if you can't go to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest, you can always enjoy the myriad festivities offered right here in good ole Tucson, Arizona! The Old Pueblo really does it up right, though I doubt anyone knows the history, they just want to have a party with their neighbors.

Partei stark! (Party hard!)