Munich Concludes 189th Oktoberfest With 6.7 Million Visitors and Beer Milestones

The Bavarian capital of Munich concluded its 189th Oktoberfest, celebrating the end of a joyful 16-day gathering that reaffirmed the event's stature as the world's preeminent public festival. Official municipal figures released by festival director Clemens Baumgärtner showed that approximately 6.7 million visitors flocked to the sprawling Theresienwiese fairgrounds.

Over the course of the festival, revellers from across Germany and dozens of international countries consumed seven million liters of festival beer served in traditional one-liter Maß steins. Concurrently, caterers and historic tent hosts served hundreds of thousands of roast chickens, pretzels, and traditional oxen delicacies.

Bavarian Traditions and Culinary Milestones at Theresienwiese

Sunny and mild autumn weather throughout the festival's final week contributed to peak attendance figures, filling the beer gardens outside legendary tents such as the Schottenhamel, Hofbräu-Festzelt, and Paulaner Festzelt. Families and senior citizens turned out in large numbers during designated weekday family afternoons.

Festival management praised the event's remarkably peaceful character and comprehensive safety architecture. Enhanced entrance security screening, including handheld metal detectors implemented for the first time across all perimeter entry gates, operated smoothly without creating severe queue bottlenecks for arriving crowds.

“Oktoberfest 2024 was a vibrant, joyful, and peaceful celebration where millions of guests from around the world enjoyed Bavarian hospitality and cultural traditions.” — Clemens Baumgärtner, Oktoberfest Director and Head of Munich's Department of Labor and Economic Development

Enhanced Security Infrastructure and Peaceful Folk Celebration

Municipal police and emergency medical teams from the Bavarian Red Cross reported a noticeable decline in major altercations and violent crime compared to previous editions. Increased video surveillance, rapid response foot patrols, and specialized prevention kiosks provided reassuring security for all attendees.

The 189th festival concluded according to time-honored Bavarian custom with the traditional brass gun salute at the feet of the colossal bronze Bavaria statue. Gunsmiths in historical regalia fired black-powder volleys to mark the official close, while brass bands played farewell waltzes under the autumn dusk.

Sources

• Landeshauptstadt München (Official Oktoberfest Portal)
• City of Munich Press Office