With two deft hammer blows and the thunderous exclamation 'O'zapft is!' ('It is tapped!'), Munich Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter officially inaugurated the 189th Oktoberfest at exactly 12:00 noon on Saturday inside the packed Schottenhamel festival tent.
Following the traditional custom, Reiter handed the ceremonial first one-liter glass stein (Maß) of festival beer to Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, who raised it in salute before twelve cannon shots were fired from the steps of the Bavaria statue, signaling to all 14 massive festival tents that beer service could commence.
Two Hammer Blows Launch the World's Largest Folk Festival
More than six million visitors from across the globe are expected to descend upon the 34-hectare Theresienwiese fairgrounds over the next 16 days. Dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndls, attendees were serenaded by live oompah brass bands and enjoyed roasted chicken, pretzels, and traditional pork knuckles.
The 2024 edition of the world's most famous folk festival is operating under significantly reinforced security protocols. In response to recent security incidents across Germany, Munich authorities deployed handheld metal detectors at main perimeter checkpoints for the first time in festival history.
“O'zapft is! To a peaceful and joyful Oktoberfest for all our citizens and guests from around the world.”
Enhanced Security Checks and Bavarian Hospitality
Approximately 600 police officers, hundreds of private stewards, and 54 surveillance cameras maintain vigilant perimeter control. Backpacks and large bags remain strictly prohibited, with visitors submitting to brief bag searches at fenced entry lanes.
Despite cooler autumn temperatures and wet weather forecasts, thousands of enthusiastic festival-goers began lining up outside tent doors at 6:00 a.m. Festival organizers expressed optimism that the celebration will generate an estimated 1.2 billion euros in regional economic impact.
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