Oktoberfest opens as crowds race for best beer tent spots

Crowds rushed onto the Oktoberfest grounds in the southern German city of Munich shortly after the gates opened on Saturday.

Some visitors ran toward the beer tents to claim the best seats after waiting for several hours. Members of the first group in line said they had arrived at 7 p.m. on Friday with camping chairs, sleeping bags and emergency blankets.

Organizers briefly held back sections of the crowd at the entrance, allowing people onto the grounds in stages and preventing a more concentrated rush.

How does Oktoberfest begin?

Beer cannot be served until the official opening ceremony at midday, when new Munich Mayor Dominik Krause of the environmentalist Greens is due to tap the first keg with the traditional cry of "O'zapft is" — Bavarian dialect for "It is tapped."

Krause, 36, has said he hopes to open the barrel with two or three hammer blows at his first Oktoberfest as mayor.

He will then present the first liter of beer to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU). It will be the first time Söder has received the ceremonial drink from a Green mayor.

Cannon fire will signal that beer may be served throughout the festival grounds.

Oktoberfest: What to know about 'the best party in Germany'

How big is Oktoberfest?

More than 6 million people are expected to attend the 191st Oktoberfest, which runs for 16 days until October 4.

The festival, known locally as the Wiesn, features beer tents, fairground rides, traditional Bavarian food and live music.

Opening day was expected to bring blue skies and temperatures of up to 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

How much is a beer at Oktoberfest?

A 1-liter (1.8-pint) beer costs between €14.80 and €15.90 ($17–$18.27) this year.

The average price has risen by 2.38% compared with last year to €15.61.

An analysis found that the average price has almost quintupled since 1985, when a liter of beer cost about 6.25 deutschmarks — equivalent to €3.20 at the fixed conversion rate. Consumer prices have risen by about 120% over the same period.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

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