The History Of Oktoberfest In 46 Vintage Photos

Oktoberfest went from a royal wedding celebration to a backdrop for Nazi propaganda to a globally-attended two-week party filled with beer, food, and German culture.

Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world, with people from all over the world flocking to Munich’s famous gathering each year. In 2019, that meant 6.3 million visitors enjoying the historic Theresienwiese space — and consuming 7.3 million liters of beer.

While most people know that Germany celebrates its past with beer, bar maidens, and music, the history of Oktoberfest remains a mystery to many. For instance, the fact it began as a royal wedding celebration and was once a horse-centric event may come as a surprise.

Beer Maid And Oktoberfest Attendee Inside A Beer Hall

Smiling Oktoberfest Attendee Drinking Beer

Bavarian Man Laughing During Oktoberfest

Young Woman Holding A Stein On Her Shoulders

Journalists On Ladders Filming Oktoberfest

Bavarian Dancers At Oktoberfest Procession

1 of 47

A girl in traditional Bavarian garb entering the Oktoberwiese, or October Meadow, on horseback.

October 1937. Munich, Germany.Hanns Hubmann/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

2 of 47

Probable beer-soaked men at an Oktoberfest celebration in Germany urinate in unison along a wooden fence.

October 1955. Munich, Germany.Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis/Getty Images

3 of 47

Some of the Oktoberfest beer tents today can hold up to 11,000 people.

October 1969. Munich, Germany.Rudolf Dietrich/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

4 of 47

One man decided that this spot was as good as any to grill his herrings.

October 1928. Munich, Germany.Fox Photos/Getty Images

5 of 47

This was clearly before the smoking ban was implemented in 2011.

October 1968. Munich, Germany.Rudolf Dietrich/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

6 of 47

A group of beer maids cheerfully posing for the photographer.

October 1928. Munich, Germany.Fox Photos/Getty Images

7 of 47

Beer tent shenanigans with tipsy patrons and gracious beer maids.

October 1968. Munich, Germany.Rudolf Dietrich/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

8 of 47

A local police officer not protesting the offer of cold beer on a warm September afternoon.

Sept. 24, 1958. Munich, Germany.FPG/Getty Images

9 of 47

At the 2019 Oktoberfest, 7.3 million liters of beer were consumed.

Date Unknown. Munich, Germany.Owen Franken/Corbis/Getty Images

10 of 47

From Colombia to India, Oktoberfest has reached into the farthest corners of the globe. These Americans committed — with Tyrolean garb, false hats, and mustaches — to the festival's history.

September 1958. Monterey, California.Dennis Rowe/BIPs/Getty Images

11 of 47

Franz Josef Strauss of Germany's CSU Party poses with three kindly bar maids — and a crossbow.

Sept. 18, 1967. Munich, Germany.Georg Göbel/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

12 of 47

Unloading the beer you're about to drink certainly counts as a workout.

Date Unknown. Munich, Germany.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

13 of 47

Beer tastes better when you're wearing a costume, as these three beer maids can attest to.

Sept. 17, 1953. Munich, Germany.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

14 of 47

A man in a fake mustache and Tyrolean hat drinks a stein of beer.

September 1958. Monterey, California. Dennis Rowe/BIPs/Getty Images

15 of 47

The famous Munich Hofbräuhaus as it stood in 1903.

1903. Munich, Germany.The Print Collector/Getty Images

16 of 47

The inaugural Oktoberfest parade of 1955 underway.

October 1955. Munich, Germany.Authenticated News/Archive Photos/Getty Images

17 of 47

In 1880, more than 400 stands were fitted with electric lights. This one, it seems, would have to close at night.

October 1955. Munich, Germany.Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

18 of 47

Tents like these include more than mere drinking and eating — bands perform traditional Bavarian music, people dance, and songs are sung in unison to this day.

September 1955. Munich, Germany.Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

19 of 47

A pretzel vendor enjoys her beer during a quiet part of the day. Nine years later, World War II put a six-year break on the gathering.

October 1930. Munich, Germany.Hugo Jaeger/Timepix/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

20 of 47

Men in traditional Bavarian clothing, hats included, have a raucous laugh over ice-cold beers.

October 1971. Munich, Germany.Rudolf Dietrich/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

21 of 47

One of the many lessons learned at Oktoberfest is that standing on a bench while giving a toast leads to a higher chance of applause.

October 1955. Munich, Germany.Authenticated News/Archive Photos/Getty Images

22 of 47

A parade of cattle shuffles past Crown Prince Ludwig and his bride, Therese — after which Munich's Oktoberfest venue, Theresienwiese, is named.

Date Unknown. Munich, Germany.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

23 of 47

A member of the Liverpool's Edelweiss Dance Band, Pepi Irgang, downs a delicious Löwenbräu at Prairiewood, Australia's Oktoberfest.

Countries all over the world — from Argentina and India to China and Sri Lanka — celebrate the German tradition annually.

October 1971. Prairiewood, Australia.George Lipman/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

24 of 47

Sixteen days is a long time to celebrate without taking a cigar break.

September 1955. Munich, Germany.Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

25 of 47

Beers are typically ordered by Mass, meaning measure, which is one liter.

October 1961. Munich, Germany.Stan Wayman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

26 of 47

A particularly foamy beer being wrangled at Monterey's Oktoberfest.

With German being the most common ancestry in the U.S., Oktoberfest has become commonplace throughout the country.

September 1958. Monterey, California.Dennis Rowe/BIPs/Getty Images

27 of 47

Three friends celebrate at the 1961 Oktoberfest — the same year that The Dick Van Dyke Show debuted.

October 1961. Munich, Germany.Stan Wayman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

28 of 47

With a strong beer culture of their own, Australians like this one are rather fond of Germany's cultural export.

Sept. 22, 1978. Prairiewood, Australia.Stevens/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

29 of 47

A young Arnold Schwarzenegger lives it up at Oktoberfest with a friend.

He won the Munich stone-lifting contest that year, a feat that requires one to lift a 560-pound stone between the legs while standing on two footrests.

October 1967. Munich, Germany.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

30 of 47

This particular tent held up to 4,000 people — all of them drinking, as the band in the center performs for attendees.

September 1955. Munich, Germany.Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

31 of 47

Toronto Mayor William Dennison raising a five-quart beer stein at the opening of a three-day Oktoberfest.

October 1970. Toronto, Canada.Mario Geo/Toronto Star/Getty Images

32 of 47

A brass trio serenades Oktoberfest visitors as the two-week-long endeavor begins.

October 1950. Munich, Germany.Three Lions/Getty Images

33 of 47

Illuminated merry-go-rounds and rollercoasters have become part of modern fun at Oktoberfest.

Oct. 17, 2005. Munich, Germany.Joerg Koch/DDP/AFP/Getty Images

34 of 47

Austrian composer Ludwig Schmidseder being fed, as his companions, actresses Vera Tschechowa (left) and Annette Karmann (right), watch on.

October 1957. Munich, Germany.Georg Göbel/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

35 of 47

This farmer and his wife saved all year to attend Oktoberfest, and trekked all the way from a quiet mountain village to do so.

October 1950. Munich, Germany.Three Lions/Getty Images

36 of 47

An early casualty of the Oktoberfest.

October 1950. Munich, Germany.Three Lions/Getty Images

37 of 47

An elderly man from the hills — wearing traditional Tyrolean clothing and carved horn buttons and embroidery — arriving in style.

October 1940. Munich, Germany.Three Lions/Getty Images

38 of 47

Journalists pile on top of each other to get the best possible shot of the Oktoberfest parade as it progresses to the Theresienwiese.

Sept. 20, 1953. Munich, Germany.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

39 of 47

The Willenborgs Riesenrad was a big hit at the 1961 Oktoberfest.

October 1961. Munich, Germany.Stan Wayman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

40 of 47

Traditionally-clad Bavarian men dance at the 172nd Oktoberfest, as the Costume and Riflemen's Procession takes place.

Sept. 18, 2005. Munich, Germany. Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images

41 of 47

Before heading off to shoot the Mel Brooks classic Young Frankenstein, British actor and comedian Marty Feldman shows off his renowned eyeballs — the condition of which resulted from a 1961 car crash.

October 1973. Munich, Germany.Istvan Bajzat/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

42 of 47

By 1964, The Beatles had conquered the world. For Germans, this was of particular celebration — as the band performed in Hamburg for years before hitting it big.

October 1964. Munich, Germany.Keystone/Getty Images

43 of 47

Nothing comes between this woman and her beer stein.

October 1952. Munich, Germany.Charles Hewitt/Getty Images

44 of 47

Wife of British film historian John Huntley lifts a beer stein as the Edelweiss-sponsored Oktoberfest in Denver kicks off.

Oct. 26, 1970. Denver, Colorado.Denver Post/Getty Images

45 of 47

Leader of Germany's CDU party Angela Merkel lets loose at the Berlin Oktoberfest — two months before being named Chancellor of Germany.

Sept. 6, 2005. Berlin, Germany.Michael Kappeler/DDP/AFP/ Getty Images

46 of 47

The world-famous Hofbräu beer tent, packed to the brim as it should be. It can currently hold 7,000 people.

October 1972. Munich, Germany.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images

47 of 47

The History Of Oktoberfest In 46 Vintage Images Of Beer, Bratwurst, And Debauchery

View Gallery

In modern-day Germany, the annual gathering serves as an opportunity for Bavarians to showcase their culture to visitors from more than 50 countries. From lederhosen to traditional dances to hearty food, Oktoberfest is a thriving socioeconomic powerhouse.

On the other hand, with a history as long as Oktoberfest — spanning more than 200 years since its 1810 debut — tragedies have tainted its legacy over the years. From drunken fights and stabbings to murder and bombings, the real history of Oktoberfest is truly one to behold.

The History Of Oktoberfest

Before he became King of Germany, Crown Prince Ludwig, known for both his great work ethic and his prolific output of bad poetry, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The occasion fell on Oct. 12, 1810, and the citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate the newlyweds in front of the city gates.

The field where Munich's citizens gathered was named Theresienwiese (or Therese's Meadow) on that day, in honor of the Crown Princess. The expansive 4,500,000-square-foot space bears her name to this day.

The wedding celebration lasted several days. Less than a week after the marriage ceremony, horse races were held in the tradition of the culturally significant Scharlachrennen (or Scarlet Race at Karlstor). It's unclear whether it was Major Andreas Dall'Armi or Sergeant Franz Baumgartner of the National Guard who proposed this idea.

Forty thousand spectators drinking wine and beer from the hillside stands witnessed 30 horses and their jockeys compete on an 11,200-foot track in the main event.

More horse races were later held to celebrate the royal couple's one-year anniversary, — marking the beginning of the festival's annual tradition of celebratory races. But it didn't take long for Oktoberfest to transition from its royal origins into a more lighthearted event — despite all the wars and epidemics on the horizon.

Painting Of The 1810 Oktoberfest Horse Race

WiesnkiniPeter Hess' "Horse Race at the Wedding of Bavaria's Crown Prince," depicting the royal 1810 wedding.

The History Of Oktoberfest As A Public Festival

Bavaria's participation in the Napoleonic Wars forced the state to cancel the Oktoberfest of 1813. However, subsequent years attracted more and more visitors per year, with new events such as tree-climbing and bowling. In 1816, carnival booths entered the picture.

By 1819, the city of Munich assumed responsibility for organizing Oktoberfest and ensured that it would always be an annual event, though the exact dates of the festival often varied. In 1832, for instance, the fest was held weeks earlier, to take advantage of September's warmth and longer days.

Author August Lewald described the 1835 Oktoberfest: "The moon hanging in a cloudless sky, the mountain tops ringed with haze, forests lying nearby and the thousand city lights burning alongside a few from villages beyond."

Footage of the 1953 Oktoberfest, courtesy of British Pathé.

While the 1810 costume parade to honor Ludwig and Therese has been an annual event since 1850, the horse races have since fallen out of favor — the last one was run in 1960.

In 1854, tragedy struck when a cholera epidemic killed 3,000 residents, causing the event to be canceled. Continental conflicts from the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War, in 1866 and 1870, respectively, caused additional cancellations.

But despite the many ongoing crises, Oktoberfest continued to evolve into the signature celebration we know today.

By 1880, more than 400 booths at Oktoberfest were illuminated by electric lights. The following year, bratwursts became one of the main dishes offered at the event. And in 1892, beer was finally served in glass mugs.

Since the 1810 wedding ceremony, Munich's population had grown six times larger. With more guests came the need for more space, leading to booths becoming beer halls.

It was during this period of expansion that breweries took part in the opening day parades, with decorated horses and bands showcasing each participating company on the first Saturday of the 16-day festival. By the turn of the 20th century, Oktoberfest as we currently know it had finally emerged.

Oktoberfest In Modern History

An estimated 120,000 liters of beer were consumed during the 100th Oktoberfest in 1910.

In 1913, Oktoberfest's largest beer tent was pitched — the 59,000-square-foot Pschorr-Bräurosl tent, which could hold up to 12,000 guests. The tent was named after Rose, a legendary daughter in the Pschorr family who was said to drink beer every evening on horseback at her family's brewery.

While Germany was forced to cancel the event yet again during World War I, the darkest period in the festival's history came when the Nazis used Oktoberfest for propaganda purposes.

By 1933, Jews were forbidden from working within the Theresienwiese space. In 1938, Adolf Hitler ordered it to be renamed Grossdeutsches Volksfest, or the Greater German Folk Festival. For the next 10 years, however, Oktoberfest would be canceled.

Fortunately, modern-day Germany has reclaimed its history and forged ahead. In 1950, the mayor of Munich tapped the first keg, crying out, "O'zapft is!" and commenced Oktoberfest, a tradition that has continued ever since. The 1970s saw gay organizations implement "Gay Days" at Oktoberfest, with all creeds and races of people joyfully attending the gathering every year.

Footage of the 1962 Oktoberfest, courtesy of British Pathé.

But that's not to say the festival's troubles were over. Thirteen people were killed in a 1980 pipe bomb attack on Oktoberfest. At the time, it was the worst bombing in Germany since World War II.

In 2005, new rules regulated the volume levels so families and elderly people could withstand the gigantic, two-week festivities more easily.

As it stands, Oktoberfest makes the city of Munich $1.43 billion in tourism per year. It's no surprise, really, between flights, hotels, and the beer tents at the fest — some of which can fit up to 11,000 people. In total, around 1.98 million gallons of beer are consumed over the two-week period every year.

For those more interested in the food, more than 510,000 whole roast chickens and 60,000 sausages are consumed. The general cost for an American who wants to fly out for the festivities is around $5,000.

Over the past 210 years, Oktoberfest has been canceled because of World War II, World War I, hyperinflation after World War I, two cholera outbreaks, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, and the Napoleonic War.

Yet after every crisis subsides, the festival has rolled back into town to lighten the wallets and fill the bellies of locals and tourists alike.

The marriage of Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Ludwig I of Bavaria drew to its end in October of 1854 with Therese's death. But it's a safe bet that their wedding ceremony will continue to inspire festivity and happiness for centuries — and perhaps millennia — to come.

After exploring the history of Oktoberfest, read about the absolute need-to-know facts about Oktoberfest. Then, take a look at the six most fascinating drinking rituals around the world.