By: Gabrielle Guzinski
Fall in Buffalo, New York is finally here which means one of the anticipated holidays is not far behind, Oktoberfest. The history of Oktoberfest really boils down to a single wedding, one that has been celebrated for over 200 years now. The inaugural Oktoberfest was first celebrated in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began October 12, 1810, and lasted nearly a week until October 17, ending with an exciting horse race. After such a spectacular party, the happy couple decided that the same type of festival should be continued annually. In the following years, the festivities were repeated every October and they eventually moved forward into September.
Today, Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world, with an international flavor that is extremely characteristic of the 21st century. More than 6 million visitors from all over the world take part in Oktoberfest every year. This event has integrated itself into the typical autumn celebrations like Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Moving the festival into late September has allowed for better weather conditions in the always changing Bavarian climate. Because September nights in Bavaria are warmer than October nights, visitors are able to enjoy the outdoor beer gardens as well as the fairgrounds filled with carnival rides. Historically, the last weekend of Oktoberfest lands in the first week of October. Oktoberfest starts on a late September weekend and lasts for three weekends. This year’s dates are September 20 - October 5.
Places to celebrate Oktoberfest in Buffalo include: 14th Annual Oktoberfest on Old Falls Street in Niagara County on Saturday September 28, Buffalo Oktoberfest Bar Crawl on Saturday September 28 and Hamburg OktoberFest taking place both Friday September 20 and Saturday September 21st just to name a couple events.
Whether you have never been to this event or have gone multiple times it shows that it has been successful for decades. There is something for everyone that attends and brings people together positively. Immerse yourself in the culture and you will find a way to come back for the eventful festivities next year.