Ocean City Maryland Events -- Ocean Promotions

OKTOBERFEST HISTORY

It all started with wedding bells and a horse race. October 12, 1810, four years after Bavaria had become a kingdom, crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (who was to be King Ludwig I) married princess Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen. The official festivities lasted five days and included parades of riflemen, music, eating and drinking. The festivities ended with a horse race held on a green which was situated in those days outside of the city limits and named "Theresienwiese" (Theresa's green) in honour of the bride. Over the next years the horse race was repeated and the Oktoberfest, also called "Wiesn" was born.

Today, Munich Oktoberfests are held in September because the weather is milder than that experienced in October. In Munich, the fest lasts for 16 days, beginning on a Saturday in September and always ending on the first Sunday in October. Although the horseracing ended in 1938, the other events continued through the years with the exception of war time.

In 1887 lederhosen and dirndls became the traditional garb of the attendees. The fest traditionally begins with a parade, starting just before noon. Included are the mayor and other civic leaders, followed by horse-drawn brewer's carts, bands, and townspeople wearing their costumes. The parade ends at the oldest private tent at Oktoberfest, the Schottenhammel tent where the mayor opens the first keg of beer and the toasting begins.

Munich's six major brewers of the Oktoberfest Maerzen beer may be found in the seven halls where there is live music throughout the day and evening. The six major Munich brewers are: Hacker-Pschorr, Lowenbrau, Spaten, Hofbrauhaus, Augustiner, and Paulaner. Oktoberfest beer was an amber-gold lager with 6 percent alcohol. German hops such as Hallertau and Tettnang are added. This Maerzen beer was served at the Crown Prince's wedding in 1810. Then Maerzen beers were brewed in March, lagered or cold stored in caves for 10-12 weeks, and ready to drink by the late summer or early fall. Today, Oktoberfest biers tend to be lighter in color and body than the traditional Maerzen style.

Outside the beer tents, one will find dancing, music, sideshows, carnival rides, and more German food of all types, including: wursts of beef, chicken, veal, or pork, slices of beef, chicken, sauerkraut, potato salad, cabbage, onions, and of course, pretzels are among the foods enjoyed with a stein or two of one's favorite beer.

Ocean Promotions - Wicks Inc. / PO Box 486 / Ocean City, MD 21843
410-213-8090 / 410-213-8091 / Fax 410-213-8092 / oceanpromotions@beachin.net