O'zapft ist

Oktoberfest start at midday after a short procession of the various people and businesses that make the Oktoberfest work - the dray horses pulling coaches and wagons with the landlords of the various tents, the staff who serve, the showground people and the impressive brewery keg wagons.

As most years I ended up watching it live on TV. Even though it is always the same. Bit like watching Trooping the Colour.

Once the procession done, the Mayor of Munich (in red vest) hammers a brass tap in to a wooden beer keg hoping that it goes in cleanly without squirting beer everywhere. The mayor is always judged on how many whacks he needs with the wooden round hammer. This is his fourth Oktoberfest and he again managed two whacks probably making him the most succesful.

Mayor then pours out four beers and gives the first one to the King President of Bavaria (grey jacket). Then together with their wives they take the official first taste and mark the start for around 6 million further litres which will be served over the next 18 days to some 6 million visitors.

The event is normally for 16 days ending on the first Sunday in October. As the German national holiday is on the following Tuesday, they have extended it to make sure the Bavarians don't suffer from thirst on this special day.

I won't be going but in essence would love to if I lived in Munich and could pop around at lunchtime on a week day when it is relatively quiet and possible to get a seat in one of the tents. A major part of a visit is however all about simply strolling around the stands and show rides, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the family atmosphere.

There is also an "historic Oktoberfest" where one has to pay 6 Euros entrance fee but it has the attraction of generally being quieter, traditional music and all the show rides only cost 1 Euro!

Naturally the indescribable events yesterday in London and all those in recent times does bear on one's thoughts but must not stop us. I do hope the event goes off without problems.