Raise a Stein for Oktoberfest! 🍺
Beer lovers’ greatest holiday is coming up Saturday, Sept. 20–Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. That’s right, we’re talking Oktoberfest! The annual festival in Munich, Germany, is the largest beer + folk festival in the world, and this year marks its 190th anniversary. In honor of the upcoming holiday, we’re diving into Oktoberfest’s roots and how you join in on the fun at PR.
Oktoberfest History
The first Oktoberfest on Oct. 12, 1810, was actually held to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I of Bavaria) to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. All of Munich was invited to join in on the celebration, which featured horse races on the fields in front of the city gates. These fields were later named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s Meadow”) in honor of the princess—and are now the official Oktoberfest grounds.
Year after year the annual event grew, with an agricultural fair added in 1811 and beer stands and carnival attractions that came thereafter. Eventually those small beer stands were replaced by large beer halls and tents run by Munich breweries—and major players wanted in on the action.
Today’s Fest
Fast-forward to now, and Oktoberfest typically hosts over 6 million visitors from around the world. They trek to Munich to enjoy traditional Bavarian beer, Dirndl and Lederhosen outfits, Bavarian food like pretzels and sausages, music, parades, amusement rides, and more.
A Shared Love of Beer
Munich’s Oktoberfest inspires hundreds of festivals in a similar style throughout the world, including right here in Raleigh. We invite you in to build your own Oktoberfest celebration with our extensive beer selection (mostly featuring local brews)—plus German-inspired menu items like bratwurst served with peppers, onions, and spicy brown mustard. No matter what kind of beer you’re drinking, we invite you to come raise a glass with us this Oktoberfest!