Oktoberfest like the Best!
We had a beautiful family vacay in Capri, Italy. But as all good things do, it came to an end more quickly than we would have liked. But we packed up our swim suits, moved the lederhosen to the top of the suitcase & looked forward to the next stop on our September Adventure. MUNICH! I mean...how can you live in Germany and NOT see Oktoberfest in all its glory. Our good friends Josh & Em agreed it would be a once in a lifetime experience and joined us for the festivities. Nanny Gigi was on duty for most of our trip in Munich which, again, gave us some much needed baby-free-friend-time! But, of course, because you know me and know I can't pass up a themed outfit, Asher had a fully accessorized (and authentically German) lederhosen of his very tiny own.
Oktoberfest is a FESTIVAL. Yes, its mostly about food & beer, but there are also TONS of carnival games, rides, and vendors. So there is lots to do outside of the beer tents that appeals to families. We did A LOT of research about bringing kids to Oktoberfest. Knowing that my mom would be there to take over when the fest turned rowdy, was helpful. But I wanted Asher & his (super-awesome-thank you times-a-million) nannies to be able to take enjoy it too. So we opted to do most of our Oktoberfesting during the daylight hours and we had no trouble at all! Asher loved the music, loved his hat, loved the baby rides. And when it was nap time, they headed out & we all had a Guten Tag 'ol time.
So, because Oktoberfest has just wrapped up. I thought I'd put together my list of tips & lessons learned for ya -- in prep for your own trip next year...because you have to go. It's a must. Add it to your bucket list, buy your lederhosen, book your tickets & be prepared to drink the biggest beers...ever.
Without further adieu,
How-To-Win-At-Oktoberfesting:
1 - Book it.
Hotels, airbnb's & Fest Tables fill up fast. So as soon as you know you're going, get stuff booked! Especially if you're traveling with a big group. Try to stay as close as you can to the festival because ubers/cabs are also a bit tough during the busy hours. Walking distance is best.
2 - No reservations? No problem. (sort of)
You'll hear from most people that you should book a table forever in advance. This is definitely true if you're traveling with a large crew. But, if you aren't type-A enough to have tables booked a year in advance, don't worry. There are plenty of 'Frei Platze' zones. You just need to get there early enough to snag 'em. The earlier the better. But day drinking is fun. SO. No worries there.
You'll meet TONS of fun people from all over the world. So make friends with those sitting/standing around you. We had a group of 4 in the evening and found some full-service standing areas when all the tables were reserved.
Here's me and Em making friends...kind of what we do best.
And in case you're wondering...our husbands took the pics 😂
3 - Weekday vs Weekend.
Oktoberfest is a nonstop party 7 days / week. So if you've got a flex sched, aim to go on a weekday! The crowds are a wee bit more manageable and you'll have way better luck scoping out a place to park your lederhosen.
4 - Yes. Dress up.
Because. When in Rome...ahem...Munich. And I mean, if you can't convince yourself to wear a Lederhosen or Dirndl to the ONE TRUE Oktoberfest, then, I just don't know about you .... Wow, was that too harsh? But, seriously, you will see some people in regular touristy clothes, especially because many (like my mom & her boyfriend) were just popping in and out... But the majority of Fest-goers & definitely the majority of those inside the bier halls are dressed up. Unfortunately, these one-time-wears will cost a bit of a pretty penny. But you can find a ton of authentic/authentic-looking options on Amazon & now you'll have a forever-Halloween-costume. So. Win. Win.
5 - Pack light.
No large bags are allowed. We were able to bring in our diaper bag & stroller during the day after passing a security check. But I saw a woman with a tote bag get turned away. Also, if you're like us and raising a little jet-setting-babe, strollers are only allowed during daytime hours.
6 - Dolla dolla bills y'all.
More accurately, Euro Euro notes y'all. Bring cash. No cards are accepted. There are ATMs & EC machines around the festival grounds, but not all are super conveniently located. So just come prepared. So you can plan ahead, the Oktoberfest (most-giant-ever) beers run €11-12ish each, depending on the spot. In addition to bier tents, there is also a weinzelt (wine tent)! With wine & the traditional bier offerings as well.
7 - How much is too much.
We did 2 days at Oktoberfest, which is plennnttyy. I'd actually recommend doing 1 night & 1 day. And then calling it a day. lol. Because: SO. MUCH. BEER. And it literally took us longer to recover from Oktoberfest to than the amount of time we actually spent there. So just keep that in mind...
PS these pics span across those 2 days, so if you notice some wardrobe changes, that's why.
8 - Prost!
You'll find lots of English speakers & even some English menus, but since you'll look legit German... Here are some words to make you sound legit, too!
Cheers: Prost or Prosit (the Bavarian dialect)
Hello: Hallo
Bye: Tschuss
Please: Bitte
Thank you: Danke Shoen
You're welcome: Bitte Shoen
Beer: Bier ;)
Embrace the Wilde,
lindsey
