Bayernpartei criticizes Munich's Oktoberfest decoration changes

The Bayernpartei (BP) has criticized recent changes to traditional decorations at the Munich Oktoberfest, accusing authorities of a “ban and regulation mania.” The controversy stems from the Munich city administration requesting modifications to figures on rides such as the ‘Teufelsrad’ and ‘Happy Sailor.’

According to the BP, municipal officials deemed certain decades-old decorative figures “too frivolous” or “problematic,” forcing operators to repaint them with clothing like bikinis and skirts. The BP argued that the Oktoberfest is a place for tradition and joy, rather than an “educational camp for green ideology.”

The redesigns were prompted by recommendations from the city’s Gender Equality Office and the Democracy Office, which advise the Department of Labor and Economic Affairs. While politicians from the CSU also criticized the move, local Green Party members have distanced themselves from the changes. Munich City Councilor Anja Berger described the interventions as “exaggerated,” and Mayor Mona Fuchs called for more discretion in future decisions.