Oktoberfest history traces back to 1810 royal wedding

The Oktoberfest festival in Munich originated in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. While now globally recognized as a massive beer festival, the event initially centered around horse races held on the fields outside the city gates.

The festival grounds, known as Theresienwiese or ‘Therese's Meadow’, were named in honor of the princess. Over the past two centuries, the celebration has evolved from a royal wedding commemoration into a massive annual tradition featuring beer, traditional food, and amusement parks. Although the name suggests an October timeframe, the festival is often held in September to take advantage of better weather.

Today, the event is a major international attraction, though it remains rooted in Bavarian tradition. Only six Munich breweries are permitted to serve the official festival beer, which is brewed specifically for the occasion.