Come 20th September, the city of Munich (Munchen) will rejoice on the grand occasion of Oktoberfest, 2008. The annual event, which is said to be the world’s largest beer festival, will kick off with the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer by the Lord Mayor of the city.

By the time the 16-day celebration ends on 5th of October, the Oktoberfest would be serving somewhere around seven million visitors with six million liters of beer in 14 massive beer tents put up for the occasion. The Schottenhamel tent, which is the most important tent in Weisn, will be the venue for the opening ceremony.

Way back in the year 1810, the first Oktoberfest was held for the occasion of the wedding between the crowned Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Since then, the warm September and early October nights have been greeted by the visitors with their beer kegs in the tents, gardens, and other parts of “Die Wiesen” as the locals in Munich call their much-loved Oktoberfest.

The 6 main breweries (referred to as the “Big Six”) that supply beer are Spaten, Lowenbrau, Augustiner, Hofbrau, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr. The Bavarian beer and the amber-red Vienna Lager are the ones to look for. So all of you, who are obsessed with the drink, pack your bags and head for Germany for a rare experience this September!