Munich’s Oktoberfest has been around for 190 years — plenty of time to create an archive of remarkable records, mishaps and curious traditions.
The 2025 edition began with an extraordinary statistic: at around 31 degrees Celsius and clear skies, it was the hottest opening day in festival history.
The extreme heat took its toll on visitors, leading to a second, less welcome record: medical teams treated 910 patients on the first day, more than ever before.
Beer, visitors and unforgettable records
The Oktoberfest has long been associated with superlatives.
Attendance is always closely watched: the 2023 edition still holds the record with 7.2 million guests, though the festival was extended to 18 days that year to include German Unity Day.
Beer consumption also makes the headlines — in 2011, more than 79,000 hectoliters were served.
Sometimes, however, the beer itself runs out. In 1981, the Hofbräu tent temporarily had to serve Paulaner beer after supplies dried up — a small scandal in Bavarian terms.
And every year, beer service begins only after Munich’s mayor taps the first keg at noon in the Schottenhamel tent with the words “O’zapft is!”
The ritual is not as old as many believe: the tradition started in 1950, when Mayor Thomas Wimmer famously needed 17 hammer strikes before the beer flowed.
Toasts, drinking feats and Bavarian humor
In 1901, two men earned a diploma for managing to drink ten liters of beer each. While official drinking records are no longer celebrated, table companions still keep count of who empties the most steins.
Even the traditional toast has linguistic roots. “Prost” comes from the Latin word prosit, meaning “may it be of benefit to you.” Each clink of glasses carries a good wish, not just an invitation to drink.
Celebrities at the Wiesn: from bans to VIP parties
Oktoberfest has always attracted celebrities. Some are welcome, others less so.
Socialite Paris Hilton has been permanently banned since 2006, after she promoted her own canned wine brand without permission.
In contrast, stars like rapper Drake were spotted enjoying the 2025 festival in the exclusive Käfer Wiesn-Schänke VIP tent.
Even Albert Einstein once played a small role at the Oktoberfest.
In 1896, while working as a young electrician, he helped set up the very first electric lights in the Schottenhamel tent, screwing in lightbulbs as part of a temporary job.
Wiesn in the dictionary
For anyone still unsure: “Wiesn,” the Bavarian word for Oktoberfest, is officially in the German dictionary.
Written without an “e” at the end, the term is feminine — die Wiesn. At the 190th anniversary, it’s a linguistic fact worth raising a glass to.
