What: Oktoberfest, otherwise known as the “World’s Biggest Beer Festival”

• Oktoberfest is an annual autumn festival that is associated with the consumption of large amounts of beer and traditional German foods. It’s also a chance for men (Lederhosen) and women (Dirndl) to dress in traditional Bavarian costumes.
• People often make plans to attend more than a year in advance, as accommodations in the city fill up very quickly.
• Entry to all 34 tents is free, but a liter of beer this year will cost between €9.10 and €9.50. Prost!

When: 12pm on September 22, 2012 at the Schottenhamel tent for the official opening by the mayor of Munich, runs until October 7, 2012

Where: Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Who: Anyone and everyone, especially beer lovers!

Why: The first Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward to September due to better weather conditions. Because September nights are generally warmer, visitors are able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and celebrate German culture in the great outdoors. The festival today is very different from its early days, but still involves a great deal of merriment, reeling in more than 5 million vistors a year.