Is it too early to plan to attend the Oktoberfest 2023 in Germany in the middle of summer ? No! With an event scale of up to 11,000 people, early planning is necessary to be able to attend the Oktoberfest. But how will the Oktoberfest take place this year? Let’s find out with My Career!
There are a lot of things to consider: Where will you stay? What will you eat? How will you get there? And where will you buy your dirndl? Some things this article can’t help you with, but some things–like When should you go?–it certainly can. Here’s the (really awesome) schedule of events for Oktoberfest 2023:
Oktoberfest 2023 German October Festival Event Schedule
Saturday, September 16
9am | Oktoberfest begins! This is a work in progress day for the beer tents, so no real beer is being brewed yet, but you can walk around and see how the tents are being prepared! Note: You should wear sneakers to make sure your feet are strong enough to walk around!
11am | The Oktoberfest opening day parade takes place throughout the town, starting at Josephspitalstraße and ending at Theresienwiese.
Beer tent owners and hosts enter the grand Oktoberfest atop luxurious horse-drawn beer wagons. Around 1,000 people take part in the parade, led by the Münchner Kindl, Munich’s stunningly beautiful blond monk mascot.
Photo: Ashley Smith |
Noon | Ozapft is!
Oktoberfest officially begins at noon when the Mayor of Munich taps the first Oktoberfest keg inside the Schottenhamel tent and shouts “OZapft is!” ( It has begun! ) It wasn’t until this happened that beer was allowed to be served at Oktoberfest… but it was done so what are we waiting for!
Sunday, September 17
10am | Another day, another parade! The second, much larger parade is the traditional costume parade. Once again led by the Münchner Kindl, this parade features marching bands, flag bearers, traditional costumes and dancing, and beloved horse-drawn carriages. This parade starts at the Max II monument on Maximilianstraße and ends at the Theresienwiese.
All day and all night, and possibly into the next morning | Gay Sunday! Every year, the Pschorr-Bräurosl tent hosts Gay Sunday on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest. Get your Gagas on with 8,400 other people in the tent known for its buskers and… whippersnappers.
Tuesday, September 19
All Day Until 7pm | Family Day. The first of two family-friendly Oktoberfest days features discounted rides and performances all day.
Oktoberfest in Germany ? Oktoberfest 2023
Thursday, September 21
10am | Traditional Oktoberfest Church Service
The service, which takes place annually at the Marstall Tent, is primarily for Wiesn employees but anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.
Second weekend of Oktoberfest 2023 schedule
Sometime after a siesta, most likely | Italian Weekend! Most likely if you’re from Italy, it’s this weekend. Weekends in Italy are a whole different party in themselves and you can find most of that party in the Löwenbräu tent.
Sunday, September 24
11am | Annual Open Air Concert – All the brass bands from the Oktoberfest beer tents gather in front of the Bayern statue for one big concert. Oktoberfest welcomes the Mayor of Munich as well as other celebrities to help organize it so… it’s a good thing the bands know the songs.
Tuesday, September 26
All day until 7pm | Family Day. The last day of the two-day Oktoberfest family festival when you can go to all the rides at Wiesn for a discounted price.
Tuesday, October 3
Yes, we have extra days this year! Normally Oktoberfest ends on the first Sunday in October, but since German Unity Day (October 3) falls later, Oktoberfest is extended.
Noon | Sun out, guns out! The traditional gun salute marking the end of Oktoberfest (called Boellerschiessen) takes place in front of the Bayern statue and features the winners of the Oktoberfest gun shooting competition.
23:30 | The unofficial closing ceremony of Oktoberfest takes place in the Hacker-Pschorr tent. The lights go out and the flares go up. Let’s all join hands and sing our hearts out to celebrate another year gone by on the Wiesn. Only one year to go until Oktoberfest 2024!
Oktoberfest in Germany ? Oktoberfest 2023
Other important schedule of Oktoberfest Germany 2023
Beer service hours
Opening hours: 12:00 – 22:30 Weekdays: 10:00 – 22:30 Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 09:00 – 22:30 Oktoberfest closes at 12:30 (Käfers Wiesnschänke and Weinzelt open until 1:00 )
