Bavarian Oktoberfest begins with the opening of the first beer barrel in Munich.

munchen - The mayor of Munich opens the Bavarian Oktoberfest with a ceremony in which the first beer barrel is tapped. The festival, known for its safety measures, welcomes millions of visitors who wear traditional Bavarian attire.

The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, has opened the Bavarian Oktoberfest by tapping the first beer barrel. Together with other politicians, he celebrated the peaceful festival, which takes place under strict safety measures due to fears of possible attacks. However, the Bavarian police have stated that the festival is one of the safest folk festivals. Local media report that Markus Söder appeared at the event for the first time in Lederhosen, joking that the Wiesn is better than Berlin. This comment refers to his failed attempt earlier that week to become the candidate for the German Christian Democrats, a position now held by Friedrich Merz from North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Oktoberfest is known as the largest folk festival in the world and attracts more than six million visitors each year. Many choose to wear traditional Bavarian attire, such as Lederhosen and Dirndl dresses, complete with a bow that indicates whether the wearer has a partner. The festival begins every year at 12:00 PM on the first Saturday after September 15 and lasts until the first Sunday in October.