Therese and Ludwig could have never realized how intensely focused attention was to be on the celebration of their wedding back in 1810, nor that we would still be marking the occasion today.
Ludwig’s dad had done all of the political wrangling and ring-kissing needed to have the former Austrian holding of the state of Bavaria, given kingdom status as part of the treaty between Austria (who lost that round of war) and Napoleon-led France (who had won). It made more sense back then. Once all of the paperwork had been signed and the new status was granted, Ludwig’s dad elevated himself into the role of King of the Kingdom of Bavaria and, as a result of all of this, Ludwig suddenly became a Crown Prince and the next in line for the throne. Imagine that.
Four years after his country became a kingdom, Crown Prince Ludwig (later known as King Ludwig I) and a girl from one of the neighbouring states, Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (daughter of a Duke), decided to get married. Therese had previously been on a short-list of possible brides for Napoleon so by marrying Ludwig, she was able to dodge that bullet and get her name wiped off the list. Whew!
All of Bavaria was delighted by the news of the upcoming royal wedding being held in the court chapel in Munich on October 12, 1810. The city officials invited all of the citizens to a 5-day festival to honour the happy occasion.
They put together a folk festival of sorts, which included an opera (everybody’s favourite way to mark an important event!), traditional dancing, a bit of theatre to keep people entertained, and they threw a ball (party not soccer). The finale on the last festival day was a horse race and it was a Big Deal. The newly married royal couple showed up to watch the race, along with 40,000 other spectators. They were greeted by 16 pairs of children dressed in traditional outfits to start the program off, and a children’s choir closed the show once the participating 30 horses had finished the 3400m race. The winner won a gold medallion, so yeah, it was Big Deal.
Everyone had such a great time at the festival that they did it again the next year. And then again the next! It was held under the guise of being an anniversary celebration for the royal couple, but it was just one of those events that came at the right time and that really worked!
After a few years the city took over the running of the annual festival and, at that point, booths/tents offering locally made food and drinks became an established part of the affair, as did carnival events, but the beloved traditional Bavarian music, dancing, costumes, and the horse race, stayed on as the real crowd pleasers. The organizers extended the length of the popular festival and tinkered with the dates so that it still ended in October, but the festivities actually got under way in September, when the weather was often more dependable.
And, they started calling it Oktoberfest.
In 1887, a local establishment owner decided to march through the streets of Munich to the festival grounds before things started, accompanied by his staff and a brass band. The little procession pulled along a cart carrying the beer that they would be selling. Good advertising–especially if the beer and the band were good. It looked like fun, and the tradition of an Oktoberfest Parade was born.
By the late 20th century, the vendor tents had become sturdier shelters, though still temporary, that could accommodate up to 6000 people per structure! Each of the local breweries had their own ‘biergarten’. These days there are typically 14 large biergartens, each holding between 1500 and almost 7000 people with additional space outside, and 21 smaller facilities that often concentrate more on food and a cozier atmosphere, able to seat from 100 people to some establishments boasting seating for 700. One of the continuing regulations of Oktoberfest is that all beer served must be brewed within the city limits.
A mid-way of rides, games, and takeaway German festival food, tops off the experience in the 21st century and this year, Munich’s annual Oktoberfest has been in full and enthusiastic swing since Saturday September 19th. It closes officially on Sunday, October 4th, so unless you’ve got a go-bag packed on your private jet, you’re going to have to sit this year out.
Luckily for you, Canada’s own Kitchener-Waterloo boasts the largest Oktoberfest held outside of Munich, and it runs until October 17th, with the majority of the events centering around Thanksgiving weekend (October 9 – 12th). This huge German/Bavarian festival, based on Munich’s version, has been in operation since 1967 when 2000 people showed up for music, food, dancing, and keg-tapping. The attendance estimate for 2026 is 700,000 people, so the word has managed to spread, and visitors are encouraged to arrive in traditional German costumes (which somehow isn’t considered cultural appropriation, so you won’t get cancelled for it).
The annual Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, held on Monday October 12th, is always attended by thousands. Arrive early and grab a seat on the curb along the route.
The biergarten tents of Munich’s Oktoberfest take their shape within the individual K-W German club buildings, which then become festhallen. You can find the dancing, German food, and full beer steins in each. But don’t stop there! There is a road hockey tournament (because it’s Canada), something called KIDtoberfest, a BOOKtoberfest, and an equally baffling DOGtoberfest which will also be running throughout the festival.
Although Therese and Ludwig were just two crazy kids looking to find love in a world that was quickly changing around them, their wedding inspired an infectious style of Bavarian joy and celebration that has continued for these 216 years!
Even in Canada. And, seemingly, even by dogs.
Prost!