Oktoberfest 2013 – a preview

Do you know what day it is tomorrow? Saturday of course. But what is important about it? Well: in six Saturdays’ time, the Mayor of Munich will be tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer and shouting “Ozapft is!” This is the cue for sixteen days of what is, quite simply, the biggest party in the world.

So as of tomorrow, we’ll be crossing off the days on our calendar, longing for 21^st September. And here is a list of Oktoberfest pleasures we are particularly looking forward to in 2013 – arranged alphabetically because, hey, it’s Friday and we didn’t have any better ideas!

Beer consumption

Okay, perhaps a bit cheeky to list this under a specific year, but we really are looking forward to it! We’re not sure whether it’s going to be a record year for litres of beer sold, or one of the chillier ones when drinkers’ thirsts are dampened, not fanned; but we are sure that it’s going to be a record year for us personally: Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten… You name it, we’ll be drinking it.

Dirndls

Or rather, ladies in dirndls. Come on guys, be honest – the girls aren’t reading along – whenever you see a buxom babe in a dirndl, the beer just tastes that bit better. Oh, hi girls! So… as we were saying… you look great in dirndls. Oh, you know you do? And you enjoy wearing them and experimenting with different colours and styles and dressing up in something special? Well, then everyone’s happy!

Fairground rides

Yep, it might be trite to say it, but the Oktoberfest really is like Disneyland for adults. Or, as we prefer to phrase it, like Alton Towers, but with better beer and more fashion sense on display. We like the Olympic Rings rollercoaster (however eye-wateringly expensive it may be) and the old-fashioned “ship swing”, which moves under your own power and – guys, you again – can really help impress the girls. Unlike one of those annoying fairgrounds that changes the rides every year, you can guarantee that the Oktoberfest 2013 will have all of the classic rides you loved in 2012. And 2011. And 1965.

Lederhosen

Or rather, guys in lederhosen. Now girls, come come – the guys aren’t reading this bit – you know how we love a guy with a crisp shirt and a sturdy pair of leather breeches. The manliness, the confidence, the vague scent of the farmyard… Oh, guys, so you are reading along? Well, the secret’s out now.

Prosit!

There’s something wonderfully ceremonial about drinking on the count of three – and it certainly helps the beer flow freely. We haven’t heard a proper chant of “eins, zwei, drei, gsuffa!” for almost a whole year now, and that really is too long.

Okay, so we’ve just realised that none of these things are actually specific to 2013 – apart from the dates, which are 21^st September to 6^th October. But, hey, isn’t that entirely the point about the Oktoberfest? It’s great because it never really changes – these pics from 2010 will be just as accurate in 2013! After all, if it ain’t broke…