Only three months to go until Oktoberfest 2015

Although summer is only really just getting started, our thoughts are already turning to its close, when a loud “O’zapft is’!” will get autumn started with the Munich Oktoberfest. So really, it’s actually quite late to be planning your trip if you’re thinking of going to the Oktoberfest 2015: hotels will already be more or less entirely booked out, flights will be getting expensive…

But before you start hyperventilating, let’s just take a quick look at news relating to this year’s festival; start in September it might, but there’s no shortage of activity at any point in the year when it comes to the Wiesn.

The main item of news since out last update is that the calendar for this year has now been fixed. While the start and end dates and associated calendar entries for the festival are determined years in advance by hard-and-fast rules, a few other Wiesn events aren’t officially confirmed until nearer the time. Now we have the full schedule for the Oktoberfest 2015.

Saturday 19/09
10:45                     Tent landlord’s ceremonial parade through Munich
12:00                     Tapping of the first barrel of beer to open the festival

Sunday, 20/09
10:00                     Traditional parade in “Tracht”, traditional Bavarian costume From
10:00                    “Gay Sunday” or “Pink Wiesn” event in Bräurosl tent

Tuesday 22/09
From12:00          First of two family days with reduced prices

Thursday, 24/09
10:00                     Oktoberfest Mass (of the Christian kind, not the “mass of beer” kind)

Sunday, 27/09
11:00                     Oktoberfest brass band concert under the Bavaria statue

Monday, 28/09
From 18:00         Prosecco Wiesn, second gay party in Fischer Vroni

Tuesday, 29/09
From 12:00         Second family day with reduced prices

Sunday, 04/10
12:00                     12 gun-salute to mark last day of the Oktoberfest

So now that you know which bits of the Oktoberfest 2015 are taking place when, it’s time to start thinking about getting your journey and your accommodation planned. Although a lot of stuff is booked out already, it still isn’t too late: you’ve got roughly a month before there’s “no more room at the inn” and all the flights are ridiculously expensive – so use it!

We recommend the Hotel Cocoon on Lindwurmstraße as a place that is both near to Theresienwiese and not an overpriced hell-hole. As for getting there, our tip is try the train: it takes longer, but is more relaxed than flying and has no luggage weight restrictions, meaning that you can travel out with your trusty lederhosen and come back with a few bottles of brew… Since you’re in good time, get out your calendar and work back 92 days from the day you want to travel: that’s when the super-saver fares are released and when you can get a ticket from as little as 59€ (you have to book each journey separately, mind, so make sure to book your return a few days later).

Oh, and speaking of money: in case you were wondering, the price of beer at the Oktoberfest has – once again – gone up, on average by over 3%, which is a hefty sum when you consider that the Euro-Zone has almost slipped in deflation (i.e. sinking prices) this year. The new normal is now around €10.20 for a litre of the amber-nectar, with all tents charging above 10 Euros for the first time…

That was it for this Oktoberfest 2015 update, but stay tuned for our next preview in July with only two months to go…