Annual Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich with beer, lederhosen, sausages
Visitors cheer with beers during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Thousands of visitors, many of them dressed in traditional lederhosen or dirndl corseted dresses, descended on Munich on Saturday for the start of the annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival.
Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter, kicked off the festivities by tapping open the first beer keg with a traditional shout of "O zapft is!" ("It's tapped" in English).
Revelers arrived early to secure spaces at the coveted long communal tables in tents, where visitors swig beer, munch on sausages, pretzel or pork knuckle, and listen to oompah bands.
A waitress carries mugs of beer during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert
Oktoberfest has its origins in a horse race that took place in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
The public festivities on the Theresienwiese open ground - named after the bride - became more elaborate as time went on, with stalls and amusement rises and it gradually turned into a folk festival.
Oktoberfest attracts around six million visitors every year, with some traveling from abroad for the experience. This year's festival runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7.
Visitors cheer during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael Dalder
(Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Gareth Jones)
A visitor rests during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors cheer with beers during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors ride a swing ride during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors ride a ferris wheel during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors ride a swing ride during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertA general view shows the festival ground during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors ride a roller coaster during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderA visitor drinks beer during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderA general view shows the festival ground during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors cheer during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderMunich mayor Dieter Reiter prepares to tap the first barrel of beer during the opening ceremony of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertMunich mayor Dieter Reiter prepares to tap the first barrel of beer during the opening ceremony of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors toast with beers during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors toast with beers during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors reach for the first mugs of beer during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderMunich mayor Dieter Reiter and Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Soeder toast with beers at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertMunich mayor Dieter Reiter and Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Soeder toast with beers at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertMunich mayor Dieter Reiter and Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Soeder pose at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors take photos at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors cheer at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors run to get a spot at the Oktoberfest area at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertA visitor poses for a picture at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertA visitor poses for a picture at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors queue as they wait to enter the tent at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors queue outside the tent at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderA woman adjusts traditional gingerbread hearts at a booth at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderPolice officers are seen standing in front of the ferris wheel during the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors run to get a spot at the Oktoberfest area at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors run to get a spot at the Oktoberfest area at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Andreas GebertVisitors run to get a spot at the Oktoberfest area at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors queue outside the tent at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael DalderVisitors queue as they wait for the security to let them enter the Oktoberfest area at the opening day of the 185th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Michael Dalder
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