Oktoberfest 2013 – in pictures

The festival starts with the arrival of the tent patrons with a parade through Munich Photograph: Andreas Gebert/dpa/Corbis

Revellers in the Schottenhamel tent wait for tapping of the first beer barrel at noon Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

Munich mayor, Christian Ude, taps the first barrel of beer and shouts the traditional O'zapft is! (It's tapped!) to launch the festival Photograph: Michaela Rehle/Reuters

Drinkers reach for the first mug of beer after the tapping of the first barrel Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters

A Bavarian dressed man arrives with his sausage dogs and extravagant facial hair Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

Impressive upper body strength shown by a waitress in the Hofbraeuzelt beer tent Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP

Wilfried and Wilfried, two men from Darmstadt, western Germany, in their giant lederhosen Photograph: Tobias Hase/AFP/Getty Images

General view of the throng Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Some much needed Bavarian food after all that supping in the Schottenhamel tent Photograph: Joerg Koch/Getty Images

Is it wise to do that after a number of steins? Photograph: Tobias Hase/EPA

Or that? Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

A well-needed break Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

The festival is in full swing in this tent Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

A well-needed break for the workers Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP

The whirligig looks popular Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

The fun atmosphere event extends to the ambulance crews Photograph: Andreas Gebert/AFP/Getty Images

If you drank all that beer, this is what would happen to your vision Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Some people are enjoying this ride more than others Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP

People enjoy a swing ride in front of the St Pauls church Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP

Someone needs a break Photograph: Andreas Gebert/EPA

Visitors walk through a crowded street during sunset Photograph: Joerg Koch/Getty Images

A whirligig turns in front of the ferris wheel Photograph: Marc Mueller/EPA

German tennis legend Boris Becker and his wife Sharlely attend the festival Photograph: Imago/Barcroft Media

A long exposure shot of the giant ferris wheel Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

A general night aerial view Photograph: Andreas Gebert/EPA

Young men wearing the garb of local associations take part in the traditional costume parade of the Oktoberfest beer festival in front of the Odeons church Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Riflemen dressed in their traditional uniform clink their beer glasses Photograph: Lennart Preiss/Getty Images

A woman wearing a traditional Bavarian clothing looks for gingerbread hearts at the historical area of the Oktoberfest Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

More impressive upper body strength, this time from bartender Peter who's transporting 16 mugs of beer Photograph: Andreas Gebert/EPA

Thirsty visitors Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

If the size of the gingerbread heart is anything to go by, he loves her a lot Photograph: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

Hollywood A-lister Samuel L Jackson pays a visit. Wonder if the L stands for lederhosen? Photograph: Picture Perfect/Rex Features