Bavaria's brewing calendar made Oktoberfest inevitable. Before refrigeration, brewing in warm weather was a crapshoot: contaminants like wild yeast often spoiled the beer. So brewers took the summer off. But not before making one final batch and storing it in a cool place in the mountains. The beer was called Märzen, a robust, reddish-amber lager Bavarians enjoyed all summer.
When September's cooler days arrived, the brewers returned to their kettles. And with a new batch of beer on the way, it was time to finish off the last of the Märzen. In 1810, Münchners were given one more reason to drink up: Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese. Their nuptial celebration turned into--or, more likely, became the excuse for--Oktoberfest.
A lot has changed since the first Oktoberfest: a harvest fair was added; carnival rides made their appearance; and local breweries set up beer tents for the crowds. The beer got a makeover as well: Märzen became a lighter, less potent brew called Oktoberfest, or simply festbier.
For many of us, a trip to Munich is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But every fall, thousands of North American communities, large and small, stage homegrown Oktoberfests. Legend has it that Blob's Park, a dance hall in Jessup, Maryland, staged the first one in 1947. The idea caught on quickly; German-American societies and local chambers of commerce launched their own celebrations. Here are some of the best:
- Cincinnati, Ohio, September 14-16. Being Munich's sister city means living up to high standards, but Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati delivers. Drawing half a million or more, it's one of the most popular Oktoberfests outside Germany. Silliness is encouraged; the world 's record for the largest Chicken Dance was set here, and this year's massed kazoo band will be led by Tony Orlando.
- Columbus, Ohio, September 21-23. German Village isn't just a charming bit of living history; it's a thriving urban neighborhood. The site is unmistakably German, but the festival itself has taken on an all-American flavor, with something for all ages and tastes. The big draw is three stages where visitors can listen--and dance--to everything from the blues to country.
- Frankenmuth, Michigan, September 13-16. Michigan's "Little Bavaria" celebrated its first Oktoberfest in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall came down and the two Germanys were reunited. This little town has earned a coveted honor: its Oktoberfest is the only one in America with an official seal of approval from Munich's Lord Mayor.
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