What is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is a festival that starts in Munich, Germany towards the end of September every year and is now celebrated in many parts of the world and is the meeting point for everyone fond of fun. We can say that it attracts people of all ages with its colorful costumes and plenty of fun activities. This festival, attended by millions of people every year, is a meeting point where moments of fun, friendship, and enjoyment are experienced. 

So, what is the history of Oktoberfest, when is it celebrated, how many days does it last and in which countries is it celebrated? Let's examine the details of this fun festival together. 

Organized in 1810 for the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, Oktoberfest, an annual tradition since then, has gained an international dimension. This festival, one of the symbols of German culture, carries a broad meaning about the history of Germany beyond the question of what Oktoberfest is. This festival, which blends food culture and entertainment culture, attracts great attention, especially in Germany. 

Oktoberfest is a long-established tradition and is seen as a symbol of friendship and togetherness as well as being a fun festival. This festival enjoyed in many parts of the world, can also become an opportunity for you to try different flavors. This event, where you can get away from the stress of daily life and make good memories, make new friends, and have fun, will add joy to your life. 

The question of when Oktoberfest is an important detail for everyone. Oktoberfest is a festival that starts towards the end of September every year and continues until the first week of October. This festival, which lasted 4-5 days in the early days, now lasts about 16 days in Munich. The festival organized not only in Germany but also in many parts of the world on different dates during this period, became the center of attention for almost everyone. 

Where is Oktoberfest celebrated? In addition to Germany, Oktoberfest is organized in the USA, Austria, Canada, Australia, Australia, China, Brazil and many other countries. Thousands of people make plans for this festival every year to taste local flavors, experience fun-filled moments, and collect pleasant memories. Today, festival-specific entertainment is also organized in certain places in Türkiye. In this way, Oktoberfest has created an international entertainment culture and has become an event that strengthens the bonds of friendship. 

Oktoberfest 2024 will be held primarily in Munich, Germany this year, just like every year. However, you don't have to go to Germany to experience this festival. In Türkiye, especially in big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, events with the same spirit are organized. While Oktoberfest Istanbul and Oktoberfest Ankara offer an atmosphere full of local flavors and entertainment, Oktoberfest Antalya allows you to experience the festival spirit and collect pleasant memories accompanied by the sea and sun. 

Oktoberfest is a festival that lasts 16 or 18 days in Germany. But it may not last that long everywhere in the world. Especially in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and Izmir, events are planned in short intervals of 2 to 4 days. During this time, you can come together with your friends, have fun and make new friends. Oktoberfest events organized in Türkiye offer a program full of different surprises every year to reflect the festival spirit in the best way. 

When you attend Oktoberfest, you can either wear traditional clothes or participate in your style. There is no obligation here. Among Oktoberfest costumes, women usually wear dresses called dirndls, fitted at the waist. These dresses are mostly composed of vibrant colors, different corsets, and floral patterns. Men wear leather shorts or pants called lederhosen. As we said at the beginning, you can enjoy the festival by wearing comfortable and fun clothes as well as traditional clothes at Oktoberfest events. The main thing here is to have fun! 

Oktoberfest is a festival that is organized in many places in Türkiye and is full of different events. Below are 5 special events you can attend this year in cities such as Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir: 

1.    Oktober in Istanbul: Oktober in Istanbul, which will be held in Istanbul KüçükÇiftlik Park on October 4-5-6, will host festival lovers with all the fun. You can spend a perfect weekend in a concert area with many musicians, food and beverage areas, activities, competitions, and much more. Bavaria's 200 years of festival spirit await you!