Munich, Germany · September 19, 2026

Oktoberfest

Sixteen days in Munich, mostly in September — a wedding party that never stopped.

What happened

It began on 12 October 1810 as the public celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. The citizens of Munich were invited to the fields outside the city gates, and there were horse races. The races are long gone and the dates moved earlier into September for better weather, but the fields are still called the Theresienwiese, after the bride.

Why it stuck

For children it is a fairground with a brass band: the oldest rides in Europe, gingerbread hearts with messages iced on them, and everybody in the same clothes their grandparents wore.

What a family can do

Gingerbread hearts with a message piped on. Brass band music while you make them.

Questions to work through

1. The festival is named after a field, which is named after a bride. Find her name.
2. It is called Oktoberfest but mostly happens in September. Why was it moved?
3. Design a gingerbread heart with a message for somebody in your house.