The beer tents are standing, rides are making trial rounds, a lot has been done for the safety - and the weather forecast for the start of the Oktoberfest in Munich this Saturday is good: a good six million guests from all over the world will be at the largest fair in the world until the 6th of October Theresienwiese awaits.
The most important thing is a peaceful Oktoberfest, said Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) at the traditional tour two days before the start. "I have a good feeling." Fewer citizens than in previous years had approached him in the run-up to the Oktoberfest. "That's a good omen for the Wiesn."
Possibly more people could come this year than in the previous year. The Wiesn 2018 came after rather weaker years with 6.3 million guests back about the usual number of visitors.
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Oktoberfest: This is how the Wiesn preparesThe tents are reserved for this year, it is said in the hosts. Nevertheless, neither they nor the permanent leadership strive for new records. "It does not have to be a record," said the new Wiesn chief Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU). It is more about a "Qualitätswiesn". As a new festival leader, he wanted to ensure that the festival "becomes the total work of art that it really is". Last but not least, stand operators, showmen and innkeepers have to meet high standards in order to get a seat at the world's biggest folk festival.
These include eco-standards . The Oktoberfest boss honored the owner of the wine tent, Stephan Kuffler, for his climate-neutral operation. Kuffler compensates for all unavoidable CO2 emissions through climate protection projects, a reforestation project in the Allgäu and a project for clean stoves in Peru. "Those who close their eyes to climate change in these times have to make an effort," said Kuffler. He did not spend the costs of the climate compensation on the guests. "We swallowed that ourselves."
Dinosaur Adventure and Chain Carousel
At the rides there are a number of novelties, including a 90 -meter-high carousel in the maypole style. For the first time Wiesn guests can immerse themselves in virtual realities. On the VR adventure track "Dr. Archibald" they go on a journey through time, they drive through landscapes with dinosaurs, medieval fields, fairy tale forests with giant mushrooms - and float through cities of the future. In the southern part of the festival grounds, the Oidn Wiesn once again beckons with historic rides.
Tradition is also announced in the outfit . Even on the way to the festival site, visitors can quickly change their attire and slip on in dirndl and lederhosen. The trend is the cheap, often flashy last-minute-Klamotte but not: "The trend is towards muted colors and high-quality fabrics," said Yvonne Heckl of the event company of the Munich showman. Pearls, ruffles and glitter - in short: the Christbaumdirndl - are out.
Even the costume expert Alexander Wandinger from the Trachten-Informationszentrum of the district of Upper Bavaria in Benediktbeuern makes a trend towards earthy tones. "That fits in with the big fashion world, because that's when the era 'Braun' begins." He still sees the quality of the customers in terms of quality: "The quality awareness regarding processing, cut and fabric, however, still leaves much to be desired."
While fork-lift trucks are on the road shortly before the festival, "Cordula Grün" is already ringing over the Theresienwiese. The ballad of the Viennese musician Josh. was the Oktoberfest hit of the previous year. For this year: no forecast yet.