The Oktoberfest balance sheet: lots of rain, few visitors - "make the best of it"

Created: 09/30/2022, 07:22

By Phillip Plesch

The rain doesn't spoil the mood: some Wiesn visitors know how to help themselves with capes.

© Achim Frank Schmidt

Final sprint at the Oktoberfest.

So far, the showmen, landlords and stall operators have had it pretty wet.

But even if a lot is a size smaller than usual this year: the mood remains positive.

Munich – A cool wind blows through the alleys on the Theresienwiese.

One man has his hat blown off, others have their umbrellas knocked over.

It's bewitched.

The summer in Germany was hotter and drier than ever - and now?

Just in time for the Oktoberfest, Munich is getting wet: continuous rain, shivering cold.

And that after two years of pandemic-related Wiesn failure.

Wiesn 2022: Noticeably less busy due to bad weather

So the innkeepers and showmen would have enough reasons to mope.

Because it's noticeably less busy this year.

The city speaks of about ten percent fewer visitors than in 2019.

But Oktoberfest boss Clemens Baumgärtner is still indestructible: "The Oktoberfest is rainy, but happy.

The Wiesn fans are satisfied,” he says before the final weekend.

“The Wiesn as a festival is back.

2023 can come.”

Bad weather at the Wiesn: hardly any visitors on the festival grounds in the morning

Of course, the weather is also an issue for the innkeepers.

"I can't remember it ever being so cold and rainy all the time," says Wiesn host spokesman Peter Inselkammer.

It's going to be warm at the Wiesn - for a long time that was considered an unwritten law of the weather.

Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that.

But even with Peter Inselkammer there is purposeful optimism: "The Wiesn works." The mood in the tents is good - even when there is less going on.

This is particularly noticeable in the mornings.

The Oktoberfest gives a sad picture this week: Hardly any visitors stroll through the festival grounds.

The few who are there hold their umbrellas in their hands instead of delicacies from the stalls.

Some rides don't even start operating until around midday, some of the stalls are still closed with gray shutters.

One or the other showman whines.

But the gloomy are in the minority.

The tenor for most of them: "We'll make the best of it." Bad weather or not.

Gabi Walter is confident at her bratwurst stand, given the circumstances.

"First of all, of course, we're just satisfied because we can be there again," says the 56-year-old.

The bad weather?

Of course annoying.

"But there's nothing you can do about that." The number of visitors increases over the course of the day, but you can tell that people have become more cautious.

“Inflation, war, crisis, pandemic.” There are many reasons for this.

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Oktoberfest in Munich: The fact that people save is also noticed by the owner of the shooting range

Josy Steinker also notices that people are saving at her old Bavarian shooting range.

The 68-year-old grew up with the shooting gallery.

She and her two employees Christiane and Corinna not only suffer from rain and cold.

The misery began earlier: a large part of their goods and their prices in the stand come from China.

Delays, delivery bottlenecks and higher purchase prices were part of everyday life.

"We started hoarding goods for the Oktoberfest back in the summer," says Josy.

Renate Wagner also noticed that the income this year cannot keep up with 2019.

"There's no way there," she says.

The 81-year-old has been running a shooting gallery at the Wiesn for 50 years.

Wrapped up, she sits there and watches the few passers-by.

"I can't change anything about the weather and I'm glad I'm doing well," says the Wiesn veteran.

Lara Strein (19) and Christina Hellweger (21) celebrated their Oktoberfest premiere this year.

At Miris Hütt'n they both sell schnapps and cocktails.

"We would have thought that there would be more going on," they say.

"But the people are all very friendly." After all, a schnapps like this warms you from the inside.

The first visitors would come to the stand in the morning and drink a glass of wine.

But the two have another trick to stay warm: the radiant heater in their booth – and up to five layers of clothes.

Oktoberfest 2022: Beer garden waitresses are hit the hardest this year

The hardest hit this year is the beer garden waitresses.

For some, sales have almost completely collapsed.

Some take it with humor.

Manuel, beer garden waiter from the Paulaner tent, says: "We're having warm thoughts." The situation is chilly.

For example, a colleague only sold two liters on one of the first Oktoberfest days.

Rafa, who wears three jackets on top of each other, says: "You have your standard issues and nothing comes in..."

It's not that bad for the waiters in the tents.

But: "In general, there isn't such a big rush," says Tobi from the Ochsenbraterei.

He notices this especially when it comes to reservations: Many don’t show up, even without canceling – and the guests are already missing.

Tobi expects 30 percent less sales than in 2019. "But it's difficult to say, we still have a few days ahead of us." The hope for the Oktoberfest final sprint (everything about the Oktoberfest reservations) shimmers through. .

Towards the afternoon there is already more going on on the Theresienwiese.

In the evening it shines from every corner.

The festival grounds are getting crowded.

And in the tents, that's where the party goes, as usual.

Layla, Hulapalu and Sweet Caroline - the full roar from all directions.

People dance on the beer benches and sing along.

"It's just a bit more relaxed," says Peter Inselkammer, looking at the capacity utilization.

At the end of the 187th Oktoberfest, he is hoping for a good long weekend.

"We can catch up with that." Assuming the weather cooperates.

By the way, the forecast for the coming week looks much friendlier again.

Just in time for the end of the Wiesn.

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