The Oktoberfest summary of the city, innkeepers, police & guests: It was wet, but happy

Created: 04/10/2022 05:17

By Phillip Plesch

The Oktoberfest attracted many people from Munich and the surrounding area to the Theresienwiese - so there was a bit of the old charm to feel again.

© Achim Schmidt

That's it!

The 187th Oktoberfest is already over, yesterday the last toasts echoed through the tents.

This Wiesn can be described in three words: wet, but happy.

The weather was terrible, but the atmosphere was still good.

The balance is therefore rather positive.

"Despite the crisis, despite the war and despite Covid, we experienced a good mood in the tents," Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) summed up in a hoarse voice.

17 days of Wiesn have left their mark on him too.

The festival management estimates this year's number of visitors at 5.7 million.

In 2019, at 6.3 million, it wasn't that much more.

According to this, 230,000 people visited the Oide Wiesn this year (2019: 500,000).

And when asked whether these numbers were correct, Baumgärtner said emphatically: "Yes, they are correct."

Oktoberfest balance sheet 2022: It was wet but happy

The Oktoberfest 2022 will have a special place in the history books.

On the one hand because it was the first edition after two Corona cancellations - and on the other hand because of the miserable weather.

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

The sun only dominated towards the end of the first week of the festival.

Otherwise the sky was not white-blue, but gray in gray.

Rain ponchos and umbrellas became the most important utensils on the festival grounds - or the chicken hat, almost a classic of the modern Wiesn...

Despite the dreary weather, the Oktoberfest was once again an attraction for young and old: it will probably not have been the last festival for the little boy.

© Achim Schmidt

The start was still promising in terms of weather.

On September 17th at nine o'clock the sun came out punctually.

It only started to rain when the Wiesn landlords had moved in and Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) tapped into the Schottenhamel.

A hint for the next two weeks.

The four ice cream stands were even allowed to sell mulled wine in the second half - for the first time since 2008. However, this did not meet with much love from the stand operators and Oktoberfest visitors.

Baumgärtner describes the rush as “moderate”.

Oktoberfest balance sheet: beer garden business "has practically collapsed"

The waitresses in the beer gardens had to struggle particularly with the weather.

"The business has almost collapsed," said Inselkammer pityingly.

Since the innkeepers did without gas-powered radiant heaters in times of the energy crisis, there was no cozy atmosphere this year.

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This was also reflected in the quantities of beer sold.

According to the breweries, visitors drank 5.6 million liters - 1.7 million fewer than in 2019. The trend towards quality continues when it comes to food.

The guests then take more money into their hands.

Organic, regional, vegan are in great demand.

"And the cheese spaetzle are about to overtake the roast pork," says Baumgärtner.

The approximately 600 police officers at the Oktoberfest were also having fun at work.

But carousel rides remained the exception.

© Achim Schmidt

The police, fire brigade and medical service can look back on a quieter Wiesn.

However, there has been an increase in pickpocketing, sexual assault and towed cars.

Kissing under the umbrella: not a rare scene at the Wiesn 2022. © Achim Schmidt

The Aich ambulance had a special message at the end.

The CT, which was used for the first time at a folk festival, showed a jaw tumor in a patient who was being examined for a different reason - and thus saved valuable time.

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