Why Does Oktoberfest Start in September?

Ah, Oktoberfest! The world’s largest beer festival! Where you can don your lederhosen or dirndl, down massive steins of beer, and toast with strangers, as if they’re your long-lost cousins! But why does Oktoberfest start in September? Did someone spill beer on the calendar?

Here’s a bit of history

Oktoberfest began in 1810 in Munich, Germany, as a celebration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The good people of Munich were invited to join in the royal merriment, and a massive party was born. It was such a hit that they decided to make it an annual affair. And why not? Who wouldn’t want an excuse for a giant festival every year?

The first few Oktoberfests were indeed held in October. However, as the years rolled on, the organizers realized something crucial. Bavarian weather in October is about as reliable as a dachshund guarding bratwurst. It could turn chilly and damp, threatening to turn beer gardens into mud baths. So, they bumped the start date up to September when the weather is more pleasant. Think warm days and cool evenings, which is perfect for drinking beer outdoors!

Now, Oktoberfest starts in mid-September and runs through the first weekend in October, letting revelers enjoy two glorious weeks of polka moves and beer-fueled festivities. The celebration has gone global, with local variations popping up around the world.

From Munich to Manila

In the Philippines, Oktoberfest is celebrated with grand beer tents, live bands, a spread of German food, and of course, all-time favorite Filipino pulutan like crispy pata and sisig. It’s a fiesta of flavors where bratwurst meets barkada, and the beers flow as freely as the dance moves.

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So, if you clink glasses with a local while shouting “Prost!” in September, don’t be surprised if someone hands you a plate of lechon next. Because in the Philippines, why stop at one tradition when you can mash up two—and add a karaoke machine for good measure? Cheers to that!