For Oktoberfest-Goers In Munich, A Parade And A Party

NPR | By Bill Chappell

Published September 21, 2014 at 1:46 PM EDT

1 of 6 — Men and women in their traditional Bavarian clothing enjoy the atmosphere at the Augustiner Beer tent after the Parade of Costumes and Riflemen (Trachten- und Schuetzenzug) in Munich. The 181st Oktoberfest will be open to the public from September 20 through October 5 and traditionally draws millions of visitors from across the globe in the world's largest beer fest.

Men and women in their traditional Bavarian clothing enjoy the atmosphere at the Augustiner Beer tent after the Parade of Costumes and Riflemen (Trachten- und Schuetzenzug) in Munich. The 181st Oktoberfest will be open to the public from September 20 through October 5 and traditionally draws millions of visitors from across the globe in the world's largest beer fest.

2 of 6 — A woman carries 11 liters of beer in the Hofbräu tent.

A woman carries 11 liters of beer in the Hofbräu tent.

3 of 6 — Participants of the Parade of Costumes and Riflemen (Trachten- und Schuetzenzug) wearing 'Wadlstruempfe' traditional Bavarian stockings gather on the second day of the 2014 Oktoberfest in Munich.

Participants of the Parade of Costumes and Riflemen (Trachten- und Schuetzenzug) wearing 'Wadlstruempfe' traditional Bavarian stockings gather on the second day of the 2014 Oktoberfest in Munich.

4 of 6 — A marching band participates in the costume and shooting club parade at the Oktoberfest in Munich, celebrating Bavaria in Germany.

A marching band participates in the costume and shooting club parade at the Oktoberfest in Munich, celebrating Bavaria in Germany.

5 of 6 — A brass band dressed in traditional Bavarian clothes takes part in the Oktoberfest parade in Munich Sunday.

A brass band dressed in traditional Bavarian clothes takes part in the Oktoberfest parade in Munich Sunday.

6 of 6 — People in traditional Bavarian clothes take a break after the Oktoberfest parade in Munich.

People in traditional Bavarian clothes take a break after the Oktoberfest parade in Munich.

Munich kicked off this year's Oktoberfest Saturday, beginning festivities in which the city expects to host 6 million visitors. Today's events included a parade celebrating Bavarian culture – and of course, the rampant consumption of beer, served in a traditional one-liter Mass mug.

The 16-day festival will end on Oct. 5. In that time, organizers say people will drink enough beer to fill more than two Olympic swimming pools. And as we noted in a post back in 2011, celebrants normally lose more than 4,000 items at Munich's big party. The lost property has previously included a wheelchair and a Viking helmet.

Looking around for news from this year's festival, we noticed these interesting bits:

For the first time, beer prices have risen over 10 euros ($12.83) for one liter.

The traditional men's Gamsbart hat – with a tuft of animal hair representing a hunting trophy – is a status symbol that "costs around 1000 euros," or $1,283, according to Deutsche Welle.

In the Ochsenbraterei beer tent, the specialty is roast oxen, reports Germany's The Local. A plate of the meat, which is roasted on-site, costs nearly 16 euros (about $20.50).

Nearly 7 million liters of beer will be served. Most of it is around 6 percent alcohol by volume.

In the Hofbräu-Festzelt tent, "an entire field of hops is used to decorate," The Local says.