Oktoberfest - Wiesn set-up has begun - beer price mystery
Tree machinery rolls, trucks transport containers: Two and a half months before the start of Munich's Oktoberfest, construction work began on Monday. The festival grounds have become a construction site, entry is prohibited for safety reasons. The Oktoberfest will be celebrated from September 21 to October 6, considered the largest folk festival in the world.
Construction work has started earlier this year than usual - to the satisfaction of the hosts, who will have an extra week. They had complained that time was running short and that the work was becoming increasingly complex.
Recruitment of personnel is going well, according to spokespersons Peter Inselkammer and Christian Schottenhamel on Monday in response to inquiries. The situation is good, with more than sufficient applications for service staff. Even helper positions have no shortages in sight. "The only shortage is cooks."
It is still uncertain what the beer will cost - one of the central questions for Munich. The city of Munich plans to announce the prices in the middle of the week. It is already clear that the price for a liter mug will likely at least crack the 15 Euro mark in some tents. The highest price last year was 14.90 Euro. In many tents, a liter mug cost 14.50 Euro, with an average price of 14.18 Euro.
Procedure for beer prices: Hosts and breweries submit their planned beverage prices - including for Limonade and mineral water. The city only checks if the proposals are appropriate. Mineral water cost more than ten Euros in many places in 2023. For the first time, free drinking water was available at extra installed fountains. Ten fountains are planned for this year, double the number from the previous year.
The construction machine's relentless drumming echoed through the air as trucks transported containers to the Oktoberfest grounds, now transformed into a bustling construction site. Customs officials had to ensure that all imported materials for the German festival complied with regulations. Despite the early start, some modifications were required to 'fix' certain aspects of the construction plan. In the heart of Bavaria, Munich, the anticipation for Oktoberfest grew, with residents and visitors alike pondering the riddle of what the 'beer price' would be this year during the festivities.
