Who says that you need to be in Germany to have an authentic Oktoberfest experience, when everything you need is right here in Las Vegas? Of course it is NEVER going to be the same as the actual Oktoberfest held in Munich, Germany, but it’s pretty dang close! Running from September 20^th to October 5^th this year, Oktoberfest is one holiday worth celebrating!

Oktoberfest is a 16-17 day festival that is held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany each year from late September into early October. The holiday celebrates beer and good times with friends and family! The original Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810 and ever since it has been a huge tradition in Germany. Over 6 million people attend the event in Germany each year, as it is one of the most important parts of the Bavarian culture. The tapping of the first keg is the official ceremonial start of the event. It is typically performed by the current mayor of Munich. From the second you hear “O’zapft is!” (It is tapped!); you know that Oktoberfest has officially begun! The festival is know as the Largest Volksfest (People’s Fair) in the World.” 72% of the attendees to the event are usually Bavarian locals and the rest are all tourists looking to see what all of the hype is about. The “hype” can best be expressed through numbers. Let’s do some simple math here. Approximately 69,406 hectoliters of beer was consumed at last year’s events in Munich. That is around 1.8 MILLION GALLONS OF BEER! There were also 79,624 liters of wine consumed and 32,047 liters of sparkling wine.

Since not all of us get the great opportunity of celebrating this holiday in the actual city of Munich, there are tons of great options throughout Las Vegas to join in on all of the fun. THE hotspot to hit for Oktoberfest in Las Vegas, however, is Hofbrauhaus. Having first come to Las Vegas in December of 2003, Hofbrauhaus was developed by Stefan Gastager who had a vision for introducing a true piece of Germany to the Strip where people could indulge in high quality Bavarian food, beer, and hospitality. He invested over $12 million in the place, located right across from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The building is an actual replica of the original Hofbrauhaus Munchen in Munich, which has been a famous German attraction since 1589. He thought Las Vegas would be a great spot for the restaurant because of the extremely mixed multicultural population of the city. The restaurant is a city favorite and has not disappointed with their set motto of “Every Day is Oktoberfest!”

Hofbrauhaus offers a classic Bavarian atmosphere where you can indulge in the best of Bavarian food, beer, music, and more. The Bavarian beers on tap at the restaurant carry a deep rooted German history with them. The beers used are made from a recipe that is over 400 years old and is shipped in from Munich, specifically to celebrate the essence of Oktoberfest in Las Vegas. There is both an inside beer hall and an outdoor beer garden to enjoy the great refreshments here. Hofbrauhaus offers Bavarian food favorites of pretzels, bratwursts, sausage with sauerkraut, and more! All of the food is prepared by German chefs, so you know the food is authentic cuisine. Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus is celebrated with the tradition of the tapping of the ceremonial keg by celebrities of Las Vegas. This year, Siegfried & Roy actually tapped the first keg of the holiday on September 13^th. Since the restaurant realizes that not everyone can be there for the first one, they repeat the tradition throughout the duration of Oktoberfest. Others to take part in the celebratory tradition of the tapping of the keg for this year’s event include the ladies of Fantasy (Sept. 19), the Sopranos' Last Supper cast (Sept. 26), Lance Burton (Oct. 5), and Fab Four Live (Oct. 31). There are also tons of fun activities, including numerous Stein Holding contests, where contestants must hold out a full stein of beer (equaling out to about 3 lbs) parallel to their shoulder blades for as long as they can and the winner gets a souvenir stein glass.

Other hotels, restaurants, bars, and more throughout the city are celebrating this holiday of fun, drinking, and authentic German history, as well. You do not have to be of German decent to enjoy Oktoberfest! All are welcome! Just make sure that you don’t become a “Bierleichen” (Drunk Patron) for all to make fun of! Drink responsibly and have a great Oktoberfest!

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