Ever wonder why Oktoberfest happens in September?

Well, true to name, Oktoberfest was originally held in October – or Oktober, in German. The first Oktoberfest, held on October 12, 1810, was a wedding celebration and parade honoring the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen . Six days of festivities took place on the outskirts of Munich on fairgrounds named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadow) after the princess, concluding on October 17 with a horse race. The festival was such a hit that it was repeated in following years. Additional features such as a Bavarian agricultural show and carnival booths were added as the festival grew. In 1819, Oktoberfest became an annual event run by the city fathers.

This year marked the 211th anniversary of the world’s largest beer festival, with more than six million attendees consuming more than one million gallons of beer. Oktoberfest still takes place on those original festival fields and now runs for 16-18 days. The last day of the festival is always held on the first Sunday of October.

So why was the festival moved to September? Longer days and warmer weather meant more time for partying, of course!