How September became Oktoberfest month

"When most people think of Oktoberfest, they think of October - understandably. But in reality, October is when Munich's biggest celebration ends. The majority of Oktoberfest takes place in September. To understand why, have to go way back to 1810, when Bavaria's Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Her parents ruled the nearby Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, today known simply as the German district of Hildburghausen in central Germany, with its border along northern Bavaria."

"The actual wedding took place on October 12. It lasted five days, and included a folk festival, a free opera, play, ball, music academy and horse race. While her husband, Prince Ludwig was a notorious philanderer, Therese endeared herself to the citizens of Bavaria, and the site of the wedding was renamed Theresienwiese in her honor. The wedding reception's activities were repeated the next year, and each year after that, eventually evolving into the modern Oktoberfest celebrated today."

"During the late 1800s, the dates started shifting earlier to take advantage of more predictably warmer weather. Now, it ends on the first Sunday in October, and usually starts 16 days before. I say usually, because sometimes German Reunification Day, Oct. 3, falls before the last Sunday, in which case the festival concludes instead on that holiday. That means Oktoberfest can be as long as 18 days, which it was in 2023."

Oktoberfest primarily takes place in September and originates from the 1810 wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The wedding began October 12 and lasted five days, featuring a folk festival, a free opera, plays, a ball, a music academy and a horse race. The wedding site was renamed Theresienwiese in honor of Therese, and the reception activities were repeated annually, evolving into the modern festival. The celebration has been canceled only a few times for cholera, wars, and twice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dates shifted earlier in the late 1800s for warmer weather, and the festival now ends the first Sunday in October, usually starting 16 days before; if Oct. 3 falls before the last Sunday the festival concludes on that holiday, allowing runs up to 18 days. The festival customarily begins with the Munich mayor tapping the first keg at a noon ceremony.

Read at The Mercury News