Last year there was a critical crowd at the Oktoberfest on the middle Saturday of the Oktoberfest. How crowded will it be this time? The rush is already big in the morning.
All developments in the live blog
The second weekend of the Oktoberfest is coming up - and summer temperatures prevail on this autumn day in Munich. Crowds are already streaming onto the festival lawn.
How big will the crowd be? This is being closely monitored by the security forces in order to avoid a crowd like last year. At that time, the festival grounds had to be closed on the second Saturday of the Oktoberfest due to overcrowding. Panic broke out among many people standing in the crowd. Miraculously nothing happened. The city then sharpened its security concept.
The Oktoberfest was already very full on Friday. Even more visitors are expected on Saturday.
An Oktoberfest drama - filming at the flea circus
Dramas take place every day at the Oktoberfest, one of which will soon be shown on Netflix. Because Simon Verhoeven is currently filming a romantic comedy about an Oktoberfest waitress on the Theresienwiese. 4,000 were wanted for this.
The film has a top-class cast, the production company Wiedemann and Berg had revealed that much in advance, but did not mention any names. Of course, nothing remains hidden at the Oktoberfest and so reporter Susi Wimmer caught the filming team on Friday. Michaela May is in the rom-com, so much can be revealed here. And small fleas are also likely to play a role.
The Oktoberfest starts its second weekend
A few minutes after 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of Oktoberfest at the Esperantoplatz entrance and one of the stewards has to say a word of authority because the crowd of masses wanting to celebrate at the entrance is too big. As was the case on the first weekend, visitors are admitted in stages, but some apparently don't want to accept this and people keep rushing forward. "What's going on here, do you only have grits in your head?" the speaker complains at some point. But then the music starts - and of course everyone comes onto the premises at the end.
Commemoration of victims of the Oktoberfest attack
It was almost half a century ago, but many of those affected are still suffering today: On the evening of September 26, 1980, a right-wing extremist bomber exploded at the main entrance to the Oktoberfest. Twelve people died and around 200 were injured. In the morning, representatives of the city, the bereaved and the DGB youth, who had kept the memory alive for years, remembered them.
This year, the organizers also focused attention on those who were first there and helped. One of them was Ramin Assisi. He reported how he stopped the blood of a man with a torn leg with a belt, and emphasized that emotional wounds do not heal without care.
Munich's Second Mayor Mona Fuchs said that this day obliges the city to stand by those affected in solidarity and empathy.
Groper gets banned from Oktoberfest
For a 32-year-old, the 191st Oktoberfest is over again because of repeated sexual assaults. According to police, the man had repeatedly harassed and groped women. The district administration department issued a general ban on entry to the festival grounds.
Pickpocket arrested in Schottenhamel tent
The Munich police have arrested a 51-year-old after an attempted pickpocketing in the Schottenhamel tent. An investigation is now underway.
Police take drone out of service over Oktoberfest
A 50-year-old drone pilot was temporarily arrested for violating the flight restriction zone over Oktoberfest. Special forces had previously taken control of the drone.
First peck, then toast
According to the city, the vaccination service at Oktoberfest exceeded previous expectations. In the first six days, 322 people were vaccinated against either flu, corona or both.
City advises on the “Italian weekend”: It’s better to use the side entrances
The so-called Italian weekend starts today. In order to control the flow of visitors, the city recommends avoiding Wirtsbudenstrasse when changing reservations and entering the site via side entrances.
Irishman hits security guards in the face
Out of false solidarity, an Oktoberfest visitor from Ireland punched a security employee in the Augustiner tent in the face when he tried to escort an Australian out of the tent.
40-year-old shows Hitler salute
A 40-year-old in the hacker tent raised his right arm in the Hitler salute and said “Heil Hitler!” roared. Witnesses alerted the police.
