Oktoberfest interim results: More visitors and a relaxed atmosphere in the first week

With perfect festival weather, this year's Oktoberfest attracted even more people than last year. The festival management estimated the number of visitors in the first week at around 3.8 million - after 3.5 million in the previous year. Nevertheless, there were no dangerous peaks in capacity utilization. “It was a relaxed atmosphere right from the start, it was a peaceful first week,” said Wiesn boss Christian Scharpf (SPD).

A campaign with which the festival management promoted visits during the week in order to equalize the flow of visitors contributed to this, says Scharpf. There were 18.5 percent more visitors during the week, but the numbers on the weekends were slightly below the previous year's level.

The new security concept with AI-supported video cameras and a crowd spotter - these are specialists for observing and analyzing crowds - has proven itself. The innovations are a “quantum leap,” said Scharpf. On Saturday, when there was a heavy rush, entrances were temporarily closed in order to divert the masses.

The festival was overshadowed by a fatal accident. A ride safety worker died after being hit by a descending gondola. An investigation is underway as to why he was in the area where he shouldn't have been.

The guests surprisingly often chose sour shandy when it came to drinks. Scharpf said he couldn't really imagine it, but he would now try the popular drink himself. Consumption of festival beer, however, fell slightly.

And what about the Oktoberfest hit? Nothing reported so far. “Good Mood” by GroßstadtEngel is often played.

In view of the increased number of visitors, the police and the Oktoberfest medical station at the Aicher Ambulance are reporting increased numbers of operations. As every year, the largest patient group - 35 percent - was affected by “alcohol-related problems”. In addition, doctors and helpers dealt with various injuries and circulatory collapses.

The police registered around 470 crimes and administrative offenses. There were reports of, among other things, assault, theft, sexual harassment and upskirting, i.e. filming up the skirt. Drones were also spotted again and some were taken out of the sky.