MUNICH (AP) — Munich kicked off Oktoberfest with a beer keg uncorking ceremony. Mayor Dieter Reiter plugged the first keg at noon, officially kicking off the 189th Oktoberfest. The festivities run through Oct. 6 in 18 large tents that cover the grounds and are billed as the world’s largest folk festival.
People rush to take part in the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A waitress waits for the gates to open before the start of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by The Associated Press/Matthias Schroeder)
Visitors wait for the start of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in front of paintings of Munich’s landmarks in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Bavarian musicians prepare inside the Augustiner Tent for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, on Saturday morning, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Young people wait for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Police provide security for the start of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Festival-goers compete for the first beer in the beer tents of the Hofbleuhaus on the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A waitress carries beer mugs in the Hofbrauhaus beer tent during the first day of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A woman sells pretzels at the Hofbrauhaus beer tent on the first day of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Visitors wait inside the Hacker-Pschorr brewery tent during the opening of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Visitors wearing traditional Bavarian costumes and moustaches attend the opening ceremony of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Beer mugs are prepared in a marquee for the opening of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Participants enjoy their first beer on the first day of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by The Associated Press/Matthias Schroeder)
Oktoberfest organizers arrive for the opening of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Young people wait for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A waitress poses with customers in the Hofbrauhaus beer tent during the first day of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
Traditional Oktoberfest music bands parade during the opening of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A waitress prepares beer mugs inside the Augustiner Tent for the start of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, on Saturday morning, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A woman prepares a gingerbread stand for the start of the 189th Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by The Associated Press/Matthias Schroeder)
Bavarian musicians walk during the opening of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, on Saturday morning, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A man wearing a traditional Bavarian hat is photographed in front of a painting of Munich’s landmarks during the opening of the 189th annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
A drinking lion, the mascot of the “Löwenbräu” brewery, sits on a rooftop next to a giant beer mug, the logo of the “Paulaner” brewery, during the first day of the 189th beer festival “Oktoberfest” in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schroeder)
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