Oktoberfest 2016 Roundup
With 5.6 million visitors, Oktoberfest 2016 once again remained the world’s largest beer festival.
While numbers were slightly down from last year (when 5.9 million attended) due to cool and often rainy weather, the additional security measures announced this year did not deter thirsty visitors significantly.
What was noticeable was a far more relaxed atmosphere, with much shorter queues on weekends. Visitors overwhelmingly reported feeling safe, with new entrance checks and a security fence around the entire festival grounds.
They were thirsty and hungry
A total of 109 oxen and 58 calves were consumed, slightly less than the previous year. Official beer consumption figures have yet to be released, although it is expected to reach over 6 million Litres once again – a staggering amount by any comparison.
Over 96,000 beer mugs were taken by security from “souvenir hunters” (read: would-be-thieves).
The Wiesn Hit, the term used to describe the most popular song each year, was Hulapalu by Andreas Gabalier, with bands in every beer tent pumping this out to the massive crowds raising their beer glasses by the thousands in return.
Hulapalu was the 2016 Oktoberfest hit
Some of the more interesting statistics that round up the festival:
- 9 lost children were taken care of by the Red Cross and 16 youth by municipal staff
- Almost 3,000 lost items were collected incl. 680 pieces of clothing, 580 passports, 410 smartphones, 250 glasses, 220 keys, 90 bags and backpacks, 55 items of jewellery and watches as well as 15 cameras
- The most notable find? A doctor’s certificate for work disability for the duration of the Oktoberfest
Thirsty? Join us in 2017 on our epic Oktoberfest packages.
