Oktoberfest is a popular beer festival originating in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is known for music and attractions that also celebrate German culture, more precisely from the state of Bavaria. The festival takes place annually in the middle or end of September and ends on the Sunday of October, hence its name.

On October 12, 1810, the wedding between King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen took place in Munich, where the guests organized various shows and attractions for that occasion, such as horse racing, as well as drinks, which were served the population. In the following years, the same event was repeated in the city, adding new elements and giving more forms to the festival, allowing it to become a symbol of local culture and spread to other parts of the world, who also obtained similar variants, due to festival's popularity and mainly by the German diaspora. In Munich, Oktoberfest is known as d'Wiesn , named after the local amusement park Theresienwiese ( Therese's meadow ), which is where the fest takes place.

Since its spread around the world, the festival has gained replicas and versions in different countries.

Among the most visited are in Kitchener, Canada, Qingdao, China and Blumenau, Brazil.

Other places where the festival is notorious include the United States, Sweden, Japan, Australia, Russia and Namibia. In Germany, outside Bavaria, the festival is also celebrated in Hannover, Lower Saxony, being the second largest in the country.

Oktoberfest visuals bring elements and aspects such as:

Oktoberfest fashion consists of Tracht , which refers to traditional garments of German-speaking countries, that includes Lederhosen and Dirndl , as well as Tyrolean hats . The clothes were worn by peasants living in the Alps and rural areas. When the festival began, these garments were considered outdated until they were revived as they became a registered and memorable trademark of the residents of the Bavarian Alps. Tracht is not mandatory for the festival, although it is preferably worn by many of the visitors and hosts. As Oktoberfest in Munich takes place in autumn , the weather tends to be cold, which makes many visitors wear scarves and other cold-weather clothing.

Oktoberfest music includes a range of German and European folk music genres that have been adopted for the festival, such as Polka, Schlanger, Mazurka, Schottish, Waltz and Landler, which are commonly played by local bands. Brass instruments are the main ones used by bands.

At some point during the party, the traditional German Ooompah is played, with decibels below 85. Modern and lively music with electric instruments is also included in the festival.

The main activities of Oktoberfest involve participating and attending the attractions, which include: