Oktoberfest

Beer. Brats. Lederhosen.

Alex Q. Arbuckle

1902-1965

Beer maids in costume at Munich Oktoberfest. Credit: Fox Photos/Getty Images

On Oct. 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. A huge public festival was held on the fields outside the gates of Munich, including a horse race in the royal couple’s honor.The horse races were held again the following year, growing the festival into an annual occasion: Oktoberfest. As the festival grew, it added more and more rides, carnival games, agricultural shows and circus acts.The signature draw of the festival — beer — was initially offered at a few scattered stands. Those were soon replaced by massive tents and beer halls capable of seating 94,000 people.The beer served at Oktoberfest must be brewed within Munich and conform to various specifications. In recent years, attendees have downed over 6 million liters of the famous brew.Today, Oktoberfest runs for 16 days from mid-September to the first weekend in October. It is considered the largest public festival in the world - it has been cancelled a few times, but only for reasons as dire as war and cholera epidemics.These pictures show some of the many and varied entertainments at Oktoberfest across the festival's first six decades. 

A dancing bear entertains crowds at the Oktoberfest fun fair. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

A girl rides a zipline at the Oktoberfest fun fair. Credit: Philipp Kester/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Attendees compare lederhosen. Credit: Philipp Kester/ullstein bild/Getty Images

An agricultural show during Oktoberfest. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

Sideshow performers opt for tea over beer during a break from Oktoberfest performances. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

Food vendors prepare fish over a bed of coals. Credit: Robert Sennecke/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

Credit: Georg Gidal/ullstein bild/Getty Images

1934

Credit: HANNS HUBMANN/ULLSTEIN BILD/GETTY IMAGES

1935

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

1935

Credit: HANNS HUBMANN/ULLSTEIN BILD/GETTY IMAGES

1935

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

1935

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

1935

Credit: HANNS HUBMANN/ULLSTEIN BILD/GETTY IMAGES

Credit: Hanns Hubmann/ullstein bild/Getty Images

1950

Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

1954

Credit: ULLSTEIN BILD/GETTY IMAGES

A reveler feels the beer. Credit: Three Lions/Getty Images

Credit: E & O/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

American service members celebrate Oktoberfest in Neubiberg. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

Local Bavarians share beers with a Japanese tourist. Credit: Herzog/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Actress Heidi Brühl takes aim in a shooting gallery. Credit: Otfried Schmidt/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Oktoberfest carnival workers stress-test a high-wire act. Credit: Heinz O. Jurisch/ullstein bild/Getty Images