Oktoberfest Munich, Germany

 

Oktoberfest Munich, Germany

On Saturday, the 179th Oktoberfest opened in Munich, Germany, with the traditional tapping of the first keg of beer by Munich's mayor, Christian Ude, as he shouted, "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!"). The Bavarian festival is open until October 7, and 6 million people are expected to attend. Last year, visitors drank nearly 8 million one-liter mugs of beer. Attendance is free, but the beer will cost you: This year, the price of a mug at any of the 14 tents comes to €9.50 ($12.30 U.S.). Gathered here are some scenes from Oktoberfest 2012's first few days. A waitress carries beer steins in the Hofbrau tent, during the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany, on September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Lukas Barth) These dachshunds might not be big on beer but dressed as hot dogs they were part of the festivities to kick off Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer-drinking festival. While they were far from the epicentre of the German folk festival in Munich, the little-legged dogs brought new meaning to fast food in the sixth annual ‘running of the wieners’ dog race in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday. Back at the Bavarian beer capital, the mayor of Munich tapped the first keg of beer to officially open the 179th festival which is expected to attract more than six million people to 35 beer tents in the city. Scroll down for video Dog derby: These little-legged hot dogs are racing to win the 'running of the wieners' race in Cincinnati, Ohio celebrating the beginning of Oktoberfest With only two blows of his hammer and a cry of ‘O'zapft is’ – ‘it's tapped’ - Mayor Christian Ude cracked open the first keg as the festival opened today as the rain started to fall. Thirsty visitors drunk almost eight million two-pint mugs of beer last year in Munich and with thousands already in town for the 16-day extravaganza, plenty of beer kegs are bound to be drunk dry. Fast food: The dashunds ran about 75 feet in the race at America's largest celebration of the German festival These pet owners dressed up their dogs in hot dog costumes for the race in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday Kiss for goodluck: Laurie De Wine holds her two Dachshunds Gerdie and Greta as they wait at the starting line for the hot dog race VIDEO: Watch the hilarious dachshund race in Cincinnati! A mug of beer will sell at up to 9.50 euro (£7.60) this year. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel got involved on the opening day, drinking a mug of beer during the opening of the Oktoberfest in Berlin. In Cincinnati, the Oktoberfest–Zinzinnati is America’s largest celebration of the German tradition, attended by more than 500,000 every year. Traditional games: Hanna Marie Harten takes part in a beer stein race as part of the festivities at Oktoberfest¿Zinzinnati Barrelling along: These men tried their luck at the beer barrelling race in Cincinnati Traditional games including beer stein races and the beer barrel roll get the community involved in the German celebration overseas. The winner of the beer stein race is determined by not only the best time but by the amount of beer left in the steins at the finish line. This year a mug, called a Mass in German, sells at up to 9.50 euro (£7.60). First keg of beer: Plenty of beer-drinking visitors turned out for the opening of the festivities as Munich's mayor tapped the first keg of beer for the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich 16-day extravaganza: The festival is expected to attract more than six million people to 35 beer tents in Munich Wet start: These two women tried to shield themselves and their traditional German costumes as the rain fell in Munich at the opening of the Bavarian festival German authorities will keep security tight around the fairgrounds which accommodate hundreds of thousands of people at a time, although, they say no concrete threat exists. The men’s traditional Oktoberfest costume, lederhosen (leather shorts) are considered the best attire for sessions of serious beer-drinking because they stretch to accommodate an expanding beer belly.  The festival, which was originally held in October to celebrate a royal wedding, and has been an important part of Bavarian culture since 1810. Beer in Berlin: Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel got involved, drinking a mug of beer in Berlin for the opening there   2 Members of a brass band wearing traditional Bavarian clothes participate in the riflemen's parade on September 22, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 3 A brass band plays in the Theresienwiese in Munich during Oktoberfest, on September 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Joerg Koch) # 4 Oktoberfest visitors crowd the entrance to the Schottenhamel Beer Tent in Munich, on September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Joerg Koch) # 5 In the Schottenhamel tent at the Theresienwiese in Munich, Munich's mayor, Christian Ude taps the first keg, opening Oktoberfest 2012 with the traditional cry of "O'zapft is." (AP Photo/Joerg Koch) # 6 Revelers celebrate during the opening of the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich, on September 22, 2012. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world are expected to come to the Bavarian capital over the next two weeks. (Reuters/Michael Dalder) # 7 Festival-goers reach out for the first beer in the traditional one-liter "Masskrug" beer mugs on the opening day of Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich, on September 22, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 8 Young men and women toast after getting their first beer on the opening day of Oktoberfest in Munich, on September 22, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 9 A waitress carries beer steins in the Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest tent, on Saturday, September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # 10 Revelers celebrate Oktoberfest in a beer tent in Munich, on September 22, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 11 A woman from Lower Bavaria, dressed with traditional ceremonial Bavarian costume enjoys a beer after participating in the opening parade during day 2 of Oktoberfest 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 12 Visitors crowd the Oktoberfest beer festival, seen from Bavaria hill, on September 22, 2012. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 13 Festival-goers on a carnival ride at the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich, on September 23, 2012. (Reuters/Michael Dalder) # 14 Oktoberfest visitors have a rest, on Sunday, September 23, 2012 in Munich. (AP Photo/Maja Hitij) # 15 Revelers, dressed in traditional Bavarian clothes, celebrate in the Schottenhamel beer tent during day 2 of Oktoberfest 2012, in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 16 Traditionally dressed Bavarian men raise their steins and enjoy a sunny day of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest, on September 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # 17 A man prepares Gingerbread hearts at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, on September 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # 18 Oktoberfest visitors on a carnival ride during Oktoberfest 2012, on September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Joerg Koch) # 19 Revelers have a break from drinking during Oktoberfest, on September 22, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 20 An overview from the St Peter church tower shows the festival area of Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich, on September 22, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 21 People are attracted by a luminous carnival ride in the evening of day 1 of Oktoberfest, on September 22, 2012. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 22 A young woman sells pretzels in the Augustiner beer tent at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, on September 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # 23 A waitress carries grilled chicken in a beer tent during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2012 beer festival, on September 22, 2012. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) # 24 A festival-goer lies in the grass during Oktoberfest 2012, on September 22, 2012. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) # 25 A boy stands in traditional costume at the Theresienwiese, during Oktoberfest 2012, on September 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Joerg Koch) # 26 Polish girls, dressed in traditional Polish costumes enjoy a beer after participating in the opening parade of the Oktoberfest beer festival, on September 22, 2012. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 27 A visitor wears a hat decorated with hops during the opening day of Oktoberfest 2012, on September 22, 2012. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) # 28 The giant ferris wheel is reflected in the glasses of a young woman during day 2 of Oktoberfest 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 29 Visitors to the 179th Oktoberfest take a rest on September 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Maja Hitij) # 30 Visitors raise an Oktoberfest toast on September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Lukas Barth) # 31 Revelers gather in a beer tent during the 179th Oktoberfest, on September 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Maja Hitij) # 32 A waitress carries beer mugs during day 1 of the Oktoberfest beer festival in the Hofbrauhaus beer tent on September 22, 2012. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) # 33 A man stands with an empty beer mug in a tent during Oktoberfest 2012 in Munich, Germany, on September 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # 34 A full Masskrug is lifted above the Oktoberfest crowd in the Hofbrauhaus beer tent, on September 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Lukas Barth)