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Visitors on their way to the tent: The Oktoberfest has begun in Munich.
Photo: Anna Szilagyi / EPA
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A banner with the inscription "Himmel der Bayern" can be seen in a beer tent on the Theresienwiese. The Oktoberfest is taking place for the 188th time.
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
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A man hangs gingerbread hearts. Munich is expecting six million visitors from all over the world this year.
Photo: Anna Szilagyi / EPA
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An employee of a ride is busy with the final construction work on the Theresienwiese.
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
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Already at dawn, people had queued up to get a place in a beer tent. Here some visitors run to the tents.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
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Creative calf warmers: Oktoberfest visitors in Munich.
Photo: Angelika Warmuth / REUTERS
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The young visitors are waiting to be admitted.
Photo: Angelika Warmuth / REUTERS
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The weather cooperates in Munich. A woman is waiting for it to start.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
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Race to beer happiness: A visitor has already had to be treated by paramedics because he fell into the tent on the way and suffered abrasions.
Photo: Anna Szilagyi / EPA
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Calm before the storm: A waitress is waiting for the first guests.
Photo: Christof Stache / AFP
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Waitresses of the Schottenhamel marquee are happy about the start of the Oktoberfest.
Photo: Matthias Schrader / AP
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Long shadows. Oktoberfest visitors wait for admission in the early morning.
Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa
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Opening of the Oktoberfest: Showmen on bicycles and long queues in front of the tents.
Photo: Anna Szilagyi / EPA
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On the Oktoberfest grounds, a carousel rotates in front of St. Paul's Church.
Photo: Lukas Barth / dpa
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Musicians join in the parade of the Oktoberfest hosts.
Photo: Felix Hörhager / dpa
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Cuddly toys on a dirndl. Last year, only about 5.7 million visitors came.
Photograph:
John Simon / Getty Images
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A toast, a toast to cosiness: the festival lasts 18 days — two days longer than usual. It has been extended beyond the first weekend of October until October 3.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
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Of course, pretzels should not be missing: Important basis.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
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Florian Silbereisen and Andreas Gabalier join in the celebrations on the very first day.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
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Mayor Dieter Reiter takes part in the opening parade. At the Oktoberfest, paragraph 46 of the operating regulations stipulates: Political events – including election campaigns – are prohibited, as are charity events, fashion shows and opinion polls.
Photo: ANNA SZILAGYI / EPA
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A heart in the sky above the Oktoberfest. There is no better way to imagine it.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
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The mood quickly arises: visitors celebrate exuberantly in a beer tent.
Photograph:
Sven Hoppe / dpa
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In the heaven of Bavaria: The Hacker-Pschorr tent is jam-packed.
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
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Dirndl and lederhosen are a must.
Photograph:
John Simon / Getty Images
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Sparrow, sweetheart, smack: gingerbread hearts sweeten a visit to the Oktoberfest or are a nice souvenir.
Photo: Anna Szilagyi / EPA
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The decoration on the hats is part of the tradition: traditional costumers walk across the festival grounds.
Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa