"oh, yeah, sure there are all kinds of fights breaking out at state fairs in the US, aren't there? what kind of a comment is that, fights don't routinely break out at US festivals, either."

We go to the Texas state fair every year but I haven't once seen over 100,000 people drinking beer at the same time like in Oktoberfest. There are several fights every night at the state fair here in Dallas with only 5% of the drinking going on at Oktoberfest.

This is a naive question, but what exactly happens at Oktoberfest?

Is it just that there are a number of large tents with beer on tap, with large numbers of people in each tent drinking?

It's a fair with rides,games,food booths and souvenirs plus all the beer tents. The beer tents hold about 3,000 to 7,000 people each inside and serves food and beer. Theres dancing and live music in every "tent" The tents are buildings. It's a blast.

It's a "blast" if you enjoy going to something exactly as described immediately above.

Since we aren't beer drinkers we didn't go into any of the tents but enjoyed the rides, food, etc., at the fest site.

We also enjoyed the parades.

"A blast" was meant for the whole fest not just the beer. We went two nights and only had 3 beers between us.

"It's a "blast" if you enjoy going to something exactly as described immediately above"

The tents are not just tents with beer on tap and a large number of people drinking! It's a party with live music and dancing and singing. They're not beer joints. Going to Oktoberfest and not going into a tent is like going to the rose parade in California and not looking at the floats! Kind of a waste.

Good point about the naturally-occuring hormones from the malt. Beer bellies though are just a result of calories ingested versus calories burned. Men generally gain weight around their middles whereas women's weight gain is generally more evenly distributed. Hence, even men who don't drink beer but overdo the calories will develop a "beer belly".

As for the fights at state fairs and so forth, there ALWAYS seem to be fights around here (San Jose, CA). A few years ago, we had a small-scale riot after a Cinco de Mayo festival. There are fights at the county fairs and at the state fair too - seem to always involve people who can't hold their alcohol, or the alcohol is a convinient excuse to act badly.

If you are female then please beware of the "drunken Italians" that show up on the second week. When we were there last September they were literally attacking any and all young females.

And, yes, I do mean attacking.

We went (also 2) at 11 am on a Sunday and had trouble getting a seat at several of the more popular tents. You should be able to find seating somewhere, but not necessarily right away or in your first choice tent.

Be advised most, if not all, tents will not serve you unless you find a seat. As for can't miss beers, Spaten Oktoberfest is my favorite.

>is no lack of violence at Oktoberfest?
The fighting problem is extreme nowadays at most fests. Just visit one of the many local volksfests.

>The fighting problem is extreme nowadays at most fests. Just visit one of the many local volksfests.

Well, as long as you don´t visit ones in rural Saxony...

>ural Saxony
That just came up, because foreigners were involved and it may have been racist. The everyday violence, mainly comitted by youngsters is hardly reported anymore.

I really don't understand why this thread is an issue??? I said the Oktoberfest is safe and friendly am I wrong?.

>am I wrong?
Well, yes unfortunately. In the tents you wont have problems. Security are fast and efficient! Outside the area, esp. in the Westend, there are problems. Police can't be everywhere. I'm pi**ed every year about those idiots that ruin everything.

You live there.. I guess you would know better then anyone. We just had a great time and nobody messed with us even when we walked home to the K+K am Harras about 1 1/2 miles away at midnight.

Yeah, I always wonder how people manage to find the right places for their "sports" and not attract the police instantly.

I wonder if you think Munich is an unsafe town for tourists?

Munich is one of the safest cities. Tourists usually don't go in problematic areas, nor have they heared of those. However, there are at least two areas of town, where you may run into trouble at night. At certain suburbs there may be trouble too. I know a guy that has been attacked and sufferd severe brain damage. Those people who like to fight after Oktoberfest usually do that at the strangest places that are usually considered perfectly safe. As said before, total idiots!

I understand. What two areas do you feel may be unsafe?

"Unsafe" at night, (although usually everything is fine, but if someting happens it will be there. Most Munich people wouldn't want to roam around there at night) are Hasenbergl and Neuperlach. Things have improved lately, but hose who cause trouble still live there. West of town, parts of Germering have gotten a bad reputation lately.