| Rafting, Ring Cakes and Labyrinths - Oktoberfest Highlights 2006 |
 At last: on Saturday, September 16th, the Oktoberfest has opened its gates. This year, the "Wiesn" (meadow), as Munich's citizens refer to the spectacle, lasts full eighteen days. October 3rd, Germany's national holiday, is a Tuesday this year. Therefore, the world's biggest folk festival was granted two extra days. We will celebrate the "longest and biggest Oktoberfest ever," says Dr. Gabriele Weishäupl, head of Munich's board of tourism. And, as always, there are some interesting new festival highlights.
Gourmets should pay the new Wiesn-Guglhupf (ring cake) a visit Right next doors, the Familien-Platzl (family space) was opened for the first time this year, serving all those who want to visit the festival with small children. Away from the busy main roads, at the exit to Beethovenstraße, you can find the new buggy parking garage, a baby change and a microwave oven to warm baby food. In the neighborhood, young visitors can take a ride at the hippodorme, the merry-go-round or play darts. And their parents can relax at the Weißbiergarten (Wheat Beer Garden). There, following beer garden tradition, you can even bring your own food. |
Granted, this is not the first 18-day Oktoberfest, but the previous one had to share the festival grounds with the Central Agricultural Festival - leaving less space for beer tents and rides - while this year, the entire "Theresienwiese" is reserved for the Oktoberfest. That means, more space for bigger rides, such as the new whitewater rafting ride, "Wild'n Wet". There, you board a kind of roundshaped boat together with up to eight other passengers. An elevator then takes the boat upstairs, 19 meters (more than 62 feet) above ground, making a 180 degree turn in the process. Up there, your ride down the raging torrent begins. Depending on the number and weight of the passengers, the boat rotates gently or fast. The canal meanders downwards in narrow serpentines, spanning 250 meters (more than 273 yards) in total, until the ride ends with a refreshing splash. When the weather is fine, a ride down the Wild'n Wet is the perfect way to end an exhausting stroll around the festival grounds!
At the Bavarian-style "Münchner Hoffreuhaus" (Munich Royal Fun House) and at Futureworld, a labyrinth inspired by space travel, visitors must mind their step. At both attractions, one has to walk on rotating cylinders, cross swaying bridges and walk through revolving tunnels in semidarkness. Therefore one should better try these rides before visiting a beer tent. Children can leave the Hoffreuhaus sliding down a tube, while adults are forced to wait for the right moment to cross the final bridge - or get soaked.
. This rotating coffee bar, shaped like a giang ring cake (Road 3 East) is a subsidiary of Munich's famous Café Guglhupf. At small tables you can enjoy a cup of coffee and the view of the festival grounds while the entire café revolves around itself. In addition to coffee, tea and hot chocolate, you may of course try all kinds of ring cakes. How about a plum or poppy seed ring cake? But even guests who do not have a sweet tooth will find something to their liking - the café even serves ring cakes with tomatoes and olives, spinach and feta cheese or salmon! In the morning you can have breakfast here and in the evening you can finish your visit to the Oktoberfest with a cocktail at the Guglhupf.