OKTOBERFEST

annual festival held in Munich, Ger., lasting two weeks and ending on the first Sunday in October. The festival originated as a horse race celebrating the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. The following year, the race was combined with the state agricultural fair, and in 1818 booths serving food and drink were first introduced. By the late 20th century these booths had developed into large temporary beer halls, complete with interior balconies, central bandstands, and seating capacities of about 3,0005,000 each. Munich breweries each erect one of these plywood structures, where they serve a beer containing 4.5 percent alcohol, brewed specially for the occasion. Total beer consumption during the festival exceeds 44,500 hectolitres (1,175,000 gallons).