Beer, bands, and babies. Yes, mom and dad, you can check Oktoberfest off your bucket list with little ones at your side. Don’t worry. You will not get any odd looks or second glances when you enter beer tents with children. In fact, you will see other children. Oktoberfest in Munich is fun for the whole family. Here’s what to do…
1. Dress for the Occassion
Want to dress like a local and not stand out as a tourist? Buy a dirndl (women/girls) or lederhosen (boys/men). But ladies, don’t purchase one from your local Halloween or costume shop. The hem of dirndls should hit your knee or slightly below. These traditional Bavarian dresses can be costly. They can be found at German department stores or online. We purchased everything from Amazon. Finding dirndls online for children is a little more difficult. Etsy is a better place to look for them. But regardless of what you wear, wear comfortable shoes and pay attention to the weather. You may want to grab a sweater or rain coat. Even the tents get chilly.
2. Travel Light
No big purses, back packs or large bags. Security has increased. Strollers also are not allowed onto the grounds on Saturdays, in the evenings or on German Unity Day. A small crossbody purse was all that we traveled with.
3. Go early
Beer tents open and rides start running at 10 am. The lines are shorter. It’s easier to find a seat in a beer tent without a reservation. People haven’t had several steins of beer yet. It’s also the perfect opportunity to hop between the big tents.
4. Grab a stein at Augustiner-Festhalle
Seats were easy to find in this tent. This kid-friendly beer tent has a children’s menu and offers “kids day” with lower prices on Tuesdays. But other tents will also have kid favorites like pretzels, Spezi (coke and orange soda drink) and Apfelsaftschorle (apple spritzer).
5. Enjoy dessert at Café Kaiserschmarrn
This small tent resembling an iced gingerbread palace is hard to miss. The delicious desserts are a must try. Like other tents, there is music and alcohol inside. Kids get cardboard crowns. There is ice cream, cakes, and other sugary treats. Highly recommend dampfnudeln mit vanillesoss (steamed dumpling in vanilla sauce).
6. Tour the Big Tents
There are 14 big tents. Each one offers live music, beer and food. The decor and ambiance varies from tent to tent.
7. Take a Ride
Like any other festival, there are carnival rides. Take a spin on a few. Our favorite is the ferris wheel for a bird eye’s view of Oktoberfest and much of Munich.
8. Visit Oide Wiesen
This was meant to be a one-time attraction to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest in 2010. But it continues to come back due to popularity. There is an admission fee and additional cost for rides. But you can see historical costumes, traditional music and old rides that tend to be even more kid friendly. There is even a lemonade garden.
9. Pick Up Souvenirs
Heart-shaped gingerbread can be found everywhere with different sayings written on them. Beer steins are also a popular souvenir with a new one rolled out each year.
10. Leave by 8 pm
Tents start to get crowded by that time. Children under the age of six are not allowed in tents starting at 8 pm. So by 7:59 pm, it’s probably time to hit the road.
Questions about visiting Oktoberfest with kids? Ask.
