Funds recovery is no longer in the picture.
The annual celebration of Munich's Oktoberfest kicked off with a twist this year, as a rival event was hosted by Clemens Baumgärtner, the former Oktoberfest chief and current CSU politico, at Fischer-Vroni. This move came after Baumgärtner decided to skip the traditional tapping at Schottenhamel.
At Schottenhamel, the tapping of the first beer is a traditional event attended by major political figures in Munich and Bavaria. This year, Bavarian President Herbert Hainer attended the event for the first time, having usually favoured the Winzerer-Fähndl tent. Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) and Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) were scheduled to enjoy their first beer at Schottenhamel, but only one person was present at their table.
The service of beer at the Oktoberfest this year was slower than in previous years, with some tables not being served until after 12 and some being left without service until half past one. When asked about the slow service, festival host Christian Schottenhamel stormed off in response.
Meanwhile, at Fischer-Vroni, the CSU candidate tied with Mayor Dieter Reiter in the long-distance duel of tapping the barrel, but Reiter won the battle for attention. The rivalry between the Schottenhamel and Fischer-Vroni tents involved participants including Baumgärtner, with his support aligned with the Schottenhamel tent side.
The political nature of the Oktoberfest was a topic of debate among political figures. While some, like Baumgärtner, saw it as an opportunity to make a political statement, others, like Markus Söder, called out during the tapping that they were celebrating a break from the crises of the world.
The trend of traditional attire on the Wiesn remains, but some deviated from the norm. Munich's SPD leader Christian König wore jeans, while Green state MP Benjamin Adjei opted for jeans and a Janker, considering it modern traditional attire. The lowest proportion of traditional attire was among the Free Voters, with Michael Piazolo in jeans and Hubert Aiwanger in suit trousers.
Despite the political undertones and fashion deviations, everyone up on the first Oktoberfest day raved about the mood. There were fewer pre-festival excesses and more cheerful, relaxed faces. Uschi Dämmrich von Luttitz, a BR presenter, defended the Heidifest, describing the people there as colorful and cheerful.
Heidi Klum's Heidifest at the Hofbräuhaus was a topic, with city council CSU chief Manuel Pretzl expressing disapproval of the event. Claudia Roth, from federal politics, was also present at the tapping.
Former mayor Gertraud Burkert believes the traditional attire for women in Munich is a silk dirndl. However, the debate about the appropriate attire for the festival continues, with some opting for more modern interpretations of traditional wear.
Despite the rivalries and debates, the spirit of Oktoberfest 2023 remained, with attendees enjoying the festivities and the opportunity to come together in celebration.
