The Frame
A photo blog of world events by Sacbee.com Assistant Director of Multimedia Tim Reese.
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September 25, 2009
Millions visit Oktoberfest
MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Munich mayor Christian Ude opened the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the traditional cry of "It's tapped!" It took Ude just two swift strokes to pound a spigot into the first massive keg of beer. Following festival protocol, he handed the first liter mug, called a "Mass," to Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer. A 12-gun salute signaled that it was time to start serving the public. The 16-day festival is a huge tourist draw for this southern German city. This year, 6 million visitors from all over the world are expected to prowl Munich's sprawling 77-acre (31-hectare) Theresienwiese grounds. Every year, visitors down more than 1.6 million gallons (six million liters) of beer and eat around 500,000 chickens and 100 oxen. (20 images)

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Theresa sleeps in a carriage as Simon walks beside her during the Oktoberfest parade in traditional costume in the city of Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Sept. 20. The worlds largest beer-festival lasts until Oct. 4. AP / Christof Stache


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Visitors of the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival celebrate in a beer tent on Sept. 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Steffi Loos



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Visitors of the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival ride on the 'Top-Spin' on Sept. 19, in Munich, Germany. Getty Images / Miguel Villagran



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Visitors enjoy late night rides on a ferris wheel at the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 19, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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General view shows the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 19, in Munich, Germany. Oktoberfest is Germany's and the world largest fair. Getty Images / Miguel Villagran



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Visitors watch a merry-go-round turning at the Oktoberfest beer festival on late September 19, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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A senior citizen drinks beer on Sept. 21, in Munich, Germany. The tourism office and the publicans of the beer tents invited senior citizen to eat and drink. Getty Images / Miguel Villagran



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Visitors crowd a beer tent at the "Theresienwiese" during the Oktoberfest beer festival on September 19, in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Sascha Schuermann



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Visitors of the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival have a meal and drink beer in one of the beer tents on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Oliver Lang



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Visitors clink beer mugs during the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Oliver Lang



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Musicians march during the marksmen's parade on the second day of the Oktoberfest beer festival on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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Men wearing traditional Bavarian clothes drink beer at the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 21, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP/ Getty Images / Oliver Lang



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A small girl checks out gingerbread hearts on sale during the Oktoberfest beer festival on September 19, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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A waitress carries plates with Bavarian food at the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent on September 19, in Munich, Germany. Oktoberfest is world's largest fair with about six million people attending the sixteen-day festival during late September and early October. Getty Images / Johannes Simon



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Children watch the marksmen's parade on the second day on the second day of the Oktoberfest beer festival on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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Visitors of the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival drink beer in one of the beer tents on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Oliver Lang



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Traditionally Bavarian dressed young people enjoy drinking beer at Loewenbraeu beer tent during day 2 of the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 20, in Munich, Germany. The riflemen's parade marks day 2 of the Munich Oktoberfest beer festival. Getty Images / Johannes Simon



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A man wearing flowers on his hat marches during the marksmen's parade on the second day of the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joe Klamar



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Japanese children wearing traditional Bavarian clothes watch the marksmen's parade at the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Joerg Koch



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Visitors of the 176th Oktoberfest beer festival rest against a wall on September 20, at the "Theresienwiese" in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Steffi Loos



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