Tag: oktoberfest

nixplay digital frames oktoberfest traditions

5 Oktoberfest Traditions You Shouldn’t Miss

On October 2, 2019

Oktoberfest is one of the longest-running festivals in the world and as such, holds lots of meaningful traditions. Here are some of them!

The parade of the Oktoberfest tent owners

You shouldn’t miss the parade of the hosts to their respective tents, which happens at 11 a.m. on the first day of the festival. It lasts about 1 hour and attracts more than a thousand onlookers. We suggest you go there early so you can find a prime spot to take pictures from!

The opening of the first barrel by the Mayor of Munich

The Oktoberfest celebration officially begins when the Mayor of Munich uncorks the first barrel of beer using a wooden mallet. When the first mug is poured, he says “O’zapft is!” (that’s “pour it!” in German) to mark the beginning of the festivities.

The procession on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest

The Trachten-und Schützenzug is a big parade that passes through Munich, heading to the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest festival is traditionally held. It starts at 10 a.m. and over 9,500 people from all over the world take part in it, accompanied by marching bands and brass orchestras. This parade has historical significance–it was held for the first time in 1835 to honor the 25th wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, and it has become an anticipated event, broadcasted on live TV, since 1950.

Watch (or participate in) Feldl’s Teufelsrad

The Teufelsrad’s concept is very simple: A large spinning disc, where people of a certain demographic can climb on and hold tight as the spinning becomes faster. It’s quite challenging, but a lot of fun!

Watch a free public concert

The second Sunday of the festival, meanwhile, sees a big concert of around 300 musicians at the foot of the Bavaria statue. It usually starts at 11 a.m. and is traditionally conducted by the mayor and the various celebrities present at Oktoberfest. Get there early to score a great view!

Oktoberfest is one of the most anticipated festivals in the world, so if you’re attending, make sure to take lots of pictures! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so don’t forget to charge your cameras and phones beforehand. Afterward, display your favorite Oktoberfest pictures on your own Nixplay Frame! Get up to 25% off on selected frames with our Oktoberfest promo, only until October 9!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

The First-Timer’s Guide To Oktoberfest

By Nixplay Team

On September 26, 2019

In Holidays

Oktoberfest should be on every traveler’s bucket list! This grand celebration draws millions of people from all over the world, and the crowds are only getting bigger and bigger each year–and we haven’t counted the other Oktoberfest celebrations in other destinations around the world! If you’re attending this year, here’s some basic intel so you’re as prepared as can be when you join the festivities.

Book a table before going there.

Admission to the Munich Oktoberfest is free, as well as table reservations at most tents. However, since it’s all free, you can expect that tables at the beer tents will quickly be booked. The beer tents are usually closed for overbooking on Fridays and Saturdays, but a reservation will allow you to enter without any hassle.

Note the beer serving hours.

Sorry to disappoint, but beer isn’t exactly a free-flowing affair during Oktoberfest. In fact, beer is only served until 10:30 p.m (though some tents serve alcohol until 12:30 a.m.). The beer isn’t exactly dirt-cheap either–the cost ranges from 10.8 euros to 11.8 euros, so you’d want to get your money’s worth.

Check the schedule of attractions.

Oktoberfest isn’t just an occasion to get drunk–it’s also a time to have lots of fun! If you need a break from munching on Bavarian delicacies and drinking beer, you can check out the several attractions on the festival grounds. From sky-high swings to ghost trains to intense roller coasters, you won’t run out of thrilling options to try from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Consider dressing like a local.

You can wear whatever you want to the festival, but we highly suggest you get in the Oktoberfest spirit by outfitting yourself in German garb! After all, it’s not always every day when you can dress up in Lederhosen shorts or a Dirndl dress. Take advantage of the occasion!

Brush up on your German.

It wouldn’t hurt to learn a few German words before joining the festivities! Some important phrases: ‘Ein Ma, bitte!’ (One beer, please!), ‘Prost!’ (Cheers!), and ‘Ich habe so einen Katter’ (I have a killer hangover).

Don’t forget to stay safe, have fun, and take lots of pictures! Display them on a Nixplay Frame so you can replay your Oktoberfest memories over and over again! Take advantage of our Oktoberfest Sale and get up to 25 percent off some of our bestselling frames, only until October 9!

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Oktoberfest

By Mars Salazar

On September 23, 2019

In Customer Testimonials

Attending Oktoberfest in Munich should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s two weeks of beer, food, and loads of fun. If you’re planning to attend this event, here are some fun trivia you should know beforehand.

It wasn’t originally a beer festival.

You read that right: Oktoberfest wasn’t always all about beer. In fact, not a single drop was served during the very first Oktoberfest! Held in 1810, the event originally commemorated the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his wife, Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. In fact, the open space where Oktoberfest celebrations are held is called Theresienwiese, or Theresa’s fields.

You have to wait for the go signal to drink.

You can’t just enter a tent and request for a beer stein immediately. First, there’s an official gun salute, followed by the mayor announcing ‘O’zapft is!’, then the first mug of beer is offered to the Bavarian minister-president. When this ceremony is done, only then can the drinking commence.

The beer served here is special.

Each year, 7.5 million liters of beer are specially brewed within Munich for Oktoberfest by just six breweries: Augustiner-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Spatenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, and Paulaner-Bräu, and Staatliches Hofbräu-München. Oktoberfestbier, as the special brew is called, is usually darker and stronger than most beers, with up to six percent alcohol due to a higher hop content.

You should dress for the occasion.

If you really want to get into the Oktoberfest spirit, you should deck yourself out in traditional Bavarian garb. For girls, it’s a dirndl, and for guys, it’s lederhosen. But if that’s not your style, you can deck yourself out in Adidas’ Oktoberfest sneakers, which have a waterproof leather upper and a Bavarian flag-emblazoned insole.

There’s also a wine tent.

Not in the mood for beer? There’s a tent that serves 15 different types of wine, as well as champagne and sparkling wines. Oh, and there’s around 140 food stands and eateries too–perfect for filling up before drinking!

Get into the Oktoberfest spirit with Nixplay! We’re marking the occasion by giving you up to 25 percent off selected Nixplay Frames, only until October 9. Prost!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

nixplay oktoberfest promo things to do during oktoberfest

5 Fun Ways To Celebrate Oktoberfest

By Mars Salazar

On October 1, 2018

In Holidays

Oktoberfest may be synonymous with beer, but there’s more to this German festival than pilsner-fueled revelry! Here are some great ways to join in the merrymaking—alcohol completely optional.

Dine at a German restaurant.

Oktoberfest is the perfect time to explore German cuisine. Fill up with your favorite German grub like pretzels, spätzle, currywurst, sauerkraut, and schnitzel. Wash it down with your favorite bier for a great time.

Attend an Oktoberfest celebration.

Oktoberfest is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. Several major cities throw their own parties, with the original Oktoberfest in Munich topping the list. You don’t even have to be a beer drinker to have fun as most celebrations have attractions like live music, carnival games, parades, and more. Check out some Oktoberfest celebrations here!

Tour a beer brewery.

Mankind has been brewing beer since time immemorial. Learning what goes into your favorite ale would be a great way to spend an afternoon. This is an activity that even non-drinkers would enjoy!

Learn some German words.

Celebrate Oktoberfest the practical way by brushing up on your German, starting with “O’Zapft is” (“it is tapped”), the phrase traditionally used to start the festivities. Go beyond “Guten Tag” and “Danke,” and impress everyone by knowing the difference between a “Pilsner” (a light, hoppy beer) and a “Schwarzbier” (a dark malted lager). Don’t forget to toast to your friends’ health by saying “Prost!”

Take lots of photos!

Document your Oktoberfest experience by snapping all the photos you can take! Display your images on your Nixplay Seed 8” Wi-Fi Digital Frame so you can always look back at the fun times you had. Get up to 25% off on your Nixplay Seed 8”, only until October 9!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

Friends with giant pretzels in Bavarian beer tent for nixplay oktoberfest promo

6 Oktoberfest Celebrations Around The World

By Mars Salazar

On September 21, 2018

In Holidays

No doubt about it: Oktoberfest is one of the world’s most enjoyable festivals. Several days of games, dancing, live performances, and an unending supply of good food and beer—what more could a mere mortal wish for?

That said, here’s a list of some of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations around the world. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to capture the Oktoberfest spirit! Display them on your Nixplay Seed 8” so you can always look back at the fun times you had. Get up to 25% off on your Nixplay Seed 8”, only from September 24 to October 9!

1. Munich, Germany

Date: September 22 to October 7, 2018
The Germans don’t joke around when it comes to beer. This is especially evident in the city of Munich, which is known for throwing the grandest Oktoberfest celebration in the world. Munich will be celebrating their 185th Oktoberfest this 2018, and you can expect the festivities to be grander than ever.

2. Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

Date: October 5 to 13, 2018
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is one of the largest Bavarian events in the world, drawing around 700,000 visitors annually. The 2018 celebration promises to be especially grand as it marks the festival’s 50th anniversary. Fun fact: The city of Kitchener was formerly named Berlin!

3. Cincinnati, US

Date: September 21 to 23, 2018
Oktoberfest festivities start early in Ohio, with some cities celebrating as early as August. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the grandest party in the state, attracting over 500,000 visitors. Don’t forget to take photos of the Running of the Wieners, where 100 dachshunds will race while wearing hot dog bun costumes.

4. Qingdao, China

Date: July 20 to August 26, 2018
Unlike the other places on this list, Qingdao celebrates Oktoberfest a bit early—two months before October, to be exact. This is the largest annual beer festival in Asia, with over 200 beer brands participating. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to visit the Tsingtao Brewery Museum, China’s first beer museum named after its namesake lager.

5. Blumenau, Brazil

Date: October 3 to 21, 2018
Did you know that the biggest Oktoberfest celebration outside Munich is held in Brazil? You read that right: Brazil’s surprisingly large German population marks Oktoberfest with 17 days of ale-fueled revelry. The highlight of each night: Chope em Metro, where contestants chug beer from a meter-long glass.

6. Brisbane, Australia

Date: October 5 to 7 and 12 to 14, 2018
Celebrate Oktoberfest in Australia at Oktoberfest Brisbane, the largest German Festival down under! For two weekends, you can enjoy traditional German treats like schnitzels while enjoying live entertainment and fun competitions, all while enjoying authentic German beer.

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.