Why is Oktoberfest in September?
Oktoberfest starts in September because the founding citizens of Munich who manage the festival decided that the end of September in Bavaria had better weather. This occured at some point in the 1800s when the festival was extended to be a longer duration.
Oktoberfest was first held in October in 1810 when the Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria threw a big party to celebrate his wedding to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Five days after the marriage on October 17, 1810, a large festival was held in front of the Sendlinger Tor. Everyone from Munich was invited and the party drew about 40,000 guests. Horse races were part of the festival and this lasted until 1938. In 1816 carnival booths were included. Later a parade and beer pubs were added as part of the tradition. In Munich, the fest lasts for 16 days, beginning on a Saturday in September and always ending on the first Sunday in October.
