#30Seconds Live: Oktoberfest In Munich, Germany: Festival Opening Day With Dieter Schmitz! by Elisa Schmitz

It's the opening day of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! I'm here with a true expert on the subject, my husband, Dieter Schmitz, who is attending Oktoberfest for the 20th time this year (it's only my third)! If you like a good party, you just may love Oktoberfest, truly one of the greatest festivals in the world.

According to Dieter, this extravaganza dates back 200 years, when Crown Prince Ludwig, who later became King Ludwig I, married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The people of Munich were invited to attend the festivities, which were held on the fields in front of the city gates in order to celebrate and toast to the royal couple. The fields were named Theresienwiese ("Therese's Fields") to honor the Crown Princess, but the Bavarians have since abbreviated the name to the simpler term "Wies'n."

Oktoberfest typically starts the third weekend in September and goes until the first Sunday of October. It kicks off with a parade for the brewers on Saturday, and then another parade on Sunday in which all the villages of Bavaria are represented. The parade participants march their way to the fairgrounds, where a huge carnival and many large banquet tents (more like lodges) are set up for Wies'n celebrations with plenty of food and drink (yes, "Bier" is the drink of choice)!

To give you an inside look at Oktoberfest, I interviewed Dieter live via the 30Second Mom Facebook page from the fairgrounds today. First we were at the Kafer "tent," and then after that, we took a little tour of the fairgrounds and carnival to show you around! I hope you will watch this fun video (complete with plenty of hilarious photobombs) and share a toast with us. Prost!