Oktoberfest is the world’s second-largest festival, following the Rio de Janeiro carnival, bringing around 5-7 million people together to celebrate beer, food, and traditional Lederhosen and authentic bavarian Dirndls To a few, Oktoberfest is a celebration for the young generation due to beer and music, but the reality is quite the contrary. Oktoberfest is a fully family-oriented festival that can be navigated easily with kids following a few tricks and tips.
Reasons Why Wiesn is Family Festival
For many reasons, Oktoberfest is known to be family-centric, and some of them include;
Family Tuesdays Special Discounts & Offers
Tuesday’s are family days at Oktoberfest. Two Tuesdays at Wiesn features a range of enticing discounts and offers for families. From discounted admission fees to reduced prices on the carnival rides, this day is designed to make the Oktoberfest experience more accessible and enjoyable for parents and children. Parents can leverage these offers to treat their children to a day filled with unforgettable memories without stressing about money.
Familienplatzl
Like any beer garden, “Familienplatzl” is situated on Street 3/East, marked with neon lights, and is the place for the family to bring in their food and relax while sipping beer. The menu at Familienplatzl is also family-friendly, accommodating the little one all along. Benches and tables are designed to accommodate big and small families equally. The stroller garage, changing table, children’s toilet, microwave, and wooden flooring are all designed with the families in mind. This part of Wiesn makes sure the families enjoy equally with their children like the bachelor lads.
Wiesn Kids Friendly Menu
Oktoberfest festival tents cater to the little ones with special Bavarian delicacies additions to the menu for the kids. Alongside the standard tickets, many oktoberfest beer tents provide children’s tickets at reduced prices or include activities such as coloring. For instance, at the Münchner Knödelei, children can enjoy “Smurf soup” and the spinach dumpling named “Popeye.”
Apart from the tents, the kiosks also have kids-friendly dishes. Kindergarten-aged children can enjoy free cotton candy on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Otherwise, from 2 to 6 p.m., the cotton candy is available for just 1 euro instead of 2.50 euros.
Children Paradise at Old Wiesn
The Oide Wiesn, a nostalgic version of Oktoberfest, offers leisurely fun with rides costing just one euro each. Children can earn an Oktoberfest Diploma by completing a search game with nine questions about the Oide Wiesn. The museum tent showcases Oktoberfest history, with a special exhibition on ghost trains. The “Humoristic Velodrome” lets kids ride penny-farthings for the first time, with face painting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and balloon arts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Herzkasperl festival tent features family-friendly attractions like puppet shows and music performances. Festzelt Tradition offers amenities for families, including a soda fountain and special services like covered stroller parking and children’s toilets. The Munich Marionette Theater presents daily hourly shows from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Oide Wiesn operates from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. with free admission for children under 14, while adult admission is four euros, free after 9 p.m.
Special Arrangements for Families
Some of the special arrangements made for the families at Wiesn include;
Parking for Strollers
Oktoberfest organizers understand the challenges of navigating the festival grounds with young children, so strollers are allowed inside the festival from Sunday to Friday till 6 pm. Strollers can be parked around the festival ground for 3 euros, and Old Wiesn and Familienplatzl also have designated parking for strollers.
Rest Areas
For families to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience, Oktoberfest offers designated rest areas in every tent and around the carnival rides where parents and children can take a break from the excitement and relax in a tranquil setting. These rest areas provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the festival, allowing families to recharge before taking another round.
Changing & Breastfeeding Facilities
Oktoberfest offers convenient changing and breastfeeding facilities for parents with infants and toddlers at the Theresienwiese Service Center (Festleitung entrance) behind the Schottenhamel tent. There are well-equipped facilities, changing tables in tents and on numerous rides, providing a private and hygienic space for parents to attend to their children’s needs.
Children’s Toilets
Oktoberfest provides children’s toilets specially designed for young visitors. At several children’s carousels, the Ferris wheel in the Marstall festival tent and Poschner‘s Hühner- und Entenbraterei feature child-friendly smaller toilets and sinks, making it easier for children to use them independently.
Children’s Ride Prices
Oktoberfest offers special pricing for children’s rides other than the Tuesday tool. Kids tickets for Devil’s Wheels cost only 1 euro.
Bottom Line!
Navigating Oktoberfest with family is not only possible but can be immensely enjoyable, too. Special offerings and family-friendly amenities, family Tuesday discounts, the Familienplatzl, or the delicious treats from the children’s menu make Oktoberfest a family gala.
References
https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/information/children-and-family/wiesn-tips-for-families
https://oktoberfest-guide.com/magazine/family-days/
https://www.pptravel.com/blog/Surviving-Oktoberfest-With-Kids-Safety-Tips