It’s Tapped: Oktoberfest Kicks Off in Munich

Travel Blog • Eva Holland • 09.25.07 | 12:43 PM ET

The 174th annual Oktoberfest got under way this past weekend in Munich, Germany, and just reading the AP story about the opening keg-tapping ceremony made me thirsty. Last year, the festival attracted more than 6 million people, saw nearly 13 million pints poured and generated 1 billion euros in revenue. Similar numbers are expected this year.

The BBC has photos from the first day, which featured marching bands, traditional costumes and—of course—plenty of beer. But the festivities didn’t go off entirely without a hitch: Munich police responded to the first injury of the festival on Saturday, when a Chilean woman was reportedly hit in the eye with a carrot thrown by an American tourist. “The man is reported to have hurled the 15cm projectile at the woman in the excitement of the moment on the first day of the event on Saturday,” writes the Independent Online. “The 29-year-old victim needed treatment after incurring a bruise under the eye. Her assailant was detained but later released on bail.”

In related news, several sources are reporting that Paris Hilton has been banned from this year’s festival after showing up to Oktoberfest 2006 in traditional Bavarian costume to advertise canned wine. The Sun gets our link with this groan-inducing headline: “Paris Hilton is left beer-eft”

Photo by the AP.