Munich, Oct 05: Germany's giant Oktoberfest beer party drew to a lose today having attracted some 6.3 million revellers who consumed 6.1 million litres (10.73 million pints) of beer over two weeks. Organisers said the figures showed a marked improvement on last year, when the corresponding figures were 5.9 million visitors and 5.7 million litres.
Munich's Tourism chief Gabriele Weishaeupl said it had been a "cheerful and relaxed" festival that had pleased both visitors and breweries. More than 6,000 people needed assistance from the 1,000-odd doctors and red cross helpers on side, including 2,250 given medical treatment.
Of those, 415 were treated for excessive alcohol consumption.
This was the 170th edition of the Oktoberfest, a noisy orgy of traditional Bavarian cuisine and beer served up in giant tents to the oom-pah-pah of brass bands.
The first was held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the then Prince of Bavaria, the future King Ludwig I. It has been cancelled only 24 times in its history, during wars and a cholera outbreak. Bureau Report