MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Revellers attend the Einzug der Wiesenwirte (opening parade) of the 2022 Oktoberfest beer fest on September 17, 2022 in Munich, Germany.
This year's Oktoberfest, which runs until October 3 and is expected to draw over MUNICH (AP) - The beer is flowing at Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest for the first time since 2019.With three knocks of a hammer and the traditional cry of "O’zapft is" — "It’s tapped" — Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the tap in the first keg at noon on Saturday, officially opening the festivities after a two-year break forced by the coronavirus pandemic.The Oktoberfest has typically drawn about 6 million visitors every year to packed festival grounds in Bavaria’s capital.
The event did not take place in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with the unpredictable development of COVID-19 infections and restrictions.Those worries were put aside this year.
The city announced in late April that Oktoberfest would go ahead, and Reiter said Saturday that "it was a good decision."RELATED: NY Blood Center offering beer for blood"I’m glad that we can finally celebrate together," Bavarian governor Markus Soeder said at the opening ceremony.