In pictures: Oktoberfest is toast of the town as festivities begin in Munich
Oktoberfest. the world's largest beer festival, to be held from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7, will see roughly a million visitors.MATTHIAS SCHRADER/The Associated Press
Oktoberfest revellers enjoy a ride in a roller coaster at the Theresienwiese in Munich on Saturday.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
A visitor wearing a traditional Bavarian hat stands in front of a ferris wheel at Oktoberfest.MICHAEL DALDER/Reuters
Oktoberfest vistors browse at the gingerbread booth.MICHAEL DALDER/Reuters
Revellers celebrate in a beer tent at the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
A waitress carries beer after the opening of the 179th Oktoberfest.MICHAEL DALDER/Reuters
Rain did not deter these revellers, who sat under umbrellas with their traditional one-litre Masskrug beer mugs at Oktoberfest’s opening dya.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, right and Munich Mayor Christian Ude pose prior to the opening ceremony for the 179th Oktoberfest.GUIDO KRZIKOWSKI/Reuters
Mr. Ude taps the first beer barrel during the official opening of the famous Bavarian beer festival.JOERG KOCH/The Associated Press