No sooner has it begun than it’s almost over again. Sixteen days of Oktoberfest and sixteen nights of Wiesn after-parties fly by in the blink of an eye. But Oktoberfest isn’t over yet. One last weekend full of fun still awaits us, culminating in the grand Wiesn finale! Here’s what you can expect on Sunday, October 4, at the emotional closing ceremony on the Theresienwiese.
Traditional gun salute at the foot of the Bavaria statue
On the last Sunday of Oktoberfest at noon, shooters and onlookers gather below the Bavaria statue to honor the shooting champions of the Oktoberfest State Shooting Competition. Two weeks ago, twelve shots were fired here to mark the tapping of the first keg and herald the official start of beer service. Now, twelve more shots are fired to announce the end of the Wiesn. A brass band plays the Bavarian anthem, and the festival organizers announce their final tally, including the estimated number of visitors and the liters of beer served.
But it’s not over yet. Until evening, visitors can stroll across the festival grounds one last time in dirndls and lederhosen or take a seat in one of the beer tents before it’s truly time to say: “Pfiat di, 191st Wiesn!”
Each of the festival tents has its own ritual to mark the end of the Wiesn. In the large beer halls, a specific song usually signals the end of the Wiesn. In the Hofbräuzelt, “Angels” by Robbie Williams is played; in the Hackerzelt, “Sierra Madre el Sur”; in the Augustiner, the “Defiliermarsch”; and in the Schützenzelt, “Weus’d a Herz hast wia Bergwerk.” The guests sing along, sparklers are lit, and everyone raises a toast with the servers. These are beautiful final moments at Oktoberfest, but also bittersweet ones.
Afterward, the staff gets to enjoy a lap of honor on the various rides, while “Time to Say Goodbye” plays throughout the Theresienwiese. And the festival tent staff can look forward to a trip to the Erding Thermal Baths on Monday.
Gay Wiesn Finale
The queer community is strongly represented at Oktoberfest and celebrates at the world’s largest folk festival with a series of its own LGBTQ events. This naturally includes celebrating the Kehraus together at the Wiesn finale. The community traditionally gathers for the Gay Wiesn Finale in the Schottenhamel tent near the hot food stand. One last time, you can clink your beer mugs, dance on the beer benches, and sing songs together. Until finally, “Sing mich noh Hus” rings out, signaling the end of the festivities in Schottenhamel. Then it’s time for everyone to say: “It’s over, it’s done, and it’s a shame it’s true!”
The Wiesn finale leaves us with heavy hearts; normal everyday life begins again, but one thing is certain: We’ll be there next year when it’s finally time to say “O’zapft is’!” again.
