Oktoberfest Extension Proposal Faces Opposition from Key Stakeholders
MUNICH, GERMANY – October 4, 2023 – A proposal to extend this year’s Oktoberfest beyond its scheduled closing on sunday is meeting resistance from key figures involved in the world-famous festival, effectively diminishing its chances. While some have suggested extending the event following a Wednesday bomb threat that temporarily halted operations, leading restaurant and hospitality officials, and also a government minister, have voiced meaningful logistical and operational concerns.
Oktoberfest is widely recognized ”a world-famous symbol for Bavarian hospitality, joie de vivre and cohesion.”
Christian Scharpf, Munich‘s business officer (SPD) and the “Wiesn boss,” stated, “In my view, a spontaneous Wiesn extension is unrealistic,” explaining that staff across all areas - beer tents, showmen, and security - are scheduled to depart by Sunday and have subsequent commitments.
Peter Inselkammer, spokesman for the restaurant owners, was even more direct, telling Bavarian Radio, “It is indeed actually not possible at short notice. we can’t imagine that for this year.” He cited existing employment contracts and employee departures as major obstacles, adding, “We have ongoing employment contracts, the employees are usually gone the next day.” Inselkammer also questioned visitor interest, stating, “it is unclear to what extent visitors accept the offer and would also reserve a table on Monday.”
Bavaria‘s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) echoed the skepticism, noting in an interview on bayern 2 that the decision rests with the city of Munich and “would not be easy.”
The opposition comes after the festival was temporarily closed Wednesday due to a bomb threat linked to explosions and a fire at a residential building in Munich. Operations resumed at 5:30 p.m., but a reporter for BR observed a noticeably quieter atmosphere compared to a typical Oktoberfest evening, with fewer people on the festival grounds and the “Oide Wiesn” nearly empty.
The Wednesday closure resulted in significant lost sales for showmen, estimated to be in the double-digit millions of euros. While the Oktoberfest has been “very good” lost revenue from unseated tables cannot be recovered, according to Dehoga regional manager Thomas Geppert.
As of the halfway point of the festival, 3.5 million people had visited Oktoberfest, slightly fewer than the same period last year. The overall record stands at 7.2 million visitors. The 16-day festival is a major economic driver, generating an estimated €1.48 billion in economic value last year, with an average guest spending around €90 during their visit, plus additional costs like accommodation.
