Preparations underway for Oktoberfest in Germany

Models Alexa, Britta, Aline, Isabella, Vanessa and Alana presented creations by label ‘Alpenprinzessin’ ahead of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Munich Oktoberfest, which opens to the public on Sept. 21, draws millions of visitors and is the biggest beer fest in the world.

One of the heads of Munich’s six breweries inspected the color of different brews. The men, along with Oktoberfest beer tent owners, meet once a year shortly before Oktoberfest to taste each others’ beers, which are specially brewed for the Oktoberfest season.

At Oktoberfest, which has a tradition going back 202 years, only the six breweires, namely, Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, Loewenbraeu, Paulaner, Augustiner Hofbraeu, that brew their beer within the city limits are allowed to participate in the annual event that draws millions of visitors.

A waitress delivered glasses of beer in the cellar of the Munich Beer and Oktoberfest Museum.

The heads of the six Munich breweries.

A musician played in front of the ferris wheel as preparations were underway.

A man worked on a roller coaster.

Journalists sat in the ‘Skyfall’ amusement ride during a press tour.

Gingerbread cookies reading ‘Oktoberfest 2013’ were on display.

German model Micaela Schaefer, wearing a traditional Bavarian dress, was tapped on by a fake witch as they posed during a promotional event at the Berlin Dungeon.

The official 2013 Oktoberfest one-liter beer glass was presented at Hacker Festzelt on the Theresienwiese three weeks ahead of Oktoberfest on Aug. 27 in Munich.

A sign on a balcony that should prohibit visitors from dancing on the benches is pictured in a beer tent.

A worker installed green garlands and colorful fabric panels under the roof of a beer tent.

Workers installed the lettering of an amusement ride.

Workers fixed lights during preparations for the 180th Oktoberfest beer festival.

A waitress presented the official Oktoberfest beer mug.

A worker decorated chandliers at the Schuetzen Festzelt.

Workers washed lamps in the Schottenhamel beer tent.

A worker carried a ladder in preparation of the Loewenbraeu Festzelt.

A worker guided a crane from the roof of the Theresienwiesebeer tent.

Workers prepared a tent.

A general view of the Loewenbraeu Festzelt.

A worker installed an electrical line.

A worker painted Maibaum poles at the Loewenbraeu Festzelt.

A worker painted the Hofbrau Festzelt.

A musican walked through the Hacker Festzelt.

A worker carried giant letters of the illuminated advertising of the Spaten beer tent.