More than a beer festival, Oktoberfest celebrates heritage, hospitality, and high spirits.
More than autumnal evenings of bier-laden merriment from the German state of Bavaria, the high-spirited Oktoberfest has evolved into a global celebration. What began as a royal wedding tradition has become a joyful international party—complete with guests in traditional lederhosen and dirndl—and a true soft-power export rivaling Germany’s famed innovation. Above all, it remains a moment of ease, laughter, and togetherness.
For over 80 years, the German Club Manila has hosted the Philippine Oktoberfest—one of the country’s most anticipated social events. This year, thousands of liters of imported Bavarian beer flowed freely alongside copious platters of food, rousing songs from the tracht-wearing Bavarian Sound Express, and a general air of terrific fun.
For three evenings at Solaire Resort, people from all walks of life trooped to amassive biergarten decked out in the Bavarian colors of blue and white. Though it’s common for Europeans to enjoy a tipple solo, Oktoberfest calls for friends, laughter, and raised steins all around.
The origins of Oktoberfest trace back to October 12, 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. To celebrate their union, the people of Munich were invited to days of feasting, horse races, and cheer—an event so joyous it became an annual tradition. More than two centuries later, the festival continues on the same field—aptly named the Theresienwiese—with the only interruptions in its long history occurring during times of war and, most recently, the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Getting down to the essentials, Oktoberfest proudly raises a collective “Prost!” to liters upon liters of golden, full-bodied draft beer—poured ice-cold and brewed to Bavarian perfection. The star of the celebration is Weihenstephan, a 10th-century brewery reputed to be the world’s oldest continuously operating one.
Following Munich’s long-held tradition, only Bavarian-origin beers are served at Oktoberfest events. While cocktails and wines occasionally make an appearance, the true spirit of the festival lives in the Oktoberfestbier, best enjoyed in a one-liter stoneware stein or Maßkrug—designed to keep every sip perfectly chilled well into the night. Each celebration begins with the mayor and officials tapping the first kegs, often inspiring friendly bets on how many taps it will take.
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Munich to Manila
With nearly a thousand guests, the German Club and Solaire’s culinary teams rolled out an impressive spread of traditional fare. Seated at long picnic benches, we began with rich appetizers: German smoked salmon, white cabbage salad, potato salad, cold cuts, cheeses, fresh breads, and, of course, bre’zn, the lightly salted and addictive pretzels.
For sausage lovers, an entire section of the menu was devoted to these well-loved specialties—Munich-style poached veal and pork, grilled pork sausages, and Frankfurters—all perfect companions to a cold beer.
The mains featured generous Bavarian meat platters of crispy pork knuckle, pork schnitzel, pork sausages, meatloaf, rotisserie chicken, and onion jus—putting a new meaning to “sharing is caring.” The German Club’s famous pork knuckle made a highly anticipated appearance, while the traditional beef goulash was a revelation: balanced, hearty, and comforting without being too soupy.
To end the meal, diners enjoyed an exquisitely flaky apple strudel and the crowd-favorite black forest cake—a sweet finale to an indulgent evening.
Music, of course, plays an essential role in Oktoberfest. At Solaire, the band performed traditional drinking songs that lingered in the air, along with ABBA hits and the German ‘80s anthem 99 Luftballons. The Bavarian act even joined Martin Nievera for a few duets, prompting some guests to dance on tabletops before the night was through—all in good fun.
In a recent article, Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter described Oktoberfest as “a chance to get some relief in a period of multiple crises and a place where pure high spirits prevail.”
We’ve had our own share of challenges recently, and this pause the Bavarians have created is both necessary and delightful. Prost, indeed!
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