Munich (dpa/lby) - Created as a small replacement for the Oktoberfest, which was canceled twice due to Corona, the Munich Wirtshauswiesn is intended to complement the real Wiesn this year. When Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) taps the first keg of beer on the Theresienwiese on September 17, it should also be said "Ozapft is" in a good 50 pubs.
"For us, the Wiesn is not a place, but a way of life," said Gregor Lemke, spokesman for the Munich city center hosts, on Tuesday. "We want to have this attitude towards life throughout the city."
Under the motto "All of Munich is Wiesn", the hosts want to bring the atmosphere to other parts of the city with Oktoberfest beer, delicacies, gingerbread hearts, traditional costumes and live music - a "supplement to the mother of all festivals", as Lemke says. Whether the controversial song "Layla" will be heard depends on the audience. "Personally, I think the song is terrible. But in the end, the soul of the people and the guests will decide what kind of music is played."
The innkeepers in the city center and Oktoberfest invited to the first Wirtshauswiesn in the first Corona year 2020 to give the people of Munich a little festive mood. On the festival grounds under the Bavaria, where millions of liters of beer are otherwise consumed during the Wiesn, there was even a ban on alcohol at the time. The fear of uncontrolled celebrations with a superspreading effect was too great.
Last year things were a little more relaxed. At least people were allowed to celebrate not only in the restaurants, but also on the Theresienwiese with their own beer. This year the Oktoberfest is to take place there without any corona restrictions. Like the Wirtshauswiesn, it should last until October 3rd.
