Oktoberfest atmosphere right in the heart of Hannover (September 4, 2013)

It’s time to pull the dirndls and lederhosen out of the closet again—after all, even in Hannover, the cry goes out: “O’zapft is!” From September 27 to October 13, the “mini” Oktoberfest will be celebrated—spreading plenty of Oktoberfest spirit right in the heart of Lower Saxony’s capital.

For 17 days, Hanover’s Schützenplatz is all about Bavarian festival traditions: For example, the Dirndl competition is all about the popular traditional costume; in the festival tents, traditional bands like the Stiefelziacha or the Zwiebeltreter create a lively atmosphere; and Bavarian delicacies such as pork knuckle, chicken wings, white sausages, sauerkraut, radishes, pretzels, or Leberkäse complete the Oktoberfest experience. But amidst all the Bavarian customs, the Lower Saxon influence is not overlooked: local specialties like specially brewed festival beer, the iconic Hanoverian drink “Lüttje Lage,” or hearty kale ensure culinary variety! At the fairgrounds, classics like the Ferris wheel, the “Wilde Maus,” or the 60-meter-high chain carousel “Around the World” invite you to take a thrilling ride—and promise a lively time. Fireworks every Friday, special theme days, and events like “Ladies Day” with “Men’s Parking,” Family Day, “Lüttje Lage Day,” or the autumn lantern parade, along with a wide range of party activities, round out the program.

As it did last year, HMTG is helping the organizer, AG Volksfeste Hannover, promote its festival. For example, TV spots on in-flight entertainment screens, billboards throughout Hannover, and around 200 large-format posters within a 70-kilometer radius are drawing attention to Lower Saxony’s Oktoberfest.

"The reorientation of the Oktoberfest last year towards more Bavarian flair and a more traditional character has got off to a successful start. This year, we are supporting its further development - and hope that it will firmly establish itself as a popular folk festival in Lower Saxony in the fall," says Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of HMTG.

“The table reservation system, which was already very successful at the Maschseefest, is also working well at Oktoberfest,” adds Nolte. As a result, the AG Volksfeste Hannover has already received several thousand table reservations three weeks before the festival begins, including some from abroad, such as Norway and Denmark.

For more information, visit www.hannover.de/oktoberfest & www.hannover-tourismus.de