Dancing bears, daredevil motorbike stunts and shooting stands: Vintage Oktoberfest pictures reveal there has always been more to the event than just beer

  • A celebration was held in 1810 when Munich citizens were invited to join in with enjoying royal wedding festivities
  • This soon gave birth to an annual event, with horse races, music, entertainment and later - halls of beer
  • Here are some retrospective photographs of early days of the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich 

By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline

Published: 02:22 EST, 30 September 2015 | Updated: 02:47 EST, 30 September 2015

Lederhosen, frilly blouses and kegs upon kegs of beer; the globe's biggest beer festival Oktoberfest is currently in full swing with millions enjoying boozy celebrations in Munich.

But this world-famous 16-day event didn't always look as it does now. Over the years guests have seen dancing bears, dangerous stunts and sampled a host of interesting street food to complement their pints of beer.

The idea originated in October 1810 when citizens of Munich were invited to attend the wedding festivities of the Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and the Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

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Here come the girls: A group of beer maids dressed in costume at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany in October 1928

Here come the girls: A group of beer maids dressed in costume at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany in October 1928

Guests were able to ride upside-down cars in 1951
Austrian singer and actress Hannelore Auer at the festival in 1981

Guests were able to ride upside-down cars in 1951 (left). Revellers could sample edible goodies from a range of food stands. Pictured right is Austrian singer and actress Hannelore Auer at the festival in 1981

Beer was not the only lure to the Munich festival, with guests paying to watch a dancing bear in 1902

Beer was not the only lure to the Munich festival, with guests paying to watch a dancing bear in 1902

The event included a horse race, which ended up being repeated the following year. Quickly this evolved into an annual feature in the city which became known as Oktoberfest.

More attractions have became part of the event, including an agricultural show in 1811 and carousels and swings in 1818. 

The festival was originally held in October, as the name suggests, but was brought forward by one month to take advantage of better weather. 

The signature feature of Oktoberfest -  the beer - was originally sold from a few stands. However the demand grew so great that large tents and halls that could seat up to 94,000 people were later introduced. 

The amount of the alcoholic beverage consumed has grown by a staggering number, with last year's total hitting 6.5 million litres of beer over the course of the festival's 16 days.

Attractions also included a range of unusual spectacles such as high-wire motorbike stunts in 1965

Attractions also included a range of unusual spectacles such as high-wire motorbike stunts in 1965

Ten to the dozen: Waitresses practice carrying 10 beer litre tankards each for the Oktoberfest in Munich in 1952

Ten to the dozen: Waitresses practice carrying 10 beer litre tankards each for the Oktoberfest in Munich in 1952

German politician, Georg Kronawitter keg tapping at Oktoberfest 1989. Each year the mayor traditionally starts the festival in this way

German politician, Georg Kronawitter keg tapping at Oktoberfest 1989. Each year the mayor traditionally starts the festival in this way

But it hasn't always been plain sailing. Although Oktoberfest began 205 years ago, this year marks the 182nd edition, as the party was cancelled during two world wars, two cholera outbreaks, Napoleon's invasion of Bavaria and the hyperinflation of the 1920s. 

The 16-day festival now attracts visitors from all over the world, with the city's mayor, Dieter Reiter, saying three million people visited the grounds in the festival's first week this year. 

Prices for a 'Mass' or large glass of beer have soared in recent years and will now set drinkers back between €10 (£7.30) and €10.40 (£7.60).

French director and actor, Roman Polanski enjoying a large pretsel at Oktoberfest in 1986
Austrian singer and actress Hannelore Auer also visited the festival in 1981

French director and actor, Roman Polanski enjoying a large pretzel at Oktoberfest in 1986 (left). Austrian singer and actress Hannelore Auer also visited the festival in 1981 (right)

German politician Hans-Dietrich Genscher (right) with Hans Arnold Engelhard (left) drinking beers at the festival

German politician Hans-Dietrich Genscher (right) with Hans Arnold Engelhard (left) drinking beers at the festival

Taking aim: Actress Heidi Br hl concentrates as she gets ready to fire a gun in a shooting stand at Oktoberfest

Taking aim: Actress Heidi Br hl concentrates as she gets ready to fire a gun in a shooting stand at Oktoberfest

Animals were a main feature of the event at the start, with the event coinciding with an agricultural show. Pictured is a prize winning animal being walked in front of the Prince Regent Luitpold von Bayern in 1910

Animals were a main feature of the event at the start, with the event coinciding with an agricultural show. Pictured is a prize winning animal being walked in front of the Prince Regent Luitpold von Bayern in 1910

Fun for the whole family: A girl sails down a zip wire as children wait in line for their turn at the festival in 1909

Fun for the whole family: A girl sails down a zip wire as children wait in line for their turn at the festival in 1909

Feast for everyone: Makeshift BBQ areas enable men to serve mackerel to hungry guests in 1929

Feast for everyone: Makeshift BBQ areas enable men to serve mackerel to hungry guests in 1929

Plenty of entertainment: Racing cars and decorated horses steal the show at the beer festival
Plenty of entertainment: Racing cars and decorated horses steal the show at the beer festival

Plenty of entertainment: Racing cars (left) and decorated horses (right) steal the show at the beer festival in the 1970s

Not just about the beer: Visitors of the Oktoberfest eating fried chicken in 1936

Not just about the beer: Visitors of the Oktoberfest eating fried chicken in 1936

Thirsty work: Performers take a break drinking tea and smoking cigarettes at the Munich festival in 1924

Thirsty work: Performers take a break drinking tea and smoking cigarettes at the Munich festival in 1924

Before mobile phone cameras, mini photo booths like this one in 1931 were set up to capture guests enjoying the festival

Before mobile phone cameras, mini photo booths like this one in 1931 were set up to capture guests enjoying the festival

Looking the part: Three Bavarians wearing the traditional Lederhosen (leather pants) and jackets and hats in 1910

Looking the part: Three Bavarians wearing the traditional Lederhosen (leather pants) and jackets and hats in 1910

Children enjoy a carousel shaped like a swan
Adults ride in open-top cars with beer

Children enjoy a carousel shaped like a swan (left) in 1934 while adults ride in open-top cars with beer (right) in 1935

Music has always been a large part of the festival. Pictured is a brass musician of a traditional Bavarian folk band in 1954
Music has always been a large part of the festival. Pictured is a brass musician of a traditional Bavarian folk band in 1935

Music has always been a large part of the festival as seen circa 1954 (left). Pictured (right) is a brass musician of a traditional Bavarian folk band in 1935

Fans from all over the world: Oktoberfest has long had a universal appeal, pictured is a Japanese tourist enjoying beer with Bavarians in 1960

Fans from all over the world: Oktoberfest has long had a universal appeal, pictured is a Japanese tourist enjoying beer with Bavarians in 1960

A man grilling herrings in the open air at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany in October 1928

A man grilling herrings in the open air at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany in October 1928

Beer and bands: A traditional Bavarian brass band at the Oktoberfest in 1931

Beer and bands: A traditional Bavarian brass band at the Oktoberfest in 1931

 A horse parade travels through a sea of onlookers in 1935, with people riding horses or manoeuvring horse and carriages

 A horse parade travels through a sea of onlookers in 1935, with people riding horses or manoeuvring horse and carriages

This year: In contrast, visitors from around the world wear the traditional Tracht, sometimes hastily bought at a vendor's stand

This year: In contrast, visitors from around the world wear the traditional Tracht, sometimes hastily bought at a vendor's stand

Selfie update: The celebration of traditional Bavarian culture comes with its oompah music and beloved frothy beverage

Selfie update: The celebration of traditional Bavarian culture comes with its oompah music and beloved frothy beverage

Continued appeal: Revellers continue to enjoy the event with this lady keen to share her joy at being part of the 182nd Oktoberfest

Continued appeal: Revellers continue to enjoy the event with this lady keen to share her joy at being part of the 182nd Oktoberfest

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