The Munich Oktoberfest 2017 features three new beer tents and eight new rides.
After a year completely missing out on new rides, the list of novelties in 2017 is quite spectacular. With the new building for the Ochsenbraterei, a new duck grill Heimer and the completely new Schönheitskönigin at the Oide Wiesn, there are, depending on how you count, up to eight new rides at Oktoberfest 2017, some of them very surprising, including a new ghost train, which premieres right at the Wiesn.
New Building for the Ochsenbraterei
The largest new building at this year’s Oktoberfest will once again be new tent: The Ochsenbraterei, whose current building was designed in 1980, when the Haberl family took over. The new tent’s visuals mostly reference the old tent, while its structure resembles the new Hackerzelt. Many infrastructure installations, also toilets, will move to the upper floor, in order to free space at ground level. Also, the balconies will be extended and connected on the south side. As opposed to Hackerzelt’s garden balcony, the new balcony will be inside. You can follow the construction with the Ochsenbraterei-webcam.
Entenbraterei Heimer
After a one-year hiatus, the chicken and duck grill Heimer returns to Oktoberfest. However, it did not take the spot of the Wildmoser grill, which ceased business, but instead takes a spot at street 2, next to the Augustiner tent, where the Hippodrom was located decades ago.
Zur Schönheitskönigin
At the Oide Wiesn, the Velodrom is replaced with a new beer tent, “Zur Schönheitskönigin” (beauty queen). Its hosts, the Reichert family, already had a tent with that name at the Oide Wiesn 2011, which has been replaced, however, by the Herzkasperl in the following years.
Drifting Coaster
As the Cobra won’t return to Oktoberfest, a new small, but not as small, rollercoaster will is introduced this year. What makes the „Drifting Coaster“ special is the fact, that its cars swing freely to the sides.
Geisterpalast
The showmen family Jodenhofer-Kunz is known for their Geisterschloss, which has been a regular at Oktoberfest for decades. This year, they premiered an additional ghost train at Oktoberfest. Despite its impressive facade and long ride, its will most probably only enchant ghost train enthusiasts. Also, and not very surprisingly, Edmund Eckl is returning with his ancient ghost train after getting a gastronomic license for the first time last year. Let’s see. How it’s going to take for his Shocker to return…
Jules-Verne-Tower
Alexander Goetzke’s substitution for his old Starflyer, Alex‘ Airport, premieres this year at the Oktoberfest. The giant tower carousel will spin its riders in a height of 80 meters instead of 55 meters now.
Voodoo Jumper
The Voodoo Jumper is a carousel with freely spinning gondolas, which jump up and down to create a feeling of zero gravity.
XXL-Racer
Franz Goetzke’s introduces his replacement for the Frisbee at the Oktoberfest 2017. The new ride is be a Booster Maxxx vertical carousel built by Fabbri. The ride itself offers an amazing zero-gravity experience during one part of the ride, during the rest it unfortunately ruins this effect by spinngin too fast.
Additional Wave Swinger
In addition to Stranninger’s Wellenflug, another technically identical carousel is introduced to Oktoberfest in 2017.
XXL Höhenrausch
Anja Goetzke bought the former Monster XXL, a 40-meter-tall swing, which Oktobefest visitors have already seen in 2011. Renamed and rethemed to “XXL Höhenrausch”, it follows the identical Konga, which showed at Oktoberfest 2015.
No reservation-free October 3
Munich’s city council reverted last year’s decision to keep the last day of Oktoberfest free from reservations. In order not to miss any chances to reserve tables, don’t forget to subscribe to the Wiesnkini facebook page. Also, check our list of currently available reservations for Oktoberfest 2017.
Last-Minute-Reservations
This year, a new type of reservations is tested at Oktoberfest. The hosts are allowed to give up to 10% of the unreserved tables away less than 24 hours prior to the beginning of the reservation.
New bands
The Paulaner brewery seems indecisive, which band to choose for the disco shift between 7 and 9 p.m., which was introduced at the Winzerer Fähndl three years ago. This year, Nachtstark and Blind Date can try their luck. The Marstall is looking for a new identity for the afternoon. The Pepi Kugler Band will replace Tromposound and Die Oberbayern between noon and 6 p.m.
Admission starting at 9am
In order to separate the delivery traffic from Oktoberfest visitors, the city decided to limit the first to 9am and not open the fences to Theresienwiese before 9am. The long queues in front of the tents each Saturday will therefore move to the entrances to the grounds itself.