Visitors attend the official opening of the world's largest beer festival, the 187th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, September 17, 2022.
REUTERS/Andreas GebertRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterMUNICH, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, kicked off on Saturday for the first time since 2019, marking the end of a two-year hiatus as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Revellers sit at long communal tables to swig beer, eat sausages, pretzel or pork knuckle, and listen to oompah bands.
Munich mayor Dieter Reiter said earlier this year that the Oktoberfest, held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, would take place without any COVID-19 restrictions.
read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Ayhan Uyanik und Christine Uyanik; Writing by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.