Alas, it’s once again time for the annual brew-happy gathering where over 7 million liters of beer (20 million 12 oz. cans) are consumed. Not to mention the roasting of 520,000 chickens, 140,000 pairs of pork sausages, 60,000 pork knuckles and 100 oxen (yes oxen).

No, we’re not talking about Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings/Green Bay Packers football game (although their tailgate numbers may approach those?).

We’re talking about Munich’s famed Oktoberfest. For those of you who want a little history to help wash down your beer, the Oktoberfest has been going strong since 1810. It originated in Germany’s famed Bavaria as a celebration commemorating the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (who went on to bigger-and-better things, becoming King Ludwig I) and his lovely bride Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Hey, who doesn’t knock-back a couple brewskies at a wedding?

But it isn’t just Germany that taps into the fun and festivities of Oktoberfest. Never one to shy away from a good party, America has embraced the celebration as whole-heartedly as Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, and other foreign-inspired festivities that involves copious portions of beer and high-caloric foods. In fact, across America – in cities large and small – Oktoberfest celebrations are going strong. There’s undoubtedly one near you.

Judging from our high number of fun Oktoberfest T-shirt designs, it appears that folks like to dress for the occasion. While we don’t offer St. Pauli Girl dresses and the likes, you will find T-shirts and hoodies and steins and such. Many of which will have you laughing so hard that you wet your lederhosen. (speaking of which, at Munich’s Oktoberfest there are nearly 1,000 seated toilets and some 300 feet of urinals).

But we digress. The point is, Oktoberfest is a great and fun tradition. So get out and enjoy the Autumn weather and find a brew tent near you.

Prost!