Munich’s iconic Oktoberfest hit an unexpected and chilling pause today after a bomb threat forced organizers to shut down the Theresienwiese festival grounds.
What should have been another day of clinking steins, singing Bavarian anthems, and eating way too many pretzels was instead replaced with police tape, bomb squads, and an uneasy crowd of partygoers left stranded mid-celebration.
The closure, which authorities say will last at least until 5 p.m. local time, came after a deadly explosion in a Munich apartment building earlier in the day.
A threatening letter tied to that blast named Oktoberfest as a potential target – sending officials scrambling to secure the fairgrounds before things could spiral into chaos.
Tourists in lederhosen and dirndls were asked to leave the grounds, some with half-finished mugs in hand, as security combed the sprawling site. Videos circulating on social media show confused revelers filing out in long lines while heavily armed officers moved in.
The sudden shutdown is a gut punch to an event that draws more than six million people every year and pumps hundreds of millions of euros into the German economy.
More than that, Oktoberfest is a global cultural touchstone – a place where locals and visitors alike immerse themselves in Bavarian tradition.
Festival organizers say they are working closely with law enforcement and remain hopeful the party can continue once the site is cleared. “Oktoberfest is about joy and togetherness,” read an official statement. “We won’t let fear define this festival.”
This isn’t the first time Oktoberfest has faced a security scare. Since the deadly 1980 bombing at the festival grounds, safety has been a top concern for organizers.
In recent years, visible police presence, bag checks, and security barriers have become the new normal.