Oktoberfest hits for kids: A fun festival for children, too. Oktoberfest hits for kids: Service information

Transcription

1 Press Release /Pa, W 09 Oktoberfest hits for kids: A fun festival for children, too What Oktoberfest rides are suitable for children? What other services are available to children at the world's biggest public festival? And how can you make a visit to the Oktoberfest affordable for the whole family? Wherever you see the label Wiesn-Hits für Kids ( Oktoberfest hits for kids ) in the official Oktoberfest magazine, you can be sure to find the information you are looking for. Starting in September, the magazine is available for EUR 2.80 from newsagents and free of charge from the tourist information desks on Marienplatz and at the Hauptbahnhof (central train station), from the city information desk at city hall, at the Theresienwiese Service Center, at the official Oktoberfest souvenir stands and on the Internet, at Oktoberfest hits for kids: Service information Information marked Oktoberfest hits for kids is very useful if you want to plan a family visit to the festival in advance. A map of the Oktoberfest shows the location of rides suitable for children, the Service Center where lost children are taken to, baby changing and nursing facilities, and the Familienplatzl meeting point for families. A little aside from the hustle and bustle in Straße 3 Ost (street 3 east), the Familienplatzl has its own beer garden with a barrier-free wooden floor suitable for buggies and Published by: City of Munich, Department of Labor and Economic Development Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 15, Munich, Germany, Contact: Wolfgang Nickl, Tel.: +49(0) , Fax: +49(0) wolfgang.nickl@muenchen.de

2 pushchairs, as well as a buggy garage. In keeping with Bavarian tradition, guests are welcome to bring their own food here. A baby changing facility and a microwave oven to heat up baby food are also available. One special attraction that is fascinating to listen to is an original orchestrion from the 1950s. Nearby attractions like a carousel for babies, a fairy-tale train and stands offering can smashing and dart throwing provide fun and entertainment for the youngest visitors. Oktoberfest hits for kids: Tuesday is family day On Tuesday, September 19 and Tuesday, September 26, a discount rate is available for fairground attractions, admission prices and snacks until 7 pm. Oktoberfest hits for kids: Helpful hints to ensure a relaxing visit If you are not so keen on huge crowds, it is best to choose a quieter day during the week for your visit. The Wiesn Barometer on the Internet and in the Oktoberfest magazine shows which days would be best for you. Mornings and early afternoons are also a good option for a relaxed stroll with children. The little ones are welcome to share a snack with their family in the beer tents. However, parents or legal guardians should note that children under the age of six are not allowed into the beer tents after 8 pm, even if they are accompanied by adults. Children and youngsters under the age of 16 are allowed on the festival grounds after 8 pm only if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children's buggies and pushchairs are allowed on the festival grounds, but only from Sundays to Fridays and only until 6 pm. They are not permitted to enter the grounds on Saturdays or on the public holiday German Unity Day (October 3). Page 2

3 Oktoberfest hits for kids: The Oktoberfest School Launched by the Department of Labor and Economic Development, the campaign The Oktoberfest School gives children and youngsters a playful and entertaining introduction to the more than 200-year history of the biggest public festival in the world and its unique treasure trove of amusements and attractions. For third-grade school classes and higher, the Department of Labor and Economic Development will this year once again organize free guided tours of the Oktoberfest. During these tours, experienced guides from the Universum Oktoberfest (the Oktoberfest Universe ) will share their knowledge of the festival's cultural history, highlighting the blend of hightech developments and nostalgic traditions that is so typical of the Oktoberfest. Tours of the Theresienwiese Service Center (SZT) are also free. Here at the heart of this major event, a look behind the scenes includes visits to the Bavarian Red Cross medical center, the Oktoberfest station of the Munich police and the lost property office run by the Department of Public Order. The tour provides a fascinating insight into how such a big event is managed and organized. Following on from last year's huge success, free guided tours of the Oktoberfest for preschool children are on offer once again. Many kindergartens take advantage of this opportunity to visit the festival as is obvious especially in the mornings, when hordes of nursery children can be seen strolling around the lane between the rides and amusements. To give even the very youngest visitors a taste of Oktoberfest history and show them samples of some of the historical rides on offer, the Department of Page 3

4 Labor and Economic Development also works together with the fairground attraction operators to organize free guided tours of the Oktoberfest for preschool children from Munich's kindergartens. All free guided tours for preschool kids and school classes can be booked at the Universum Oktoberfest : Georg P. Huber Veranstaltungsagentur GmbH Phone: +49 (0) , info@universum-oktoberfest.de, Oktoberfest hits for kids: Oide Wiesn (the Vintage Oktoberfest ) The Oide Wiesn (the Vintage Oktoberfest ) is situated on the southern part of the Theresienwiese. Historical fairground attractions from classic merry-go-rounds to high-flying carousels, from puppet theaters to the original Motodrome can all be tried out for just a euro each. A museum tent brings the history of the Oktoberfest to life, showcasing historical exhibits from the Münchner Schausteller-Stiftung (the Historical Society of Bavarian Fairground Shows ), whose collection is normally on display at the Münchner Stadtmuseum. A program of exciting things to do for children inside and in front of the museum tent is organized by the Johanniter- Unfall-Hilfe e.v Lilalu Bildungs- und Ferienprogramme ("Lilalu Educational and Holiday Programs"). The program targets a family audience and school classes. Children are invited to make things, take part in historical Oktoberfest games such as sack races, pin shooting, trouser runs and blind man's buff. Visitors can also try their hand at traditional fairground attractions such as magic shows, balancing acts and unicycling. Storytellers are on hand to pass on the history of the Oktoberfest to youthful audiences. Guided tours of the exhibits in the museum tent add the Page 4

5 finishing touch to this informative and entertaining program. In the mornings, kindergarten groups too can take part. Group visits to the Oide Kinderwiesn should be booked with Lilalu directly: by to or by phone on (freecall from all German networks). The Tradition tent has a lemonade garden with a lemonade fountain for children, who can also come here to have a snack. The lemonade garden also has children's toilets. The Oide Wiesn is open daily from 10 am to 10:30 pm. Admission is free for children up to the age of 14 and costs EUR 3 for adults. Press Contact Oktoberfest press office Dr. Gabriele Papke and Claudia Bauer Phone: +49 (0) or Fax: +49 (0) presse-veranstaltungen.raw@muenchen.de The official website and addresses for all information about the Oktoberfest: Oktoberfest the Festival of the City of Munich Page 5