For the first time ever the Oktoberfest is going to introduce wristbands, not only for people who have reserved seats at one of the tents, but for everyone at the Oktoberfest grounds at Munich’s Theresienwiese, Bild.de reports today, July 14,2016. The wristbands are only going to be issued at peak days at times at the annual beer festival which is held at the Bavarian capital since 1810.

The peak days and times are two of the three Saturdays of the festival and the last Sunday of the festival (September 24 and October 1 and 2). Visitors to the festival holding festival wristband are going to be let onto the festival grounds even if it is overcrowded and closed. We will bring more details on the new wristbands as they are made available.

Last week, additional safety measures for the festival have been decided upon. It has been decided to employ additional security personnel. The 100 more people in charge of safety and security are going to cost the city additional €2.8 million. There are going to be more controls of handbags and rucksacks at the entrance, but no general ban on them. The city’s official Facebook page and the official Twitter account are going to be used to inform the general public if the festival grounds are overcrowded. It has also been decided that there won’t be any additional fences around the Oktoberfest grounds, as proposed by the CSU.

Over 6 million beer loving visitors are expected at the 183rd instalment of the traditional Bavarian beer festival in 2016. This year the Oktoberfest is set to take place at the Theresienwiese from Saturday, September 17 until Monday, October 3 (German Reunification Day).