Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in the U.S. — experience.usatoday.com

The grand-daddy of all beer festivals, Munich's two-week extravaganza draws about seven million thirsty souls to the Bavarian capital. From September 20 to October 5, 14 beer halls – some seating 10,000, others smaller – will serve beer from six Munich breweries with roast pork, chicken and potato pancakes galore, while bands continuously play German oompah and American pop. The beer halls are themed: one displays rural Bavarian scenes, one is horse-themed, one is family-friendly, another lures celebrities -- and some specialize, serving only duck, venison, seafood or cheese. This fest, which began as a royal wedding feast in 1810, has it all: parades of regional costume and horse-drawn carriages, carnival rides – from a century-old merry-go-round to a sci-fi-themed ride about a medical experiment gone horribly wrong, and games (like a crossbow competition). Its online shop sells collectors' mugs, traditional dirndls (puffy white blouses) for women, and lederhosen (suspenders and brown shorts) for men. oktoberfest.de/en

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