Ocktoberfest 2008 Dates

The 175th Annual Ocktoberfest in Munich, Germany will be Held from September 20th - October 5th 2008.

Why does Oktoberfest begin in September you ask ?

Here's the Answer from the Official Oktoberfest Website:

The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times.