What Is Oktoberfest? 

Oktoberfest is the Worlds largest beer and folk festival. It traditionally takes place in Munich, Germany from mid September and lasts 18 days.

 The event has attracted an international following - this year 5.9 million people descended on Munich to attend while other cities across the world hold Oktoberfest style celebrations based on the Munich event.

 During the festival, giant tents capable of holding thousands of revellers are erected and over 6 million litres of beer is drunk. Bavarian music plays in the afternoon and often gives way to more modern pop music in the evening.

 Oktoberfest began in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sace-Hildburghausen.  The royal newlyweds deemed the party so great that they wanted to repeat it every year and so Oktoberfest has been celebrated in Munich every fall since then.

Oktoberfest Norwich will be located at; The Grand Bier Tent, Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich, NR2 1RP 

Twinned since 1978

The first contacts between the Rhineland Palatinate and Norfolk go back to school exchanges as early as 1947 and official contacts between the Koblenz region and Norfolk were sealed in 1956. Although it wasn't until 1978 that the twinning agreement was signed recognising the growing development of links, with new ones being made most years.

Since then a wide range of links on educational, cultural, sporting and many other levels has developed, all of which have served to deepen friendship and understanding between the two cities and regions.

The Norfolk and Norwich Koblenz Friendship Association

 The association was founded in 1980 with the motto ‘Understanding and Friendship’ to further promote links and exchanges between schools, skilled training, educational and other cultural, sporting and interest groups. It arranges reciprocal visits with the Norfolk, Norwich, Koblenz Freundschaftskreis ev, in Koblenz, annually, where members can stay with host families or in hotels. The programme during exchanges includes social, cultural events and visits to places of interest in the regions.