Oktoberfest 2011

The taps were flowing and the oom-pah bands were oom-pahing again in Germany. It’s Oktoberfest time, and the world’s largest festival celebrating beer reportedly attracted some 6 million visitors this time around before the taps ran dry earlier this week. The origin of the event dates back to 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese and the people of Munich were invited to attend the festivities. Only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich can be served at the festival.

Revelers attend the last and sunny day of Oktoberfest beer festival on Oct. 2 in Munich, Germany.

A young woman drinks beer while wearing a fancy Bavarian costume during the last day of Oktoberfest.

A waitress serves beer mugs in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground on Sept. 17

Revelers enjoy the view over the Oktoberfest from the top of the roof of a nearby house during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 17.

Visitors stack beer mugs after the opening ceremony of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, on Sept.17

In a five second time exposure a carousel rotates in front of the Mariendom (Cathedral of Mary), left, and the St. Severi's Church, right, during the Oktoberfest in Erfurt, central Germany

Visitors rest in the grass during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 17.

A young woman poses with a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian beer festival in Munich.

A Bavarian dressed man enjoys drinking beer at Hacker-Pschorr beer tent during day 2 of the Oktoberfest 2011

A man from Australia dressed with traditional Bavarian clothes sleeps on a bench early in the morning before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich.

An empty beer mug sits in the rain at the famous beer festival Oktoberfest in Munich Sept.19.