Oktoberfest cancelled due to coronavirus fears

The Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest folk festival which attracts over six million visitors from around the world each year, has been cancelled.

Bavarian state governor Markus Soeder and Munich mayor Dieter Reiter have announced that the major cultural and tourist event won’t take place this year because of pandemic concerns. This year’s event was scheduled to take place between Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October.

Germany, which allowed smaller shops to open again yesterday, had so far banned major events up to the end of August.

This cancellation will signify a big economic hit for the city of Munich and the wider Bavarian region. Businesses and beer lobby groups had floated the idea of a mini-Oktoberfest which would open only for locals of the region, a proposal which was not met with enthusiasm with the authorities.

Two weeks ago, Oktoberfest vendors already floated the idea of holding a mini-Oktoberfest — one that would only be open for locals in Munich and the surrounding region. The suggestion failed to gather steam with Munich city officials, who dismissed the idea.

Soeder said that “Based on the current situation, I can not imagine that such a large event would even be possible at that time”

Read more via DW.