Munich may be the grand-daddy of Oktoberfests, but old grandpa has spawned lots of kids.

What began in 1810 as a festival to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the annual beer, food, and music bash now has imitators all over the world. And it goes without saying that the US has some wild blowout events every September and October.  Gayot.com has a list of stateside Oktoberfests throughout the north, south, east, and west. Most are held toward the end of September.

And what does everyone do at Oktoberfest?  They drink beer of course. Oh and they eat and dance too. Traditional eats include sausages, and as this is the perfect opportunity to showcase hometown specialties, you’re bound to find as much local fare as imported, and that goes for the beer too.

Not surprisingly, many of these multi-day parties are very popular, so if you’re even thinking about heading to one, it’s best to make reservations.

Photo: Wikipedia