At 9am on Saturday, stewards opened the entrances to Munich's Oktoberfest at 9am, allowing visitors to rush to the beer tents.

Visitors poured in from all directions, most of them dressed in traditional folk costumes such as "dirndl und lederhosen", as the event is known locally.

The first visitors had been waiting since early morning, some with blankets, thermoses and coffee, others with beer. But these early „Wiesn“ guests will have to wait another three hours before they can get their first litre of „Oktoberfest“ beer.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter will unlock the first keg of beer at noon and officially open the festival. Only after Reiter and Bavarian Premier Markus Söder have toasted a peaceful "Wiesn" will the beer be poured for all guests.

Up to 6 million visitors are expected in the Bavarian capital between now and the end of the festival on 6 October.