Oktoberfest 2004

A waitress carrying seven beer mugs whistles her way through the crowds in a beer tent at the Oktoberfest. During rush hour, many waitresses add a second row of mugs on top. Many work out with weights before the festival, which is a major source of their annual income for them.

A lucky man sits between two Bavarian roses dressed in traditional costumes on a merry-go-round.

It might look just like any other fair ground, but with six million people expected to visit the Oktoberfest this year, it's certainly bound to get more crowded than similar events elsewhere.

The hotels and guest houses of Munich are fully booked but there will be empty rooms through the whole two weeks of this year's Oktoberfest. But many, like this visitor, will be lucky to make it to their beds every night!

This swing merry-go-round might not be able to compete with the Oktoberfest's adreanline boosting rides, but it certainly gives visitors a chance for a romantic ride through the evening air.

Sensitive souls might run into some problems at the world's largest beer festival: While the tent might still look somewhat orderly early during the day, the crowds soon start to shout along to the music.

The mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, is laughing as he meets a person, dressed as a demon, on a sight-seeing tour at the Oktoberfest.

Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber (right) and his wife Karin wave from a coach in front of the Theatiner church, during the traditional costume and riflemen's procession.

Munich's Mayor Christian Ude taps the first beer barrel during the traditional opening of the annual Oktoberfest. The words everyone is waiting for are: "O'zapft is!" -- Bavarian for "It's tapped!"

Munich's Mayor Christian Ude (right) and Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber raise a toast to the assembled throng from the balcony of the Schottenhamel festival tent during the opening of the 2004 Oktoberfest.

Waitresses standing on a horse-drawn carriage cheer with beer mugs during the opening ceremony of the Oktoberfest.

A musician plays his tuba in front of the Theatiner church during the traditional costume and riflemen's procession that kicks off the Oktoberfest every year.

The irreplaceable and irrepressible serving girls of the Oktoberfest wave to the crowd with those strong arms during the opening day procession. Each waitress is capable of carrying as many as three or four full beer steins in one hand through a raucous crowd. That's a lot of weight…and a lot of beer.

While their parents enjoyed one or two beers next door, these children participated in a handicrafts charity event organized by a delicatessen store at the Oktoberfest.

A group from Poland wears traditional clothes in front of the Theatiner church as they performs during the traditional costume and riflemen's procession of the Oktoberfest.

They fly through the air with the greatest of ease…The new ride at Oktoberfest, "Cyber Space," goes through a test run in front of Munich's St. Paul's Church. Eight people at a time can free fall from 50 meters (54.6 yards) up and experience G-Force 6 on the way down. Best not drink too much beforehand…

Men and women from the Chiemgau region, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Munich, dressed up in their traditional costumes, participate in the traditional costume and riflemen's procession.

Gianluca Rolla from La Spezia in Italy celebrates wearing glasses styled like two beer mugs during the opening ceremony of the Oktoberfest.

Women from the Chiemgau region, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Munich, dressed up in their traditional costumes, participate in the traditional costume and riflemen's procession.

People in a roundabout are seen in front of the twin towers of Munich's St. Mary's Cathedral, a landmark of the city.