A spectator in traditional Bavarian clothing waves during the 178th Oktoberfest on September 18, 2011 in Munich, Germany. #

An employee paints decorations on gingerbread hearts to be sold at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, on September 2, 2011. #

A man waits in a U-Bahn station in Munich waiting to go to the Oktoberfest festival on Saturday morning, September 17, 2011. #

Waitresses wave and hold aloft beer mugs during the opening of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. #

Young visitors rest during the opening ceremony of Oktoberfest 2011 in Munich, Germany, on September 17. #

Christian Ude, Mayor of the City of Munich, taps the first beer barrel with the traditional cry of "O'zapft is!" on Saturday, September 17, 2011. #

An enthusiastic Oktoberfest visitor leaps in the air when entering the Schottenhamel beer tent on Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Munich. #

A reveler in traditional Bavarian dress, beer in hand, on Saturday September 17, 2011 in Munich, after the opening of the Oktoberfest. #

People stretch out to reach a beer mug in the Hofbräuhaus-tent after the opening of Oktoberfest, in a beer tent in Munich, Germany, on September 17, 2011. #

People reach out for a beer mug in the Hofbräuhaus-tent in Munich, Germany, on September 17, 2011. Only a small amount of the beer appears to have spilled. #

Visitors to the Oktoberfest beer festival celebrate in a beer tent on the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich, Germany, on September 18, 2011. #

Revelers salute with traditional 1-liter beer mugs on the first day of the Munich Oktoberfest, September 17, 2011. #

Visitors ride a Ferris wheel during the first day of the Munich Oktoberfest, on September 17, 2011. #

Opening day of the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, on September 17, 2011. #

Visitors enjoy a ride on a merry-go-round in an amusement park in front of St. Paul's church during Oktoberfest, in Munich, on September 17, 2011. #

Festival-goers enjoy an amusement park ride after the opening of Oktoberfest, on the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich, on September 17, 2011. #

A waitress carries beer mugs after the opening of Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 17, 2011. #

People in traditional costumes wave during the Oktoberfest parade in Munich, on September 18, 2011. #

A reveler salutes during the first day of the Munich Oktoberfest, on September 17, 2011. #

Visitors stack beer mugs after the opening ceremony of the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich, on September 17, 2011. #

Three young women pose in the Schottenhamel tent after the tapping of the first keg of beer, opening Oktoberfest on September 17, 2011, in Munich. #

Terrier Tiffany dressed in traditional clothes attends Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, on September 17, 2011. #

A reveler rests in the sun after the first hours of the Munich Oktoberfest, on September 17, 2011. #

Visitors to Oktoberfest raise a toast on September 17, 2011, after the opening of the festival. #

Revelers enjoy a ride in a swing-carousel at the Munich Oktoberfest, in Munich, on September 17, 2011. #

The Oktoberfest beer festival crowd, at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich, Germany, on September 17, 2011. #

Festival attendees wearing traditional Bavarian clothes hug on the steps of the St. Peter and Paul church, after leaving Oktoberfest, on September 17, 2011. #

Tens of thousands of revelers at the first night of Oktoberfest, at the Theresienwiese in Munich, on September 17, 2011. #