After two years of suspension due to the restrictions imposed in view of Covid-19 pandemic, Oktoberfest, Munich’s annual beer festival, is set to return again this year. But the possibility of the world’s largest to be cancelled due to the uncertain Covid-19 curbs still remains.

Oktoberfest, the iconic German beer festival, celebrated each year in the southern city of Munich, is all set to return after two years of forced absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reports citing Munich city’s authorities, Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, has been finally approved to take place this year and is slated to be held from September 17 to October 3, in the Bavarian capital.

There had been numerous calls to allow the festival to take place again this year, including from Bavaria’s Minister-President, Markus Söder, the festival organisers and Munich’s local politicians.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter states that no Covid-19 restrictions would be imposed on visitors during this year’s Oktoberfest and adds that the city had a hard time approving the decision due to the pandemic and also the Ukraine war, as it would seem quite inappropriate to celebrate such a festival during the country’s hardships.

Reiter also adds that festival could be cancelled if government officials reinstates pandemic measures. He hopes that nothing would occur to cancel the festival at short notice.

Supporters of resuming the event have countered reservations about the appropriateness of the festival during the conflict in Ukraine by maintaining that the Oktoberfest is a contribution to international understanding by virtue of having visitors from so many countries.

According to the breweries’ balance sheets, the previous festival that took place in 2019, had over 6.3 million guests who were said to have drank over 7.3 million litres of beer.

During the festival, visitors are seen sitting at long communal tables to swig beers, eat sausages, pretzel or pork knuckle, and listen to oompah bands.