Oktoberfest 2012

The beer is flowing and carnival rides running again at this year’s 179th Oktoberfest in Munich. Known as the world's largest beer festival, the event dates to 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese and the people of Munich were invited to attend the festivities. More than 6 million people are expected to attend this year’s festival, which runs until Oct. 7. -- NOTE: We're going to be asking some viewers of The Big Picture to answer one or two anonymous survey questions before viewing the full post or you can choose to send a tweet or Facebook post instead. ( 31 photos total)

A young man displays a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 22. The world's largest beer festival, held from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7 will attract more than six million guests from around the world. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press)

People rest on a meadow during the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich Sept. 23. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital over the next two weeks for the 179th Oktoberfest. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

A waitress carries beer after the opening of the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 22. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

People in traditional Bavarian clothes take a break after the Oktoberfest parade in Munich on Sept. 23. #

Revelers toast after getting the first beer in the traditional one-litre "Masskrug" beer mugs at the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich on Sept. 22. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #

People in traditional Bavarian clothes take a break after the Oktoberfest parade in Munich on Sept. 23. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

Visitors rest on a meadow at the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 23. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

A traditional one-litre "Masskrug" beer mug is left behind on a beer garden table during heavy rain falls at the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich on Sept. 22. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #

Revelers wait for entrance during day one of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Hofbraeuhaus beer tent on Sept. 22 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

A reveler uses a mirror to check out a traditional Bavarian hat on the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich on Sept. 22. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #

An actor performs during the Oktoberfest parade in Munich on Sept. 23. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital over the next two weeks for the 179th Oktoberfest which runs until Oct. 7. (Michaela Rehle/Reuters) #

Members of a brass band wearing traditional Bavarian clothes take part in the costumes and riflemen parade at the Theresienwiese fair grounds in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 23. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

A young participant of the Oktoberfest folklore parade walks through the city, during the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 23. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

Visitors enjoy a ride in a merry-go-round on a sunny day at the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 25. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

Visitors ride a merry-go-round at the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 23. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

A visitor wearing a traditional Bavarian hat stands in front of a ferris wheel at Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 22. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

People are attracted by a luminous carnival ride in the evening of day one of the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sept. 22. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

The Mariendom (Cathedral of Mary), left, and the St. Severi's Church, right, reflect in a puddle during the Oktoberfest German beer festival at the Cathedral Square, in Erfurt, central Germany, on Sept. 27. (Jens Meyer/Associated Press) #

Visitors look at a gingerbread booth during rain at the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 22. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

Revelers sit under umbrellas with their traditional one-litre "Masskrug" beer mugs on a beer garden table during heavy rain falls on the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese in Munich on Sept. 22. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #

People stretch out to reach beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 22. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

People sit on benches under a tent during the Oktoberfest beer festival fair at the Theresienwiese in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 27. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

Green Party members Margarete Bause (left) and Claudia Roth toast during the opening ceremony for the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 22. (Guido Krzikowski/Reuters) #

A visitor takes a rest on the lawn at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest fair grounds in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 23. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

oktoberfest2012

A visitor walks with his dogs at the Oktoberfest on Sept. 22 in Munich, southern Germany. This year's edition of the world's biggest beer festival Oktoberfest will run until Oct. 7. (Andreas Gebert/AFP/Getty Images) #

Two women react as they arrive for the opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival as rain falls in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 22. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

Visitors wearing traditional Bavarian clothes wait during the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 27. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

Visitors wearing traditional Bavarian clothes line up to get the first beers in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese on Sept. 22. (Marc Mueller/AFP/Getty Images) #

A woman drinks a beer at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest fair grounds in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 24. (Frank Leonhardt/AFP/Getty Images) #

A young woman takes a picture at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest fair grounds in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 24. (Frank Leonhardt/AFP/Getty Images) #

Young people celebrate the opening ceremony in the Hofbraeuzelt beer tent of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 22. The world's largest beer festival, to be held from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7 will attract more than six million guests from around the world. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

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