Munich's mayor has tapped a first barrel of beer to kick off one of Germany's most popular festivals. Record beer prices at Oktoberfest this year are not expected to reduce visitor numbers. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter gave the Oktoberfest in the Bavarian capital its traditional launch on Saturday, opening a barrel of beer and marking it with the time-honored phrase "O'zapft is!" Belying its name, Oktoberfest always begins in September, running this year from September 20 bis October 5. Read more on Oktoberfest and what it has to offer in DW's preview.