As the festival got longer, the starting dates were moved into September because the days were longer and the weather was warmer. Visitors could stay out later to enjoy the gardens and the famous fields that make up the festival grounds without getting chilly

In keeping tradition with the original dates, the last weekend of modern Oktoberfests always takes place in October, usually ending on the first Sunday of the month. If the first Sunday in October is the 1st or 2nd of the month, the festival is extended slightly to run until Monday or Tuesday, whichever October 3 is. This is so that it can coincide with the public holiday Tag der Deutschen Einheit, or Day of German Unity. Germans call this a “good” year, and we can’t argue with that. Oktoberfest is just one of the many things we love to look forward to in the fall.