Oktoberfest will open after the ceremonial keg-tapping by Munich Mayor when he inserts the tap into the first keg at noon on Saturday.

On Saturday at 9 am (0700 GMT) on the dot, the stewards opened the entrances to Munich's Oktoberfest, allowing visitors to rush towards the beer tents. Visitors to the Wiesn - as the event is known locally - then flocked in from all sides,

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati began in 1976 and is touted by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber as the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world outside of the original event in Munich, Germany. A record 808,300 attendees celebrated the German heritage of Southwest Ohio last year, according to the chamber.

Wiener dogs race to the finish line at the annual Running of the Wieners at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati on Friday. Grace Tucker

One of Cincinnati's cutest races, The Running of the Wieners features over 100 Dachshund-mix pups dressed like hot dogs. The event is held each year for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the US.