Oktoberfest has opened in Munich after the ceremonial beer keg-tapping. Mayor Dieter Reiter officially started the 189th Oktoberfest at noon when he inserted the tap into the first keg.

MUNICH — Bridie O'Halloran drank the first beer of her life at Oktoberfest.

Thousands of beer lovers celebrated the 189th start of Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival, as Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter inserted the tap into the first keg of beer on Saturday.

Alcohol-free beer has been gaining popularity in recent years as beer consumption shrinks. At Weihenstephan, the world's oldest brewery in Germany, non-alcoholic wheat beer and lager now make up 10% of volume.

Head over to South Austin and visit Meanwhile September 27-28 for an Oktoberfest celebration. Dave Froehlich gets the details.

It’s time to slip into your lederhosen, grab a seat at a wooden table and raise a stein to Oktoberfest. The festival, which originated in Munich and attracts thousands of international visitors each year,