The biggest Oktoberfest at Taj Samudra Colombo

• From 22 to 27 October

Did you know that the world’s largest German festival began as a wedding celebration more than 200 years ago when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese on 12 October 1810? 

The wedding was celebrated with multiple days of feasting and horse races while the citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the royal marriage.  The decision to repeat the horse races, and celebrations in 1811 was what gave birth to Oktoberfest, the largest German festival in the world.  

For more than 100 years Germans have been visiting our island enjoying our beautiful beaches, hill country, wild life, historical sites whilst savouring our food laced with coconut milk, spices and chilies. The warmth of our people and the Sri Lankan smile have tugged on many German hearts and today Germans account for one of the largest visible tourist groups to visit our island. 

Over the years Sri Lankans too have developed a fondness for German music, food and their culture and today Oktoberfest is the single biggest international festival celebrated in Sri Lanka. During the months of October and November we see several hotels and restaurants dishing out German food to celebrate Oktoberfest to offer their guest a taste of Germany. 

This year the official Oktoberfest will be graced by the Ambassador for Germany in Sri Lanka Jörn Rohde and the celebration will be kicked off with the traditional German parade coupled with the tapping of a keg. The six-day long celebration will run from 22 to 27 October and will take place daily between 5:30 p.m. to midnight at the Taj Samudra South Lawn. 

This mega German festival will showcase Edelwise, one of the premier Oktoberfest bands from Munich, Germany, along with beautiful German hostesses to dance, entertain and light up the festivities. In addition, there will be an array of traditional German games and the winners will walk away with exciting prizes. 

The event will have a star-studded lineup of local entertainment comprising of Infinity, Unscripted, Magicbox Mixup, Backline, Daddy, Chitral Somapala, Umara Sinhawansa and Pradhee Sandeepana will take you down memory lane with a medley from Queen’s Live Aid performance.  Furthermore for the very first time in Sri Lanka we will be transported to Jamaica by Sri Lanka’s Bob Marley, Reggae Rohantha when he takes the stage daily along with the Wailer Sisters.   

An entrance only ticket sits at Rs. 2,000 while a ticket with dinner and two beverages is priced at Rs. 3,850. Dinner will include an appetiser, main and dessert. In addition, guests will have the option of purchasing food and drinks at the event. This year there will be a host of unique drinks served at the event and guests will get a chance to enjoy and discover hand crafted beverages from Lion Brewery as well as some popular international beverages especially flown down from Carlsberg – Denmark.

Tickets can be purchased from the events desk at the Taj Samudra Colombo or online at 444.lk. Whilst Taj Samudra Colombo is hosting the event Coca Cola, Yes FM, Legends, Audi, 444.lk, What’s Up Sri Lanka, Elephant House Ice Cream and George Stewarts Travels are partnering with the Taj Samudra Colombo to make this event happen.