Friends of Bavarian cosiness can breathe a sigh of relief: “The Wirtshauswiesn doesn’t have to freeze to death!” With these words, Manuel Pretzl, head of the city council faction of CSU/free voters, commented on an order he had suggested from Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD). As a result, all restaurant operators in the city are exceptionally allowed to set up radiant heaters during the Oktoberfest.
The Wirtshauswiesn was introduced during the pandemic as a replacement for the Oktoberfest, which had been canceled at the time. This year it will take place in around 40 participating restaurants with decorations, delicacies and of course Oktoberfest beer for the second time parallel to the largest folk festival in the world. There, for a long time, radiant heaters have been used to ensure the comfort of guests on cool evenings.
“According to the motto ‘All of Munich is Wiesn’, I want the same conditions to apply throughout the city – for the participants of the Wirtshauswiesn as for all other outdoor areas,” said Reiter, explaining his permission.
This is only valid for the Oktoberfest period from September 16th to October 3rd and must be requested from the district administration department. The CSU man Pretzl dispelled ecological concerns: “From an environmental point of view, the operation of radiant heaters is unproblematic, since the devices are operated with green electricity.”