Oktoberfest is the Worlds largest beer and folk festival. It traditionally takes place in Munich, Germany from mid September and lasts 18 days.
The event has attracted an international following - this year 5.9 million people descended on Munich to attend while other cities across the world hold Oktoberfest style celebrations based on the Munich event.
During the festival, giant tents capable of holding thousands of revellers are erected and over 6 million litres of beer is drunk. Bavarian music plays in the afternoon and often gives way to more modern pop music in the evening.
Oktoberfest began in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sace-Hildburghausen. The royal newlyweds deemed the party so great that they wanted to repeat it every year and so Oktoberfest has been celebrated in Munich every fall since then.
Twin City with Backnang, Germany
Chelmsford has been twinned with Backnang since 1990, it is the capital of the region of Baden-Wurttemburg and is situated 25 miles north east of Stuttgart. Backnang has a population of around 35,000. Backnang has been known as Gerberstadt, meaning "Tanner Town", due to several tanneries & leather factories, and wool & cloth mills that dominated Backnang's industries.
The Chelmsford Town Twinning Association are a voluntary group, who aim to promote links between Chelmsford's twin towns of Annonay and Backnang at the individual, school, club, association and commercial levels.