The local Bavarian nickname for Oktoberfest is Wiesn.
Wiesn is a shortened form of Theresienwiese, the Munich meadow where the festival is held. The full name means “Therese’s Meadow,” honoring Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, whose 1810 wedding to Crown Prince Ludwig inspired the original celebration. Locals commonly use Wiesn as shorthand for both the grounds and the festival itself.
The nickname is not simply another word for any beer festival. Oktoberfest is technically a Volksfest—a large public festival with rides, food, music, and beer—but Wiesn specifically points to Munich’s traditional event. Visitors may also encounter compounds such as Wiesnbier for festival beer and Wiesntracht for clothing associated with attending the celebration.
The first event featured a horse race outside Munich’s city walls. The meadow acquired its official name after the wedding, and the name survived as Oktoberfest expanded into its modern form. Saying “auf der Wiesn” therefore means being at the festival grounds, while “die Wiesn” can refer to Oktoberfest as a whole.