How to pick up Oktoberfest vouchers on the day

Hi,

I'm off to the Oktoberfest this Sunday. It'll be my fifth one, but I'm also dragging along fifteen other middle-aged men to celebrate my forthcoming wedding, and for many of them it'll be the first time.

In the past I've always just turned up to the tents and found a table easily, as it's only been myself and possibly one other. With sixteen of us in total, however, this year I've made a reservation at Festhalle Schottenhamel for Tuesday 30th to make sure we all get seats together.

I need to collect the vouchers directly from the Oktoberfest site - do any of you know where I get these from? Somewhere inside the tent? An office or similar outside? Any tips such as signs to look out for, etc., would be greatly welcomed. :-) Can't wait...

Matt

P.S.: While I'm here, a couple of unrelated questions:

1) What's the deal with smoking?!? I read that it was going to be banned but there may have been a last-minute turn-around on this policy?
2) Will we get beaten up as we're all dressing up as a fat version of Kraftwerk. :-)

1) Sadly smoking is allowed this year as the tent owners couldn't figure out between January 1st and 20th September how to cut a hole in the back wall and build a cage at the back for the smokers.
2). Have you seen what people wear to the fest, you'll hardly be noticed.

Expect not a single individual, German or otherwise, to know what you are dressed up as. Even if you wore a sign around your neck saying "We are a fat version of Kraftwerk" there are very few who would have the faintest fucking idea what you were up to.

Crank a tent up to full volume and I can imagine the following quite easily...

Cute girl: Hey, why are you all dressed like that?
Saw-lu: What!?
Cute girl: I said, WHY ARE YOU ALL DRESSED LIKE THAT?!
Saw-lu: We're a fat version of Kraftwerk!
Cute girl: What?
Saw-lu: KRAFTWERK! We're a FAT VERSION OF KRAFTWERK!
Cute girl: I'M A WHAT! DID YOU JUST CALL ME A FAT VERSION OF CAT FOOD?
Saw-lu: WHAT?!
Cute girl: BASTARD!
Saw-lu: DEAF BITCH!
Cute girl: FUCKING ASSHOLE!

:-)

Yeah, I think you may have a point...

From the Schottenhammel website:

The vouchers for minimum consumption must be purchased at the latest by 2 weeks prior to the Oktoberfest. Sale takes place in the office in the Schottenhamel marquee on the Theresienwiese. If payment has not been made by then, the reserved places will be released. Posting of the vouchers (only outside of Munich) is only possible until September 10th. After this date, the vouchers must be collected from our office or from the marquee on the date of the reservation.

Is your reservation made for an evening slot? Then you might have trouble getting into the tent without an entrance card (I refuse to call them "tickets"). Take along your written confirmation/payment receipt and show it to the guard at the main entrance (if you can get close to him). If the main entrance is blocked go to one of the side entrances that lead directly to the Boxen (enclosed, reserved areas). Show the guard there your confirmation and tell him that you are there to pick up your vouchers and take a seat at your table(s). "Ich will meine Biermarken abholen" is what you tell him.

The office is on the right hand side of the tent if you take the main entrance, there's a big sign that says "Büro". You go down a narrow passageway, the office is on the right. The women who work there are chilled, friendly and infinitely patient. Pay for/pick up your vouchers, pick up your friends who are dying of thirst outside, find your table, party on.

Hehehe, I can see you guys all sitting there with smoke rising from your table impersonating cooling towers of a nuclear power plant (Kraftwerk).

EDIT: Matter of fact, if your reservation is for an evening slot wander over to the Wiesn around noon, stroll into the tent, take care of the voucher thing and use the afternoon for sightseeing, fun fair etc. Just don't lose the vouchers.

Many thanks for your help with this! It's actually for the afternoon slot (11:00-17:00), so I'm guessing that we should have little or no problem. And, it's all been pre-paid: I have a fax from them to present to them when I get there to sign for the vouchers.

I'm so looking forward to this!