
Revellers from across the world have donned their finest lederhosen and dirndls as they make their way to the world's biggest beer pilgrimage.

Some six million visitors are expected at the annual 17-day Oktoberfest, which gets underway in the Bavarian capital today.

Undeterred by a rather damp and dreary start to the German folk festival, beer lovers are streaming into Munich's Theresienwiese for the event which will run until October 3.

Revellers from across the world have donned their finest lederhosen and dirndl's as they make their way to the world's biggest beer pilgrimage

Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich, kicked off the festival by tapping the first barrel of beer in the Schottenhamel tent

Which side to tie your dirndl apron? According to tradition, a bow tied on the left of the dirndl apron indicates the wearer is single; on the right indicates the lady is already taken or married; tied at the back - either the lady is a widow or a waitress

Cheers! Braided beauties in their dirndls - with men in matching outfits - toast as the beer celebration gets underway

The festival, which dates back to 1810, boasts 14 festival halls this year where visitors will be able to foist liter-sized steins of special Oktoberfest beer brewed by the six major Munich breweries.

At lunchtime Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter kicked off Oktoberfest by tapping the first barrel of beer in the Schottenhamel tent.

He drove the tap into the barrel with two strikes before proclaiming: 'O'zapft is!' - 'It's tapped!'

The first mug of beer was then handed to the Bavarian Prime Minister, Horst Seehofer.

On some days as many 600,000 visitors turn up to the event and beer this year will cost 10.40 euros (£8.90) to 10.70 euros a litre (2.1 pints) - slightly more than last year.

And Munich authorities are ramping up security precautions for this year's festival after Bavaria suffered three attacks in a week this summer.

DLast year, police reported responding to a total of 2,017 incidents, including fistfights and stolen wallets and purses. Some 20 sexual crimes were reported, including one attempted rape

German pop singer Heino, Austrian DJ Gerry Friedle, aka DJ Oetzi, singer Vanessa Mai and singer and television presenter Florian Silbereisen

Despite rain lashing the event, scores of visitors have dressed up in readiness for the festival - with the official website even giving tips on how best to wear your hair and accessories

Some six million visitors are expected at the annual 17-day beer Oktoberfest, which gets underway in the Bavarian capital today

Undeterred by rather damp and dreary start to the German folk festival, beer lovers are streaming into Munich's Theresienwiese for the event which will run until October 3

The festival, which dates back to 1810, boasts 14 festival halls this year where visitors will be able to foist liter-sized steins of special Oktoberfest beer brewed by the six major Munich breweries

Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter (left) kicked off the 183rd Oktoberfest by tapping the first barrel of beer in the Schottenhamel tent, proclaiming: 'O'zapft is!', 'It's tapped!', watched by Muenchner Kindl Oktoberfest female patron Victoria Ostler (right)

Thirsty? A waitress dressed in traditional German garb and matching accessories carries mugs filled with beer

Thirsty visitors are dispersed among the 14 vast tents on Munich's Theresienwiese fairground

Drink to that: The first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen

The Muenchner Kindl Oktoberfest female patron Victoria Ostler makes her grand entrance atop a horse

Deputy Police Chief Werner Feiler said the festival's 75-acre venue will be fenced to ensure all visitors go through stringent security controls, while the grounds will be monitored by multiple video cameras.

Backpacks and large bags will also be banned from the event.

Though there is a 'high abstract danger' of an attack at the 17-day festival, the deputy chief said authorities are unaware of any concrete security threats.

'Every visitor can feel secure at Oktoberfest,' he said, adding that authorities would make the security measures as unobtrusive as possible so as not to impinge upon participants' fun.

It is French braids, plaits and floral garlands galore, with twirled and beehive hairstyles matching the dresses at the festival

Revellers from across the globe make their way to the German folk festival every year to enjoy the variety of food and drink

Fun-seekers have donned their rain macs and braved the damp conditions in Munich on the opening day of the event

Some may be disappointed that the recent balmy weather in Germany has made way for rain, blighting the event

Visitors in traditional bavarian clothes wait in the underground station in Munich, Germany

Members of a Bavarian brass band arrive for the kick off of the 2016 Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest has become one of the highlights in the festival calendar - offering visitors a taste of German tradition

Munich authorities are ramping up security precautions for this year's Oktoberfest after Bavaria suffered three attacks in a week this summer

Bavaria was shaken this summer by three attacks in a week.

Two were carried out by asylum-seekers and claimed by ISIS. Several people were wounded, but only the attackers were killed.

In an unrelated incident, a teenager fatally shot nine people at a Munich mall before killing himself.

Bavaria's top security official, Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, said there remains today a 'fundamentally high risk of terror attacks in Germany overall.'

'We don't see any special risk for Oktoberfest, but it's clear such an internationally known festival would naturally be a possible attack target,' Herrmann said.

Women keep their dirndl's dry with waterproof macs on the opening day of the annual 17-day festival

The event is the perfect opportunity for revellers to wear fancy dress - such as this masked creation

While people are having fun, a security official said 'We don't see any special risk for Oktoberfest, but it's clear such an internationally known festival would naturally be a possible attack target'

Florian Silbereisen and Andrea Berg attend the opening of the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese

Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times

Heavy rain and stricter security did little to dampen the spirits of beer lovers at the start of this year's Oktoberfest, which opened on Saturday in the Bavarian city of Munich

Responding to a series of attacks in recent months, authorities decided to erect a metal fence, ban large bags, install more surveillance cameras and make visitors go through security checks to enter the festival grounds

Mayor Dieter Reiter tapped the first keg at noon with a respectable two strikes to the approval of thousands of visitors gathered in one of 14 vast tents on Theresienwiese fairground

After weeks of fierce sunshine the skies opened and temperatures dropped across Germany on Friday

Beer this year will cost 10.40 euros (£8.90) to 10.70 euros a litre (2.1 pints) - slightly more than last year

A waitress carries beer mugs through one of the 14 tents

During times of peak attendance, Munich police plan to have some 600 officers on hand, about 100 more than last year.

Another 450 security guards will be checking bags and performing other tasks.

The number of security cameras has been raised to 29 from 19.

In the only major attack, a far-right extremist set off a bomb killing 12 people and himself in 1980, wounding more than 200.

A vague al-Qaida threat of an attack on Oktoberfest in 2009 led to tightened security measures.

Last year, police reported responding to a total of 2,017 incidents, including fistfights and stolen wallets and purses.

Some 20 sexual crimes were reported, including one attempted rape.