{
  "id": 8984354,
  "title": "I'm an American who went to Oktoberfest for the first time. Here are 5 things that surprised me most about the German festival.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/im-an-american-who-went-to-oktoberfest-for-the-first-time-here-are-5",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T18:41:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/oktoberfest-most-surprising-things-from-american-first-time-visitor-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Emily Pogue, an American first-time attendee of Oktoberfest, encountered numerous surprises during her visit. Contrary to her expectations, she discovered that locals often wear vests with their lederhosen instead of traditional suspenders. Furthermore, she found that the festival tents, which are often mistaken for circus tents, are actually temporary wooden structures featuring various themes. The festival organizers strictly prohibit chugging beer and standing on tables, but allow dancing on benches. A mysterious white powder was also found to be a drug-free, menthol-infused substance called Wiesn Koks, which festivalgoers use to stay awake between drinks. Outside the festival tents, there is a full carnival, complete with rides and games, making Oktoberfest a family-friendly event.",
  "summary": "I'm an American who went to Oktoberfest for the first time. I thought I knew what to expect, but many aspects of the German festival surprised me.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}