COVID-19 outbreak: Germany cancels Oktoberfest and Spanish bull-running festival is scrapped

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced authorities in Europe to shelve some of the major events in the continent. The latest ones to fall victim to the coronavirus crisis are the popular Oktoberfest and beer festival at Munich in Germany and the San Fermin Fiesta, the famous bull-running festival in Spain.

The beer fest was slated to be held at Bavaria in Germany from September 19 to October 4, and the 8-day San Fermin Fiesta, to be conducted on the streets of Pamplona, a northern city in Spain, from July 6.

The famed Oktoberfest, which was started in 1810, draws close to 60 lakh people from Germany and abroad, and the revenue is in excess of 1.2 billion dollar. Earlier, the fest was cancelled in 1854 and 1873 due to cholera. It was also shelved during the world wars and in 1923 when inflation touched new heights in Germany.

Close to 10 lakh people attend the annual bull-running fiesta which is known as the national festival of Spain. The main gala includes bull fights, bulls running through narrow streets, parades and music concerts. The San Fermin Fiesta has been suspended only thrice in its history. The Spanish civil wars played spoilsport in 1937 and 1938, and the festival was dropped in 1978 after a student died in riots.