Germany's Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival, where revelers from all over the world gather to swig large quantities of beer, has been canceled due to the coronavirus crisis, the southern state of Bavaria said on Tuesday.
Around six million partygoers gather every year in Munich for the two-week-long festivities, held in packed tents with long wooden tables and oompah bands, which makes more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) for the city.
"We have decided the risk is simply too great," state premier Markus Soeder told reporters. "It hurts, it is a huge shame."
This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.