Random old Bing wallpapers

"O'zapft is!" Punctually at 12 o'clock, this call of the mayor of Munich was to sound after the tapping of the first beer barrel and thus open the 184th Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese. For 18 days this year, the Wiesn will be buzzing!

The Oktoberfest in the Bavarian capital is the tourist highlight of the year. In 2017, the organizers in Munich are expecting up to six million guests who want to enjoy themselves at the largest folk festival in the world.

n addition to the large beer and wine tents, there are numerous other attractions on the festival grounds. How about a ride on the nostalgic chain carousel? Or are you more in the mood for a nighttime lap on the Ferris wheel?

No, those aren’t really horns on the great horned owl, shown here blending in nicely with its surroundings in Central Florida in the United States. The distinctive tufts of feathers on top of its head are known as ‘plumicorns.’ They have nothing to do with hearing—instead, they’re thought to be used to show expression and for camouflage. Feel free to impress your friends with this bit of trivia during the Great Backyard Bird Count, a four-day event in February that invites participants to help monitor bird populations.

No matter where you find yourself today, there’s always plenty to do on Australia Day, and this year is no exception. If you’re in Sydney, annual firework displays across the harbour, like the ones you see today, will light up the night sky. For those in Victoria, on the other hand, why not check out the Official Flag Raising ceremony, closely followed by the Australia Day Parade – featuring more than 1000 participants from over 80 community and cultural groups.

But if you’re after a bit more grease and grunt, we suggest heading to Darwin, where they’ll be celebrating the 19th annual Ute Day Run. This truly Aussie spectacle is a beloved street parade that entertains spectators as it winds its way through Darwin, with drivers doing their best to deck out their utes with a bit of Australiana flair. Even better is that all the funds raised go towards the charity Variety NT to help purchase equipment for children with special needs in the Territory. Whatever you choose – we hope you have a great one!