MUNICH, Germany - Munich's mayor joyously hammered a tap into Oktoberfest's first barrel of beer, opening the annual drinking spree Saturday with the traditional cry of "It's tapped!"

Thousands of visitors crowded into the sprawling Theresienwiese festival grounds as Mayor Christian Ude launched the 174th Oktoberfest and passed the first beer to Bavarian Governor Edmund Stoiber. A 12-gun salute signaled that it was time to start serving the public.

The festival's tents offer seating for some 100,000 people.

The Oktoberfest runs through Oct. 7. Last year, the festival attracted more than 6 million visitors, who downed about 12.9 million pints of beer.

The traditional "Mass," or two-pint mug, will cost visitors between $10.30 and $11.10 at this year's festival.