Munich’s Oktoberfest parade brings together more than 8,000 participants

More than 8,000 people will take part in Munich’s traditional Oktoberfest costume and marksmen’s parade on Sunday, BR reported. The procession will set off at 10 a.m. and travel for more than two hours from Maximilianstrasse to the Theresienwiese festival grounds.

Costume and crafts groups, sports and mountain marksmen, flag twirlers, fanfare bands and Munich’s Schäffler cooper guild will walk or ride in traditional and historic dress. Festive carriages and decorated brewery wagons will accompany them.

About 50 groups have travelled from across Germany and from Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Switzerland. Several groups are marking anniversaries this year. The Fischbachau band has existed for 175 years, while the Tyrolean Unterland marksmen’s district and the Munich Riesengebirge costume group are each celebrating 60 years. The Chiemgau Alpine Association for Costume and Tradition is marking its 100th anniversary.

The parade will be led by the Münchner Kindl on horseback. Bavarian Premier Markus Söder and Munich Mayor Dominik Krause will ride in decorated ceremonial carriages.

The seven-kilometre route will pass through the city and is expected to draw large crowds. Drivers in the affected areas should expect disruptions.

The parade was first held in 1835 for the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria. Their wedding 25 years earlier had established the Oktoberfest.