Thousands of participants march through the city center to Theresienwiese
Thousands of participants will march in the Trachten- und Schützenzug on the first Sunday of the festival, September 20, from Maximilianstraße to Theresienwiese. This traditional parade has been held on this date every year since 1950.
A highlight in the event calendar
The Trachten und Schützenzug is one of the absolute highlights of the festival calendar. Every year at 10 a.m., the nearly seven-kilometer-long parade sets off from the Max II Monument, located right next to the Maximilianeum. The participating groups enthusiastically showcase their traditional costumes, wave to the cheering crowds lining the streets, and even perform acrobatic routines, such as those by the Munich Morisco dancers. The event is accompanied by numerous brass bands and marching bands playing traditional folk and marching music.
Magnificent Floats and Historic Traditional Costumes
As always, the Münchner Kindl leads the procession on horseback, followed shortly afterward by the first festival carriage carrying Munich’s Mayor Dominik Krause, which is traditionally escorted by the Würmesia City Guard. As with the procession of the breweries and festival hosts, the city’s mayors share a carriage; the incumbent Bavarian Minister-President, Dr. Markus Söder, also regularly attends with his wife, as does Oktoberfest Director Dr. Christian Scharpf.
The traditional costume and marksmen’s parade is always an extremely colorful event, featuring historic dirndls and lederhosen, as well as Biedermeier-era fashion and even knight’s armor. Participants come not only from Bavaria but from all over Europe. Among them, the magnificently decorated floats of Munich’s six breweries are a must-see, and of course the Bavarian sport shooters and the Bavarian mountain riflemen are also present.
The pictures of the traditional costume and hunters’ parade
Who's in? Customs and folk music from around the world
A better question would be: Who isn’t taking part in the traditional costume parade to the Festwiese? Every year, some 9,000 participants answer Munich’s call and march together in a festive procession through the city in about 50 parade groups. It’s not just Bavarian traditional dress enthusiasts who take part in the Trachten und Schützenzug: traditional costume associations, sports and mountain rifle clubs, marching bands, and musical ensembles from all over the world can register for the parade with Festring München e.V.
Which way? The route of the traditional costume parade
The Max II monument on Maximilianstraße is the starting point of the festive costume and hunters’ parade at 10 am on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest. From there, the parade ambles through Munich city center towards the Theresienwiese.
Where can I watch? Tickets for spectator stands
Festring München e.V. not only determines the route that the costume parade takes through the city to the festival site. For spectators who want to experience the action up close, there are stands erected along the route that offer the best view of the parade. Note: It is advisable to arrive early as the seats in the stands are not numbered.
Stand locations:
- Maximilianstraße (2 x VIP stands)
- Max-Joseph-Platz/Residenzstraße
- Ludwigstraße/Odeonsplatz – Annast
- Ludwigstraße/Odeonsplatz – AXA
- Ludwigstraße/Odeonsplatz – Filmcasino (VIP)
- Ludwigstraße/Odeonsplatz – Rider monument (VIP)
- Feldherrnhalle (VIP stand)
- Stachus (Karlsplatz) in front of Brunnenrondell
- Sonnenstraße, near house number 15
- Sonnenstraße, near house number 17
- Sonnenstraße, on the grassy strip across from house number 15
- Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz
