Prayer instead of beer at the Marstall festival tent
The Wiesn church service is a longstanding tradition at the Munich Oktoberfest. It was held for the first time in 1956 by the head of the Catholic circus and festival workers’ chaplaincy, Father Heinz Peter Schönig. The service itself is ecumenical and is conducted by Catholic and Protestant ministers. The service is primarily aimed at Wiesn staff, and commemorates showmen, market sellers and Wiesn landlords who have passed away. The church service also offers christenings, first communions and confirmations to children of showmen. The service is publicly accessible and also caters to visitors of the Oktoberfest. Entry is, of course, free of charge. The Wiesn church service traditionally takes place on the first Thursday of the festival. From 1956 to 2013, it was held at the hippodrome. In 2014, the service was held at Fischer Vroni. Since 2015, it has found a new home at the Marstall festival tent. There, attendees pray for a peaceful Wiesn together.
