Landlord Peter Inselkammer stands radiantly in front of his tent on Sunday afternoon, many hands are shaken, the joy is great: After the traditional costume and hunter's procession, the guild of the "Winzerer Fähndl" moves into the Armbrustschützenzelt. First the drummer train, then the marksmen in their medieval lansquenet robes with splendid feathers and of course a crossbow in their luggage.
The "Winzerer Fähndl" guild has been on the Oktoberfest since 1895. The marksmen are named after the Bavarian general Kaspar Winzerer, who was accompanied by the guild on his campaigns. Today, shooting is only done out of sporting ambition, directly at the Oktoberfest, in the in-house shooting range of the Armbrustschützenzelt. On the second Oktoberfest weekend, the German Championship will even be held here.
"When the hunters are there, our home is complete," enthuses Peter Inselkammer. He has known many of the members for 30 years, and in 2017 he was even the champion of the guild. "Such traditions are very important on the Oktoberfest," says Inselkammer, "and that's what makes our tent so special." You can also see the most beautiful impressions of the entry of the crossbowmen in our video: