The Trachten- und Schützenzug, took place for the first time in 1835 in honor of the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria and the 25th anniversary of the Oktoberfest. Today one of the highlights of the Oktoberfest is the parade. The importance of the pageant is shown by the live broadcasting with which annually draws over one million spectators world-wide following the colorful event at the television.
Around 9,000 participants, divided into 60 procession numbers, parade from the Max II Monument through Munich’s city center to the Oktoberfestwiese and display the diversity of traditional costumes, customs and folk dance. Many German states are represented with traditional costumes and music groups and take part as well as participants from Austria, South Tyrol, Italy, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, take part in the seven-kilometer-long procession.
In colorful succession, festively dressed Trachtler alternate with music bands, historical traditional costume groups, sports and mountain riflemen, marching bands, fanfare and colorful flag-wavers. A large delegation of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen and the Bavarian Hunting Association with hunting dogs and birds of prey are also present.
