The Einzug der Wiesnwirte und Brauereien (Entry of the Hosts and Breweries) festive prelude signals the official start of the Oktoberfest is the arrival of the Wiesnwirte and breweries. This folklore procession, which has regularly taken place since 1950, has turned into an eminent Oktoberfest event and is broadcast live worldwide by German channel 1. About 9,000 participants walk from Maximilianstraße through downtown Munich to the festival grounds and present a colorful variety of traditional attire, customs and folk dances, which is traditionally led by the Münchner Kindl.
Around 10:45 a.m. the current Münchner Kindl starts her first official Oktoberfest act. Seated on her horse she leads the parade starting from Josephspitalstraße – on to the Wiesn via Sonnen-, Schwanthaler-, Hermann-Lingg-Straße and Bavariaring, finally arriving at the Theresienwiese. Behind her follows the Munich Mayor and the Wiesn hosts in brightly decorated carriages . The smartly dressed waitresses in dirndls also made their way to the sounds of the halls music bands, the showmen, the market traders and the highly polished carriages of the Munich breweries. Of course always present on board the breweries horse drawn carriages is the most important part of Oktoberfest, the drink of the Wiesn, beer stored in wooden barrels – festively decorated with flowers and garlands.
The parade comprises the magnificently decorated horse-drawn drays of the six large Munich breweries, the 16 carriages of the landlords of the larger tents, showmen, the landlords of the smaller tents, the landlords of the Oide Wiesn, brass bands and Trachtler. Since 1935 the parade has been lead by the Münchner Kindl (Munich child), originally it was a boy on a pony, today a young woman on horseback. Even more important is a person in the following carriage: The mayor of Munich, sitting in the carriage of the Schottenhamel tent, once arriving on the Theresienwiese the Mayor is dropped off at the Schottenhamel marquee. Armed with a mallet and a tap, he taps the first beer keg at the Wiesn and proudly yells the well-known “O’zapft is” at the thirsty crowd. That’s it: the official starting signal for the Wiesn and the official permission for the Oktoberfest landlords to open the taps in their tents. Cheers!
In 1887 the legendary Hans Steyrer, also known as the Bavarian Hercules who missed no opportunity to attract attention to his businesses, had the idea of moving from his restaurant in the Tegernseer Landstraße to his Oktoberfest tent together with his staff, the first supply of beer and of course his brass band in festive carriages. As he did not care about a license for his undertaking, police stopped him long before reaching the Theresienwiese. Today, the parade is even lead by the police riding team.
Despite the initial disapproval of the authorities, Steyrer succeeded in attracting the interest of both the public and also his colleagues, who began themselves imitating his idea. But not before 1925, the Löwen, Pschorr, and Thomas breweries orchestrated the first combined opening parade – still without official authorization. The first landlord to actually register the parade was Augustiner host Hans Schattenhofer. Therefore, its starting point since 1931 is the Herzog-Spital-Straße, where Schattenhofer’s restaurant was located. Sadly, today most hosts forgot about the tradition of moving together with their staff to Oktoberfest and prefer filling their staff carriage with free beer enthusiasts also known as friends of the family.
Sources Referenced: München Betriebs-GmbH & Co. KG - Mit and Wiesnkini Project
The horses of the brewery teams take days to be prepared ready for their use in the Oktoberfest landlords Entry. The horses are groomed including shampooing of the coat, trimming of the mane and special care of the hooves. The horses’ working day typically begins at 5:30 in the morning and usually ends after 5:00 p.m. The ornate harness of the horses weighs around 300 kg (661 lbs). However, the preparation for the Oktoberfest technically begins much earlier, a few weeks before the start of the Wiesn, when the horses are familiarized to working in the six horses procession teams, and getting used to the streets.
Cavalry Squadron of the Bavarian Police.
The Bavarian Cavalry Police are at the head and at the end of the parade.
As part of the general patrol service, the officers of the cavalry squadron pursue and prevent criminal and administrative offenses. In addition, they are used at events, missing person searches and especially at football games.
Fanfarenzug Graf Toerring Gernlinden e.V.
The Graf Toerring Gernlinden is a 30 person natural-tone fanfare band from Upper Bavaria. This means that there are no valves on their instruments to produce semitones. They have both a historical and a Bavarian costume, which they have appeared in at the Oktoberfest since 1964.
Musikkapelle Otto Schwarzfischer
Musikkapelle Otto Schwarzfischer was founded by Wolfgang “Gangerl” Schwarzfischer just after World War II. From 1956 his grandson Otto Schwarzfischer played with him, and took over control in 1959. In 2010 Otto retired, and Christian Sachs was promoted to conductor. Sadly in 2021, Otto died aged 81.
Münchner Kindl – Viktoria Ostler
First a monk, then a boy, then a gender-neutral child, a girl, and finally a young woman on a horse leading the way to Oktoberfest. The Münchner Kindl sure has evolved since it first appeared on Munich’s coat-of-arms over 800 years ago. The symbol stems from Munich’s first inhabitants, an order of monks.
Sign Reads: es grüßen die schausteller und marktkaufleute von der wiesn…Greetings from the Showmen and Market Merchants from the Wiesn
Festwagen, Musik Gary & Gerry
Munich-based party band led by Gerry & Gary are more than ‘just a band! For 18 years, the front singers, have performed with their four musical comrades (The Used Underwear) and have developed over time to be an international top act performing classics from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and current hits from the charts.
Festwagen mit Familie Winklhofer & Wieser
As well as the Oktoberfest Festzelt Tradition tent, Peter Wieser and the family Winklhofer run the Ratskeller located under the New Town Hall directly on Marienplatz , which is a Munich institution that contains a wine bar, many different rooms, a bistro and a pub.
Musikkapelle Die Niederalmer
Walter Bankhammer with the Niederalmer Musikanten became an Oktoberfest band and, subsequently, the acclaimed party stars in the Schützenfest tent. Their repertoire ranges from traditional brass band music to pop, rock ‘n roll and the current hit parade stormers. Ten times the Niederalmer have been selected as the Best Wiesn Band.
Faßwagen, Gezogen von 2 Ochsen
Wiesn landlord Wiggerl Hagn and his daughter, Stephanie Spendler, or his wife, Christa, and occasionally with one of the grandchildren Johannes or Lukas, ride in the Löwenbräu Barrel wagon, pulled by 2 oxen. Also on the wagon: A beer keg with 4000 liters of Löwenbräu Oktoberfest beer.
Festkutsche mit Familie Spendler
In the northern part of the English Garden, the Hirschau is located, run by the Hagn and Spendler family. In summer there is an adventure playground for the children, and those who want to meet up in larger groups or for a party. In winter there are curling rinks and a cosy alpine hut.
Festwagen Die Damischen Ritter
Hans-Peter Stadler and the board of the Turmfalken association, known as the Damischen Ritter (Damian Knights). The Turmfalken association meets every Thursday in the Löwenbräukeller. The men’s charitable club was founded in 1928 in the tower of the inn – hence the name Turmfalken.
Ludwig Thoma Musikanten
Rainer Hernek & Ludwig Thoma Musikanten’s orchestra was founded in 1963 by young musicians who had outgrown the Dachau boys’ band. After the 2013 Oktoberfest, the management of the band was passed on to the long-standing trombonist, Rainer Hernek, who himself has been a regular musician since 1989.
Festkutsche mit Familie Roiderer
The Wiesn host family Roiderer has for four generations owned the Gasthof zum Wildpark in the Upper Bavarian village of Straßlach south of Munich. What’s special is that meat and sausages come exclusively from the in-house butchery which is why they also have a separate changing meat menu.
Spielmannszug Grafing
The Grafing marching band has a classic line-up of whistle, also called minstrel flute, lyre, marching and parade drums, bass drums and cymbal, the ensemble plays classic pieces such as the “Bozner Bergsteigermarsch” or the “Yorkscher Marsch” through to more modern pieces such as “Puppets on a String ” or “Roses from Malaga”.
Augustiner-Festhalle Kapelle Rainer Hagitte
The Augustiner Kapellmeister (Festival Chapel) can trace its roots back to 1949, under the Kapellmeister (conductor) Schirmer, and since 2001 under Reinhard Hagitte. This is one of the few bands that get together only at the Oktoberfest. The musicians are from all over the south, from Freilassing to Stuttgart.
Ludwig Thoma Musikanten
Rainer Hernek & Ludwig Thoma Musikanten’s orchestra was founded in 1963 by young musicians who had outgrown the Dachau boys’ band. After the 2013 Oktoberfest, the management of the band was passed on to the long-standing trombonist, Rainer Hernek, who himself has been a regular musician since 1989.
Armbrustschützengilde München
The Crossbow Shooting Guild Winzerer Fähndl combines tradition and modern sport in their club. They combine tradition and modern sport in their crossbow riflemen’s guild. As a historical costume club, they take part in events such as historical festivals and parades in Landsknecht garb. To them the shooting has the same importance as the tradition.
Sepp Folger und seine Münchner Musikanten
Sepp Folger founded his band, Sepp Folger und seine Münchner Musikanten in 1974 with colleagues. Their first appearance at the Oktoberfest was 1989 in the Fischer-Vroni tent performing at that time under the name the “Munich Musicians ” under Ltg.von Kapellmeister Josef Folger.
Historisches Prachtgespann Augustiner
Rainer Hernek & Ludwig Thoma Musikanten’s orchestra was founded in 1963 by young musicians who had outgrown the Dachau boys’ band. After the 2013 Oktoberfest, the management of the band was passed on to the long-standing trombonist, Rainer Hernek, who himself has been a regular musician since 1989.
Festkutsche mit Familie Able
The Able host family, Sabine and Siegfried Able, daughters Vanessa and Verena, operate eight catering establishments in Munich that include the lake biergarten Lerchenau, and several stands in Munich Central Station , the Stachus basement, Hellabrunn Zoo, at the Tollwood Festival and at the Christmas market at Marienplatz.