Costumes and Riflemen Parade

Parade Route and Grandstands

Festring München, the organizer of the event, constructs 14 stands alongside the parade’s route. Seats can be purchased starting in April via München Ticket for 36 Euros. As horses are separated from the parade before entering the Theresienwiese, you should not watch it directly at Oktoberfest.

Unique Participants 2025

Every year, a few outstanding groups are invited to participate in the traditional costume and riflemen's parade, adding a splash of color to the event. This year's participants include:

Moriskentänzer (Moorish dancers) from the Technical University of Munich (No. 2.b)

The Moriskentänzer from the Technical University of Munich will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2025. Their historical roots date back to 1480, when Erasmus Grasser created ten carved Moriscos for the dance hall of Munich City Hall. These figures are now on display in the Munich City Museum. The “Moresca,” originally a North African dance, developed in Central Europe into an entertaining courtship dance with artistic jumps. The figures bear evocative names such as Prophet, Burgunder, Zauberer (Magician) and Zaddelrock. Together with the “Schöne Maid” (Beautiful Maid) and the children's Moorish dancers, they perform in costumes that have been reconstructed in great detail.

Alpenrösl Allach Traditional Costume Association (No. 8.b)

Due to the pandemic, the traditional costume association (Trachtenverein) from northwest Munich was unable to celebrate its 100th anniversary as part of the traditional costume and riflemen's parade, but now it will be able to celebrate its 105th anniversary. The association has been in existence for 105 years and, with 220 members, is one of the largest in the Munich area. The traditional Werdenfelser costume is worn: men wear black deerskin trousers with yellow embroidery, wide suspenders, light gray jackets, and Scheibling hats with cock feathers. The women's clothing consists of a red skirt, black bodice with silver lacing, silk apron, and fringed shawl.

Wischauer Sprachinsel Community (No. 13.c)

The Wischauer Sprachinsel (language island) community brings living history back to life. Until 1945, the region near Brno consisted of eight German-speaking villages where language, customs, and traditional costumes were cultivated by young and old alike. The festive costumes on display are genuine originals, some of which are over 80 years old. Particularly striking are the “Tatzl” – tall white ruffs – and elaborately embroidered blouses and skirts with over 350 fine pleats. The men's costumes with embroidered suspenders, decorated hats, and handmade shoes also bear witness to traditional craftsmanship. Since 2025, the language island has been part of the intangible cultural heritage.

Marktleugast 1896 Music Association (No. 17.a)

Participating in the traditional costume and riflemen's parade for the first time: the Marktleugast 1896 Music Association from Kulmbach in Upper Franconia. This year, the traditional ensemble celebrates its 130th anniversary. Musical highlights include performances at the Oide Wiesn, St. Peter's Square in Rome, and the Steuben Parade in New York. The traditional costumes reflect the natural colors of the Franconian Forest.

Überlingen Town Band and Überlingen Traditional Costume Association (No. 22.a and 22.b)

The Überlingen Town Band and Traditional Costume Association come from Baden-Württemberg. The town's musical tradition dates back several centuries – the town band can look back on 225 years of history. Their uniform is based on that of the Bürgerliche Musikgesellschaft (Civic Music Society) of 1811. The Trachtenbund was founded in 1924. The women wear a two-piece silk dress in Biedermeier style with a shawl, apron, white cotton stockings, and buckled shoes. The golden wheel cap and a sprig of rosemary at the neckline complete the look.

Fanfare band “Die Trifelsherolde” Annweiler e.V. (No. 27.a)

The fanfare band from Rhineland-Palatinate was founded in 1949 and developed an unmistakable style of fanfare music. Their repertoire ranges from classical fanfare sounds to modern marches. Particularly eye-catching are the up to four-square-meter-large waving flags bearing the coat of arms of Annweiler. The uniform consists of blue and yellow corduroy jackets, black knee-length trousers, white stockings, and a beret with a white feather.

Association of Historical Croatian Guards (No. 27.b)

The association presents 11 historical guards from Croatia with magnificent officer and guard uniforms from the 18th and 19th centuries. The groups represented include the citizen guards from Karlstadt and Varaždin, the crossbowmen from Rab, the Liccaner Regiment from Gospić, and the Požega city guard. Knights from Bosnia and Herzegovina are also present. An impressive insight into Croatia's diverse military history.

Bauerngman Villach (No. 27.c)

The charitable association “Bauerngman Villach” from Carinthia, Austria, is participating for the first time. The group has been supporting children in need since 1908. They wear the Gailtal traditional costume: men wear leather trousers, velvet skirts, boots, and silk scarves; women wear many layers of pleated skirts, colorful scarves, and hand-embroidered belts. Although the Bauerngman is a men's association, the colorfully dressed “Kirchtagsladerinnen” are an integral part of the traditional Kirchtagsladen.

Folklore dance group “Lous Réoulès” from Bordeaux (No. 31.c)

The French group “Lous Réoulès” has been dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of southwestern France since 1927.

All Participants 2025