Programm für das zum Andenken an die Vermählung des Kronprinzen Ludwig mit Prinzessin Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen statt habende Pferde-Rennen

Description

The printed programme was written by Major Andreas von Dall’Armi (1765-1842) and gives a meticulous account of the planned course of the celebration on 17 October 1810. As part of the wedding celebrations for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (1786-1868) and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen (1792-1854), the Major asked the court to allow him to hold a horse race on the then still unnamed meadow near Sendling. This race is considered the originating event for the Munich Oktoberfest.

After a service in Munich’s Bürgersaal Church, the national guards were to line up in the Hofgarten in front of the Munich Residence and then march in two sections to the festival grounds. One section proceeded straight there to act as a guard of honour. The second section escorted the royal family, whose procession crossed Marienplatz to Karlstor and went along the avenues to the festival grounds accompanied by gun salutes, where a pavilion had been erected for them. For the spectators, who could watch the race from the hillside, there was food in caterers’ tents next to the festival tent. After the horse race, in which every citizen could participate, the royal family went back to the Munich Residence. The award ceremony took place afterwards.

The celebration, which was also used to stage the new all-Bavarian identity, established itself as the Oktoberfest in the following years. Horse racing remained part of the folk festival until 1913.