2nd Oktoberfest Sunday: Grand Open-Air Concert by the Festival Hosts Beneath the Bavaria Statue
Munich. Sunday, September 27 at 11:00 a.m. – Open-air concert by Oktoberfest bands and traditional costume associations on the steps in front of the Bavaria statue – Dominik Krause, Mayor of the state capital Munich, conducts the grand concert of Oktoberfest bands today.
"Una Festa sul Prato"! = A celebration on the festival grounds! It promises to be a goosebump-inducing experience once again – at 11:00 a.m. during the festival hosts' open-air concert at the 191st Munich Oktoberfest – Completely free of charge! (DEUTSCH, ENGLISH, ITALIANO)
Munich. On the second Sunday of the Oktoberfest, the steps leading up to the Bavaria statue traditionally belong to the open-air concert featuring all the festival's bands. Thousands of visitors will flock to the site to marvel at the massive ensemble, comprising around 300 musicians. At 11:00 a.m. sharp, the band—formed by the musicians from all the festival tents—will kick off the day with a musical highlight of the Oktoberfest. The Munich Mayor’s schedule allows for no downtime: yesterday he was at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden celebrating the victory of the Olympic bid city, and today he is conducting the Oktoberfest bands! Against a stunning backdrop and under a brilliant blue sky above the Bavaria statue, we are experiencing a unique musical performance today on the steps leading to the Hall of Fame. Bavarian marches and songs are played, and *Schuhplattler* groups are also on hand. Many colorful balloons are released into the sky above the Bavaria statue while all of Munich sings the Bavarian anthem (the lyrics are listed below)...
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| Early in the morning, crowds flock to the Wiesn—with the Bavaria statue waiting in the background in front of the Hall of Fame—Munich; photo: Helga Waess (Press Archive) |
Oktoberfest’s Midpoint and "Italians’ Weekend"
"Una Festa sul Prato" = A festival on the Wiesn!
For the Oktoberfest midpoint, Italy traditionally crosses the Alps to Munich for the "Italians’ Weekend" at the festival!
Bavarian Anthem and Balloons for the Finale
To conclude, the Bavarian anthem is played and sung by the crowd, while hundreds of colorful balloons rise into the Bavarian-blue sky above the Bavaria statue.
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| Overlooking Oktoberfest—the Bavaria statue in front of the Hall of Fame; press photo: Helga Waess |
Today, the steps leading up to the Bavaria statue become a stage for conducting, music, Schuhplattler dancing, and singing.
Perfect weather, wonderful Wiesn music, and a magnificent atmosphere beneath the Bavaria statue: the open-air concert performed by the festival hosts on the Sunday marking the midpoint of the event is one of the highlights of Oktoberfest every year.
But there’s more: the whole country can join in the Oktoberfest festivities on TV today, as Bavarian Television (BR) and München TV are broadcasting the open-air concert held at the feet of the Bavaria statue.
The BAVARIAN ANTHEM
Anyone wishing to sing our Bavarian anthem at the top of their lungs during the spectacular finale of the open-air concert might want to practice beforehand—here are the LYRICS:
Offizielle Fassung / Text der Bayernhymne
1. Strophe:
Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern,
deutsche Erde, Vaterland!
Über deinen weiten Gauen
ruhe Seine Segenshand!
|: Er behüte deine Fluren,
schirme deiner Städte Bau
Und erhalte dir die Farben
Seines Himmels, weiß und blau! :|
2. Strophe:
Gott mit dir, dem Bayernvolke,
dass wir, uns’rer Väter wert,
fest in Eintracht und in Frieden
bauen uns’res Glückes Herd!
|: Dass mit Deutschlands Bruderstämmen
einig uns ein jeder schau
und den alten Ruhm bewähre
unser Banner, weiß und blau! :|