When Regine Sixt canceled her Frauenwiesn last year, some thought she would end this pre-pandemic tradition entirely. Not even close. This year everything is back to normal. They come from near and far: Franziska Knuppe, the model, Karin Baumüller-Söder, the wife of the Bavarian Prime Minister, Charlotte Knobloch, the president of the Israelite religious community, but above all entrepreneurs, almost as successful as the senior partner and founding mother of Sixt herself , which helped expand the small car rental company into a global mobility provider with 2,000 locations from Neuhausen to Beijing.
Sitting under the red Regine hearts in the center of the Schützenzelt are more than 900 women of all skin colors and many nationalities from company boards and supervisory boards, from foundations and consulates, leading doctors, actresses, politicians, journalists, but also just extraordinarily nice, down-to-earth neighbors – and an impressive number of baronesses, princesses and other ladies with a “von” in their names.
The latter is particularly noticeable when you take a look at the guest booklet, sorted alphabetically and available to the participants (it is forbidden to take them with you, who wants to mess with the data protection officers): six pages of “V”, more than any other letter. Even if outsiders think that it’s all about showing off the latest things the traditional costume market has to offer: that’s not true. As always with company events at Oktoberfest, it’s all about networking.
A tent full of Regine hearts: the Ladies’ Wiesn in the Schützenzelt.
(Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa)
As a greeting, the lipstick is brushed. And yes, for the inevitable women’s group selfies, pursed lips are also the most important traditional costume trend. If you’re not looking for a cooperation partner for your start-up or a nice daughter-in-law for your son, you’ll at least find a great new cardiologist or cosmetic surgeon for yourself.
The ladies donated to the good cause
The good cause ranks second in the importance scale: Regine Sixt founded her own children’s aid organization, called “Dry Tears”, decades ago. Each of the women present donated at least 200 euros for this. “Voluntary,” as it says several times on the invitation card. But if you really want to get the coveted entry code later, you also pay the fee.
Gave a speech on Regine Sixt: ex-Bunte boss Patricia Riekel (right).
(Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa)
The funniest thing about the Frauenwiesn 2023 is the speech by Patricia Riekel, ex-Bunte editor-in-chief and for the FDP in the Bogenhausen district committee. “Regine Sixt has personal driving forces that Elon Musk would have wanted for his rocket launch,” she shouts from the balcony of the Oktoberfest band. The hall cheers. “If I were stranded somewhere in the world, I would call Regine. She would talk to all the diplomats, they couldn’t help but get me out.”
What Regine Sixt and her powers of persuasion are capable of will be understood by whoever gets the giveaway bag in their hands at the end. Oh no, heaved it on the shoulder. Because in this bag, which is reinforced with triple cardboard, you will not only find brochures from dozens of projects that “dry little tears”. The bag contains everything from a tooth polishing set to a bottle of rosé wine, from nail polish to specially produced magazines and gifts from Regine’s supporters.
All together it weighs seven kilos. It does not matter anyway. There are a lot of strong women here.