If only sneakers were part of the costume. They don’t belong, which is why the two young women from the Gernlinden fanfare band make the best of it on Saturday afternoon. As a precaution, they stick blister plasters on a park bench next to the Mühlbach Bridge to protect their heels from chafing in black pumps. In them they will walk right through the center of Olching to the fairground. “See you soon,” calls a cyclist, also in traditional costume, as they pass. People with instruments under their arms or rolled-up flags on their shoulders, in uniforms and on horse-drawn carriages – they stream from all directions to the small square in front of the Laurentiushaus. It’s the move before the move.
The first event as part of the 70th Olchinger Volksfest took place on Thursday, a performance by cabaret artist Simon Pearce. But traditionally it only begins now, on moving-in day. After a short stand concert in front of the Larentiushaus, the Olchinger clubs move from there to the marquee where the tapping of the barrel takes place. When the fanfare musicians appear punctually at the starting point, the Amper-Musikanten Bergkirchen have long been playing. The participants are particularly excited about the folk festival this year, not only because of the excellent weather and the anniversary, but because it is the first in three years. During the pandemic, the folk festival had to be canceled twice in a row.
Olching’s clubs come together for the pageant
This year they can celebrate together again and are even particularly close together. Most seek shade from the blazing sun, either in front of Cafè Ganser or under the trees on the other side of the Morris Dancer sculpture. More and more members gather in small groups around the signs with their club crest: the Esting volunteer fire brigade, the Olching water rescue service, the men’s ballet of the Olchinger Tanzfreunde. It can actually start. All that remains to be clarified, says Olching’s Volksfest speaker Andreas Hörl, is who will sit in which carriage. “A little bit of nervousness remains,” he admits, “even after all these years. But as soon as the first beer is up, that goes away.”
The carriage of the two festival beer breweries is part of the procession through Olching.
(Photo: Günther Reger)
A little later all carriage places are distributed. A large fire engine from the fire brigade blocks Daxerstrasse and Feursstrasse to the north so that the procession can start moving. A second one is ahead. The Olching brass band leads the procession, closely followed by the fire brigade and a white carriage decorated with roses. In it sit Olching’s mayor Andreas Magg and his family. They wave at the spectators on the side of the road with a relaxed attitude, almost like the British Queen, who recently celebrated her 70th anniversary.
The participants in the parade walk down Feursstrasse, past the S-Bahn station, across Hauptstrasse to the roundabout. The music of the brass band is occasionally complemented by whoops that echo off the facades of the surrounding houses. Onlookers lined the windows and balconies with wine and Aperol to marvel at the parade. At the roundabout he takes the first exit, crosses the Mühlbach on the Estinger Bridge and finally turns triumphantly onto the Volksfestplatz. Between the carousel and the chocolate fruit stand, past the bumper car, he reaches his destination, the marquee.
Finally bumper cars again! The residents of Olching had to wait two years for the folk festival.
(Photo: Günther Reger)
Only the band should accompany the entry of the following clubs outside musically. But conductor Johannes Roth initially has trouble conveying that to his band. He energetically points his staff to the side of the entrance where she should position herself. After a short irritation, everyone finally finds itself in the right place – without just a wrong note. One seems to know when the boss directs and when he navigates.
Bavaria’s beer kings support the mayor with tapping
The glowing hot marquee fills up, the club members take their places at the tables provided for them. The blister plasters have failed, many musicians of the fanfare have rid themselves of their tormenting shoes. After a short breather, Volksfest speaker Hörl announces Bavaria’s beer queen Sahra Jäger and mayor Magg on the stage for the beer tapping. In a short speech, Magg thanks those who came and everyone who put the festival on its feet. The tent had been serving for a few days, the Olchinger would “preheat, as they say in modern German.” But now it is a great feeling to officially open the folk festival after two years of the pandemic. The duo needs three hits on the barrels, then it’s ozapft. The first mass flows, Andreas Hörl can lean back.