Which Bavarian novelist organized the second Oktoberfest costume parade in 1895?

Bavarian novelist Maximilian Schmidt organized Oktoberfest’s second major traditional-costume parade in 1895. The event helped establish the historical and regional pageantry later associated with the festival’s costume and marksmen’s procession.

Schmidt, also known as Waldschmidt, was a successful Bavarian Heimat novelist and an advocate for promoting Bavaria’s regional culture and tourism. For the 1895 event, he assembled groups representing different parts of Bavaria and helped organize their traditional clothing. About 1,400 participants marched in 150 costume groups.

The first major costume parade had taken place in 1835 to mark the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Queen Therese. The 1895 parade was therefore a later, highly influential revival rather than the origin of all Oktoberfest parades. Another major parade followed during the centenary celebrations in 1910.

The modern annual costume and marksmen’s parade developed much later and is now held on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest. Its historical roots, however, reach back to the 1835 and 1895 processions.