• Orchestra of the Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps: participating orchestra
• Cecilia Society: participating institution, vv

Mercy’s Anzeiger 21/5/1854 published a detailed description of a festival arranged by the Prague Sharpshooters to celebrate the marriage of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. On the approach to the venue, the Schützeninsel [Střelecký ostrov], the couple were greeted with a 101 gun salute. The bridge to the island was decorated with flowers and garlands and the flags of Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria. They were met by the Commandant of the Sharpshooters, the company commandant and other leading officers; on moving to the island 24 young ladies who were the daughters of the officers of the Sharpshooters sang the national anthem and led the way on a flower-strewn path. In the decorated hall on the island a ‘choir of 100 persons will perform a cantata and the band of the Sharpshooters would perform many compositions’. No further details of the intended musical content of the occasion were noted. On 5/6/1854 the newspaper reported the Shooting festival [Schützenfest] arranged by the Prague Sharpshooters was to take place on Thursday 8th June.

Der Tagesbote 6/6/1854 reported that a Festival celebrating the visit of His Majesty Franz Joseph would take place on Thursday afternoon on Žofín Island. No further details of the event were given by this source. An account of the occasion, described as a ‘Schützenfest [Shooting festival]’ was then published by Der Tagesbote 12/6/1854. The arrangements and decorations of the venue were noted and the participating officials named. A flotilla of boats was noted to have been present on the river Vltava. Music was performed by the band of the Sharpshooters, and also ‘many songs were sung by the choir of the Cecilia Society with well-honed and well-adequate effect.’ No further information about the musical programme was reported by the source, but the event undoubtedly included dancing. The festivities continued until 3am.