The Tagesanzeiger daily almanac of Prague social and musical events published by Prager Morgenpost 14/8/1863 announced: ‘For the fire victims in Polna [Polná] Concert and Garden festival [Gartenfest] on the Žofín Island. Commencing 5 o’clock.’ No further details were given by the source.

The town of Polná had recently suffered a major fire in which many inhabitants had been rendered homeless. The disaster inspired fund raising help for victims from several institutions in Prague. These included popular social musical entertianments such as the above to benefit performances in the Theatre. Prager Morgenpost 10/9/1863 noted, for instance, that the profit from the Czech Theatre performance for the benefit of fire victims in Polná amounted to 110fl 59kr.’ Prager Morgenpost 20/9/1863 reported that on that same day a benefit Beseda was being held for the same cause at Karlštejn.