The History of the Tivoli Youth Guard

A parade in Tivoli, where the Tivoli-Garden is marching in the background, wearing their characteristic red uniforms and black bearskin hats. In the front, Pierrot walks in his white costume, with open arms and a big smile, while two guards in black uniforms follow on each side of the Garden.

From the first march!

The Tivoli Youth Guard first marched in 1844. It was established by the founder of Tivoli Gardens as a unique birthday gift to himself, a year after the Gardens opened.

The world’s first youth guard was an instant success. Today, the Tivoli Youth Guard remains one of Tivoli’s oldest and most vibrant attractions. You can almost hear the whisper of history as they march by.
Excerpt from the book “Tivoli-Garden”, published on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the guard in 1984:

"The ‘little military guard’ or ‘the Lilliputian military’, as it was also called, comprised a total of 30 boys at its inception, among whom one was an officer, i.e. drum major, and four were drummers, while the remaining 24 were divided into three squads of 2x4 members. They were paid, when they performed, with one mark a day, four pieces of open-faced sandwiches, and half a beer, but for most of them, the pleasure of participating far exceeded the joy of receiving payment, even though such earnings often came in handy. "

The first Tivoli Youth Guard

1886

This is what the Tivoli Youth Guard Band looked like in its earliest incarnation, back in 1886, when it was still known as Bjelkes Drengeorkester (Bjelke’s Boys’ Orchestra).

Did you know that...

... several well-known artists and musicians were trained at the Tivoli Youth Guard Music School, including Jan Glæsel, Chris Minh Doky, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Jeppe Kaas, as well as Uffe Savery and Morten Friis, who later formed the Safri Duo.

...Tivoli’s first Pierrot, N.H. Volkersen (1820-1893), was also the first leader of the Tivoli Youth Guard.

...The Tivoli Youth Guard’s bearskin hat weighs up to 2 kg and has been sewn according to the same pattern since 1850. A well-maintained bearskin hat can last for about 20 years.

...The Colour Guard performs with Danish-made Remington rifles from 1867, which, it’s worth noting, shoot with blank cartridges.