The History of the Tivoli Youth Guard
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.
Upcoming Tivoli Youth Guard performances
Friday, April 4
Event
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Summer Copenhagen parade
4:00 PM
Tivoli Gardens
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, April 5
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
1:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, April 6
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, April 12
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
1:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, April 13
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, April 19
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
1:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, April 20
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, April 26
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, April 27
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Friday, May 2
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
3:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, May 10
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, May 11
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, May 17
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, May 18
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
3:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, May 24
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, May 25
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
3:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, May 31
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, June 1
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:00 PM · 4:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, June 8
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, June 28
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, June 29
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, August 2
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, August 3
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Wednesday, August 6
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, August 9
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, August 10
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
3:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Friday, August 15
Event
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Summer Copenhagen parade
3:30 PM
Tivoli Gardens
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, August 23
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, August 30
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, August 31
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, September 6
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, September 7
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, September 13
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 5:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, September 14
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 5:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Saturday, September 20
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Parade
2:30 PM · 4:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Sunday, September 21
Tivoli-Garden
The Tivoli Youth Guard's Final Parade
7:30 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance
Music
The Tivoli Youth Guard’s End-of-Summer Tradition
9:00 PM
The Garden
Free with Tivoli Entrance