Field Marshall Josef Václav Radecký (1766-1858), was celebrated for his military prowess, particularly in suppressing the armed rebellion of Northern Italy in the revolutionary year of 1830. In the mid-1800s, he was the commander of the Olomouc fortress and had his residence in the imposing Edelmann palace on the main square.

The commemorative entertainment starts on Friday afternoon, with demonstrations of marching troupes from across the Czech Republic accompanied by music ranging from the classics to "Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind, oh, Mickey". In the early evening, the Olomouc military band perform a concert in St Moritz cathedral, and later the military band of the Czech Republic perform for two hours on the main square. The main square concert included a selection of music from centuries-old traditional marches to compositions by George Gershwin and Dusty Springfield. After two encores by the military band and the Czech Republic’s velvet-voiced answer to Tom Jones; Bohuš Matuš, the fireworks began. Cascading sparklers turned the Arion fountain into a waterfall and the skyrockets sounded like guns going off and showered the nearest corner of the town hall with colourful sparks.

Saturday morning begins with the welcoming of important guests, including the ghost of Marshall Radecký himself (or an actor in ceremonial costume with white face paint). Energetic majorettes then lead in the military bands of France, Germany, Austria and Olomouc, who play for almost two hours until Radecký takes the stage again to thank them with a ceremonial volley of musket fire from his personal guard regiment.

After lunch, it’s the turn of the military bands from Italy and Turkey. The two bands couldn’t have had more different uniforms; the Turks had beautiful intricately patterned costumes, traditional hats and boots, and carried ornate golden sceptres, while the Italians in jackboots and camouflage gear looked ready to drop their instruments and jump into battle at any second. No celebration honouring Radecký could be complete without a performance of Strauss’s Radetzky March, and the Olomouc band provided it as the Turkish and Italian contingents stood respectfully at attention.

The celebrations end with a speech from Radecký in which he points out that invading armies have often been uninvited guests on the cobblestones of Olomouc’s main square, but that foreign soldiers armed only with musical instruments were most welcome now and into the future.