Koa Wiesn is the motto for 2020. Souvenir seller Helgard Schmid thinks that's a shame.
And above all misses the Munich landmark.
Wolfratshausen
- Helgard Schmid misses her old friend Bavaria a little.
The 170-year-old statue above the Theresienwiese was always given her first greeting when she went to her stand at the Oktoberfest.
"If you've done that for 36 years, you miss that a bit."
The Wolfratshauser has been represented at the Oktoberfest with her souvenir stand since 1984.
Before she applied for a place for the first time, the now 78-year-old worked in catering for television and film productions and had a snack in the Olympiahalle.
“I've always enjoyed dealing with people,” she says.
The higher the alcohol consumption, the bolder the hat choice
At the beginning of their Oktoberfest time, the souvenirs - stuffed animals and hats - still hung like grapes on a pole.
Then Schmid got her own stand and a handful of employees.
Son and grandson supported her with the sale.
The range changed from year to year.
Sometimes felt mountain hats were the absolute hit, sometimes plush toys.
“The chicken hats would have gone well this year,” thinks Helgard Schmid.
In general, the higher the alcohol consumption, the bolder the hat choice.
“It's exhausting and it can be nerve-wracking,” says the Wolfratshauser about her Oktoberfest job.
“But the focus is always on having fun.” Especially when old friends or, more precisely, colleagues pay her a short visit.
"The Hans Ketelhut, for example." For 16 years, the "Bayern-Hans" from Geretsried has been providing fun and good humor among the guests with his Gstanzln and songs in the Stiftl festival tent.
“On the way there, he would often come to me, clap my shoulder and say, 'And?
Pack ma's again? '”Now the two of them at least see each other“ on the street now and then ”.
Schmid says: Health just comes first
The 78-year-old understands the cancellation of the Oktoberfest this year.
“Health just comes first.” However, she also sees the financial failures that many of her colleagues suffer from.
“It hits particularly hard those who have to store large parts.” She was able to store her goods well herself.
“Fortunately, I have T-shirts without the year in my range.
They'll work next year too. "
Helgard Schmid hopes that in 2021 it will be called again on Theresienwiese: “O'zapft is”.
Then she definitely wants to be there.
She has her application documents to hand by the end of December.
If everything goes well, the woman from Wolfratshausen will greet her old friend Bavaria every morning and evening, who watches over the hustle and bustle at her feet from the hall of fame.