On Friday the time had come: The Tölz Easter market opened its doors after a two-year break due to corona.
Without a mask, without admission controls.
Stand operators and visitors are looking forward to it.
Bad Tölz – In one corner it smells of sausages, a few meters further sweetly of roasted almonds.
Even if the weather is not exactly the friendliest, on Friday, the opening day, many passers-by are already strolling through the Easter market on Marktstraße.
From 11:00 a.m. the flap opens in one wooden house after the other.
Sellers drape a few more items here and there.
Every stand operator wants to present his goods from the best side.
No wonder: After all, today is the first carefree day of a market season.
According to the latest Corona decisions, even without a mask, admission control or upper limit for visitors.
Artist from Ingolstadt: "I have many regular customers here in Tölz"
"It's a great feeling," exults Janina Wartenberg.
"My art has been represented at the Easter market and also at the Christmas market for many years," says the 66-year-old, while very carefully adjusting a large, brightly painted ostrich egg.
She has been making handmade decorative items for 40 years - with different motifs depending on the season.
In the spring, her hand-painted eggs are a hit.
Some prospective buyers are already bustling about at the Ingolstadt artist's stand.
"I have many regular customers here in Tölz," reports Wartenberg and ties palm bushes together.
Through her decades-long routine, she makes one ostrich egg a day.
Due to the corona-related cancellations, the Ingolstadt company's warehouse was full of products.
"I had done a lot of pre-production when everything got canceled," she explains.
The fact that the masks have fallen does not worry her today.
"It's outside, I'm vaccinated and I'm staying careful," said Wartenberg.
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.
Because of Corona: Hard times are behind market people
A few meters further up, Robert Hatzl from Emmering is tying his wallet to his belt.
Stone pine cushions, blankets and cuddly toys are on the shelves in front of his stand. Plush Easter bunnies give passers-by a friendly smile.
“I actually have everything that keeps me warm here.” Hatzl gestures with a sweeping arm movement over his range of snuggles.
The booth is his main business.
"It's been a tough time so far.
All markets failed in 2020, and more than half in 2021,” he looks back.
And even if a market he exhibited at wasn't cancelled, business wasn't going well there.
"Most of the visitors were just there to stroll and kept their distance," he reports.
Traders tense as to how the market will fare
Hatzl is also not an unknown face on Tölzer Marktstrasse.
"I've been here at the Easter and Christmas markets for ten years," he reports.
He considers himself lucky to have his regular customers.
Nevertheless, the tension remains as to how the market will run in the coming days.
"We're going from one crisis to the next," he says.
"Since everything is currently getting more expensive, I have concerns that people are currently keen on shopping." Nevertheless, he would like to remain optimistic: "Maybe I'm wrong, and it will be very well accepted again." He noticed one thing on a trip last weekend: "People want out."
+
Arrived from the North Sea: Petra Witte is happy to be in Tölz with her jewelery stand for the first time.
© Proehl
Easter eggs from Tölz travel to Selb
Michael Metz from Starnberg is in a good buying mood.
He is standing at a stand with colorful Easter eggs and carefully examines the assortment.
He brought a large basket to transport the fragile goods safely.
"I've been following the internet the whole time to see if the market is actually taking place," he reports.
He specifically headed for the market stall.
"I usually shop here every year, both for my Easter decorations and to give away the eggs." This time he even wants to send his Easter packages from Tölz to Selb.
"I think handmade products are great, and you can get them here at fair prices," he says.
Came from Salzburg especially for the Easter market
But the 36-year-old from Starnberg was not only drawn to the spa town by his family.
"I'm really happy to be able to stroll around here so free and without restrictions," he says and saunters happily to the next hut.
Then a whole crowd of women streams down the market street together.
Among them is Ursula Huber.
"We came by bus especially for the Tölz Easter market," reports the pensioner from Salzburg.
"It's a good reason for a trip, and we all have plenty of time for that at the Pensioners' Association," says the 79-year-old with a laugh.
Stand operator travels from Sankt Peter-Ording
Petra Witte has taken an even longer path.
The market woman from Sankt Peter-Ording has been registered for the Tölz Easter market for three years.
Now, for the first time in the spa town, she can sell her homemade pansy jewelry.
However, the past two years have been tough for her.
"In northern Germany we were able to exhibit at weekly markets in summer, but in winter I had to look for another job," reports the trained graphic designer.
She got the taste for her original jewelry through a former market colleague from North Friesland.
"He emigrated to Tenerife and left me the idea for St. Peter-Ording," she says - and the first sales pitch with a customer promptly develops.
Bad-Tölz-Newsletter: Everything from your region! Our Bad Tölz newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from the Bad Tölz region - including all the news about the Corona crisis in your community. Sign up here.
