Shaken by Corona: A lot is different when the Fürstenfeld Garden Days restart
Created: 05/18/2022, 10:49 am
By: Ingrid Zeilinger
A photo from the last garden days in 2019. © Peter Weber
After a two-year Corona break, the Fürstenfeld Garden Days will once again attract thousands of visitors to the monastery grounds on the Pentecost weekend.
Fürstenfeldbruck – It wasn't clear until March that the Garden Days would reopen after a two-year break.
This meant that the organizers led by Martin Lohde had less time to set up the gigantic trade fair from June 3rd to 6th.
"Given the circumstances, we will have a nice trade fair, but we are already a bit shaken." Especially since the pandemic and the Ukraine war bring with them some imponderables.
"There is much more fluctuation among the exhibitors than usual," reports Lohde.
Cancellations keep coming – due to staff and illness or because the journey is no longer profitable due to the rise in petrol prices – and new exhibitors are joining them.
You want to keep the quality, emphasizes Lohde.
Better a little fewer and larger stands.
There are currently 240 instead of 260 exhibitors.
"We manage it well." Nevertheless, some visitors will not find one or the other dealer in the usual place.
These include garden centers: "Many switched to online trading during the pandemic and no longer go to trade fairs," explains Lohde.
There will still be enough plants for the many gardeners.
No landscape planners were found for show gardens
On the other hand, visitors have to forgo strolling through the show gardens.
The reason: "The landscape planners' order books are full." At the same time, there is a lack of staff and there are delivery problems.
So there is no time and no need to acquire more customers.
However, Lohde hopes that show gardens will enrich the fair again next year.
The Italian night is also canceled this year.
For the organizers, it has been an element of uncertainty in recent years due to the weather.
It was canceled when it rained, but the costs remained.
In addition, it attracted the most visitors, it was always cramped.
The fireworks were also criticized for the development of fine dust.
"And I don't think it's appropriate anymore," says Lohde, referring to the war in Ukraine.
So it was decided not to do it this year.
"We wanted to take it easy on our nerves and we're glad that we're making it a little easier for the restart."
Colorful program for the visitors of the garden days
Otherwise, visitors can expect a colorful program with good concerts, trips on the Amper Canal, time to stroll, shop and unwind.
In order to avoid waste, plastic bags are banned - except for the gardeners, who have to pack wet pots.
Instead, there are paper and fabric bags, including the fair trade cotton bag again - and for the first time bags made from recycled PET bottles with the Gartentage logo.
"We ask visitors to bring baskets and bags with them," says Lohde.
If you want to continue strolling after shopping, you can hand them in at the plant cloakroom free of charge.
In order to make a contribution to environmental protection, a tree will be planted for every 100th visitor through the "Plants for the Planet" campaign.
The admission price has been increased by one euro – the day ticket now costs ten euros and the season ticket 20 euros.
For the restart, Martin Lohde expects a rush of visitors.
“People push it out.” The fair is outdoors, and you can put on a mask inside.
Opening hours: Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday to Monday 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets can be bought in the event forum and on Reservix.
