Söder and Aiwanger are there: Nuremberg celebrates a marquee party without a mask

Created: 09/01/2022, 21:03

By: Nikolas Pelke

No mask requirement at the Nuremberg folk festival: At the tapping in the festival tent, even top politicians with Prime Minister Markus Söder, Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger and Mayor Marcus König celebrate relatively casually without a mask.

© Berny Meyer / Nuremberg Folk Festival

At the Nuremberg folk festival, a toast to coziness can again be sung without the obligation to wear a mask.

The Bavarian Ministry of Health nevertheless appeals to the personal responsibility of the folk festival visitors.

Nuremberg - The Nuremberg marquee is a real place to be.

Without compulsory testing and masks, the autumn folk festival is obviously even more fun.

At the start of the ceremony with the tapping of the first beer keg, Prime Minister Markus Söder, Mayor Marcus König (both CSU), Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (FW) and showman boss Lorenz Kalb whistled on a mouth and nose cover.

Lorenz Kalb wrongly sees public festivals as a pandemic driver in the criticism.

© Nikolas Pelke

After the compulsory Corona break - "The Nuremberg folk festival is not a driver of the pandemic"

"The Nuremberg folk festival is not a driver of the pandemic," emphasized Lorenz Kalb from the South German Showmen's Association at the start of the 162nd Nuremberg Autumn Folk Festival, which after the three-year Corona compulsory break this year can take place again until September 11th on the fairground at the dozen pond.

By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis.

Sign up here.

Nuremberg showman boss: There are always exceptions

Overall, according to Kalb, folk festivals are not breeding grounds for the corona virus.

"Of course there will always be one or the other slip-up," said Kalb, referring to the Erlangen Bergkirchweih.

A relatively large number of visitors there are said to have been infected with the corona virus this spring.

However , pandemic experts from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (

) were unable to prove any direct connection between Bergkirchweih and the increase in the number of corona cases in the region based on the numbers at the time.

In Nuremberg, too, for example, the authorities could not see any "festival effect" around the "Rock im Park" music festival.

Even after the spring folk festival, no "church consecration effect" was observed in Nuremberg.

Mayor Marcus König, showman boss Lorenz Kalb Schausteller and economics officer Michael Fraas opened the "NürnBärLand" as a Nuremberg folk festival alternative last summer with a mask.

© Nikolas Pelke

Lorenz Kalb from the Showmen's Association can meanwhile explain the Bergkirchweih slip-up.

In Erlangen, after 11 p.m., Berg visitors would march to the city center and continue partying in small bars and tight clubs.

That would obviously have favored the spread of the virus there over Pentecost.

Meanwhile, even for the layperson, it should be obvious that the risk of infection at a mass event with many people is greater than on the sofa at home.

The showmen obviously take this simple statement to heart.

At the Nuremberg Autumn Folk Festival there is a hygiene concept even without a mask requirement.

It is considered a dress rehearsal for the Wiesn: the Gäubodenfest in Straubing.

Now the corona numbers have risen rapidly there.

Nuremberg: No folk festival visit with unexplained symptoms of illness

For example, visitors with unexplained symptoms of illness are not allowed to stay on the Nuremberg fairground and must leave the site.

Besides that

It is recommended to keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters on the entire site.

Where this is not possible, it is recommended to wear a surgical or FFP2 mask.

In practice, of course, very few visitors are likely to follow this recommendation.

Ministry of Health appeals to the personal responsibility of the folk festival visitors

According to a spokeswoman for the Bavarian Ministry of Health, there are no requirements for marquees and rides in the current 16th Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance.

The current Corona regulation only contains general recommendations on how to behave in terms of distance, masks and hygiene, which of course must also be observed at folk festivals.

"We appeal to everyone to refrain from attending a folk festival at the slightest sign of a cold," said Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU).

Because the corona pandemic is not over yet, the rule of thumb applies: if you are sick, stay at home.

"Everyone should take their own responsibility for themselves and their fellow human beings seriously," the Ministry of Health emphasized on request.

Everyone has a certain amount of control over whether it will be a safe visit to the folk festival.

"Heidi's Treff": Together with his wife Heidi, Lorenz Kalb has been running the popular folk festival bar by the Ferris wheel for many years.

© Nikolas Pelke

Speaking of which: The organizers of the Nuremberg folk festival have meanwhile distributed hygiene stations with hand disinfectants on the festival site and also explicitly ask visitors to use the washing facilities in the toilets regularly.

This is to prevent the corona pandemic from flaring up again.

All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.