Rescue for the Bolzano market in 2024: A new concept should help
Created: 11/27/2022, 7:30 am
By: Josef Hornsteiner
The Bolzano market in Mittenwald is a fiery spectacle, as here at the opening in 2012. © Rudolf Tomaschek
An agency wants the medieval spectacle Bozner Markt in Mittenwald to flourish completely anew.
Above all, the citizens should be brought on board.
Mittenwald – It was the first Bolzano market in modern times.
Christoph Szonn's eyes were huge.
As a teenager in 1987, the man from Mittenwald could hardly believe what was suddenly happening on his doorstep.
Daring lansquenets with flags and well-versed bodies, Venetian merchants in filigree robes, jugglers with spectacular tricks - the entire world of the Middle Ages opened up before the boy, who had a soft spot for knights and damsels since childhood.
"The Bolzano market was one of the most formative childhood memories," says Szonn today.
With Katharina Neuner, Professor Axel Barwich and him, a trio has now come together that has one big goal in mind: to save the Bolzano market.
As is well known, this is to take place again in 2024 after being postponed due to corona.
But it is also known that the medieval spectacle is on the razor's edge - at least in the way it has been organized so far.
Safety aspects, hygiene reasons and the question of who is responsible for an event of this magnitude hover over the eight-day hustle and bustle like the sword of Damocles.
In 2021, for example, a working group was founded on the initiative of the third mayor Gerhard Schöner (CSU) and chaired by mayor Enrico Corongiu (SPD).
In the spring of this year, the trio presented themselves there with their agency "middlewood".
"We've had a lot of good talks since then," says Szonn.
The working group has now been dissolved, and the concept creation is now the responsibility of the agency with Neuner, Barwich and Szonn.
If necessary, they want to organize the event in a completely different way, breathe new life into it.
Together with those who have always made the Bolzano market stand out: the people of Mittenwald.
On Wednesday, November 30th, the first kick-off event is to take place at 7 p.m. in the TSV gym.
But what awaits the citizens there?
the first kick-off event will take place at 7 p.m. in the TSV gym.
But what awaits the citizens there?
the first kick-off event will take place at 7 p.m. in the TSV gym.
But what awaits the citizens there?
Bozner Markt could be set up quite differently
The three are professionals when it comes to events.
Barwich is a professor for technical event design at the Technical University of Central Hesse.
Neuner is a cultural manager and has already helped to organize major events such as the Tollwood Festival in Munich.
In addition to his job in the film industry, Szonn has been running the open-air cinema in the Isar Valley for over 13 years - this is exactly where the threads come together, why the trio are now tackling things together.
"We've known each other for a long time, we work together on cinema flickering, we know how to organize events," says Szonn.
It is important to them that all three of them not only have theoretical knowledge, but that everyone is also passionate about the Bolzano market.
"I invited my fellow students to Mittenwald every five years," Neuner recalls.
Her family, owners of the Mittenwald brewery, also provided the red wine.
Barwich has also often visited the Bolzano market and has a great weakness for medieval festivals in his free time.
With this expertise, they now want to moderate the preparations for the planned major event in Mittenwald in 2024.
Means: There is – not yet – a fixed concept.
"We want to work on that together with the citizens of Mittenwald." On November 30, everyone should come to the gym who either wants to participate themselves or has ideas about what the history festival could look like in a year and a half.
In addition to the three moderators, three speakers from the most important areas of gastronomy, clubs and tourism are sitting in a circle of chairs.
Two places are free for interested members of the audience who can explain their point of view.
"We're just going to do a few short introductory words, then we'll collect all the ideas from the audience," says Szonn.
We would like to discuss what everyone expects,
Trio moderates, citizens should bring suggestions
"The result is still completely open," emphasizes Szonn.
Will the location remain in the Obermarkt, or will you migrate to the Puit health resort after all?
Will the market be as big as possible or as small as necessary?
Whether it will be a spectacle for tourists or for locals or - in the best case - for everyone?
All of this should now be clarified in the coming months.
The second kick-off event will then take place on December 7th, same time, same place.
"After these two evenings, we collect all the ideas, discuss all the suggestions and draw the first rough outline." The three workshops start in the new year.
Small groups should weigh the pros and cons.
The administration, the tourism officials and above all the restaurateurs, residents, business people and club members involved should then be brought on board at the latest in order to get things done.
In April 2023, all the results are to be compiled and evaluated.
This should result in a viable concept for a Bolzano market in 2024.
LAUNCH EVENT
The first big round table with all those interested and those involved in the Bozner market are invited to the Mittenwald TSV gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30th.
Another kick-off event will take place a week later on Wednesday, December 7th, also at 7 p.m. in the TSV hall.
Registration is requested at www.middlewood.biz.
You are also welcome to come by spontaneously, provided there are still spaces available.
