Everything is getting more expensive, a lot is scarce: organizing the largest carnival procession in Upper Bavaria, the one in Olching, is no fun at all.
Olching - Just the sweets that rain down on the fools from the wagons are hard to come by.
In addition, the costs for security forces are exploding - which is why the fools on the wagons now have to pay a carnival solo for the first time.
In Cologne they say Kamelle, in this country Guadl.
But whatever you call it, one thing is the same everywhere: the sweets that rain down from the carnival floats like colorful confetti on the carnival days have become expensive and are currently in short supply.
"It's a real problem getting them here at all," reports Ludwig Gruber, Vice-Chairman of the Olching Carnival Procession Committee.
Three pallets of confectionery
The people of Olching alone need around three pallets full of sweets for their fun worm.
That wasn't a problem before.
"We ordered it from Metro and everything was there after a week," says Gruber.
But the wholesale group can't get the quantities up at the moment.
The carnival friends finally found a new supplier: in the carnival stronghold of Cologne.
But there are problems here too.
"They have sweets, but no staff who could send them out," says the 28-year-old.
Sugar shortage, pandemic, inflation, shortage of skilled workers - everything is really united here.
"You don't count that."
double the cost
Therefore, there are already consequences.
From now on, every car gets a ten-kilo bag of sweets for free, everyone has to take care of the sweet rain themselves.
It's not just about the delivery problem, but also about money.
According to Gruber, the costs used to amount to 1000 euros, but now they are counting on double that – should the sweets arrive at all.
"But of course we hope so," says Gruber.
The crisis did not simplify the organization of the huge event.
"The price for the security alone has increased by 60 percent," explains Gruber.
There are also 30 toilet vehicles.
Gruber speaks of a huge budget.
Two euros per participant
From this year it is therefore mandatory that even the train participants pay two euros.
"So if there are 50 people on a wagon, the wagon builder pays us 100 euros," explains the vice-chairman of the train committee.
There is no other way to get the immense costs for the club under control, which he roughly estimates “beyond 20,000 euros”.
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However, this had already become apparent with the last fun worm before the 2020 pandemic: Here, however, the carnival solos were not yet mandatory.
The participants were only asked for a donation of two euros, which the spectators at the roadside also pay for a badge.
Glad it's happening again
The carnival movers spoke about these current conditions at a meeting last Wednesday in Gernlinden, namely at the traditional train meeting.
Between 80 and 100 representatives of wagon builders, foot groups etc. were on site - the insight was great, according to Gruber.
“We are all happy that the carnival procession can take place again at all.
Everyone is happy to make their contribution.”
But much remains the same as it was before.
There is an invitation process.
In other words: the wagon builders can apply, but the committee makes the selection.
Due to a requirement of the city of Olching, the number of participants in carnival floats is limited to 25 (foot groups are not limited).
Glass bottles are also prohibited because of the risk of injury and hard alcohol.
The motto is clear: the Olchinger Fasching wants to be family-friendly and not just a bunch of fools.
Sweets fit much better than schnapps - if they still make the way from Cologne, 600 kilometers away, to Upper Bavaria by Shrove Tuesday.
You can find more current news from the district of Fürstenfeldbruck at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.
