The Latin Music Festival Caliente is scheduled to take place in 2022
Zurich
Return of the major events: The Caliente should take place – the Street Parade organizers are also optimistic
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the Zurich Latin Music Festival is scheduled to take place again this summer – on two weekends and at a new, but still old, venue.
The new virus variant Omikron could bring about the imminent end of the pandemic – at least some experts say. And even if the pandemic is not over yet, the anticipation of a carefree summer is currently greater than fear for some. The first organizers of major events are already positioning themselves.
The organizers of the Latin Music Festival Caliente made the first known announcement from Zurich’s point of view on Monday. The 25th anniversary, which had already been postponed twice due to the pandemic, had to be held this summer, as they write in a statement. Striking: Instead of just one weekend, it is to take place over two weekends, namely on July 1st and 2nd and on July 8th and 9th. And it will not be held in the Langstrasse district, as is usually the case, but in the Arsenal area – exactly where the Caliente was held in 1995 for the first time.
For the first time, the organizers are asking for tickets for entry
The Organizing Committee (OC) is deliberately doing without the up to 300,000 visitors that the festival attracted to the streets in the past with its Latin American bands, samba schools and dance shows. As the founder and organizer Roger Furrer explains on request, the OC had previously consulted with the security department of city councilor Karin Rykart (Greens). It was concluded that it was best to hold the festival in a closed area. “Everything is much clearer this way and we can direct the flow of visitors through the entrances and exits,” explains Furrer.
Specifically, entry controls and an upper limit of 10,500 people per day are planned. For the first time, the organizers are asking for tickets for entry. These are expected to cost around 20 francs. According to Furrer, this is for the enormous effort that the OC has to face. Admission includes access to the Mercado Mundial as well as numerous live concerts and shows. Advance sales started on April 4th. Whether a certificate WILL be necessary depends on the further course of the pandemic or the measures still in force in the summer.
“The new format gives us planning security”
As in the past, various Latin American and European music groups are on the program. There WILL also be many stands with exotic food and drinks. In order to give as many of the more than 200 registered stand operators as possible the opportunity to work on at least one of the dates, the Caliente has been extended to the second weekend, explains Furrer. For reasons of space, only around 70 operators could set up their stands at the Zeughaus area each weekend. “That way, as many as possible get a chance.”
He – and above all the audience – is happy that the Caliente can take place again after a two-year break, says Furrer. He is not afraid that it might have to be canceled because of Corona. “The new format gives us planning security. At a big festival I would have had my doubts. So I’m very confident that it can happen.”
A slimmed-down street parade would be out of the question
The organizers of the Zurich Street Parade are “more confident than before”. The planned date of August 13 is still being held, as media spokesman and board member Stefan Epli announced on request. There are still many uncertainties, for example with regard to the obligation to obtain a certificate. “We are currently in the planning stage and hope that we can carry out the street parade normally.”
A 2G or 3G concept is currently being worked out with the Zurich city police and the applications for the Love Mobile are being examined. The food stands are to be built soon.
“The closer the date gets, the better we know how and within what framework the Street Parade can be held,”
says Epli. Hopefully we’ll know more in May or June. However, he emphasizes that a slimmed-down version of the traditional Zurich event is out of the question. “We don’t want to do the street parade any differently.” At most, smaller stages or slimmed-down love mobiles are possible.