Customs – Munich – the future of the folk festivals remains open because of the Ukraine conflict – Bavaria
Munich (dpa / lby) – Whether and when folk festivals will take place again in Bavaria can remain uncertain for the time being. Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) and Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) met on Thursday in Munich at a round table on the future of folk festivals with representatives of showmen and municipalities. However, the Ministry of Economic Affairs canceled the press conference that was actually planned.
The state government did not want to be accused of irreverence on the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Aiwanger’s Free Voters, like the CSU, had previously canceled their Ash Wednesday rallies planned for next week.
Around 40 participants attended the round table in the Economics Ministry. Many showmen and market traders are threatened in their existence after a two-year Corona break.
The number of corona infections in Bavaria is currently very high, the Robert Koch Institute reported 54,681 new cases in Bavaria on Thursday, 12,000 more than the day before. In general, however, a relaxation in the spring is expected. The state government had already announced relaxation of the corona restrictions for the catering trade. The folk festival season traditionally begins at Easter.
With a view to the spring folk festival, the city of Würzburg announced on Thursday evening that there had been clear signals from Munich that this could be planned further. Municipal officer Wolfgang Kleiner continued: “It is an important and correct signal for the showmen: the carousel will finally turn again!”.
The spring folk festival in Würzburg should therefore take place from March 26th to April 10th. It would be the first folk festival in Bavaria after a two-year Corona break, it said. And: “The city of Würzburg is very sorry that this good news for the showmen and the many folk festival fans is overshadowed by the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220224-99-268589/3