The folk festival is not celebrated earlier. The idea was born to increase the chances that the festival could take place despite Corona. A prerequisite for celebrating in autumn has already been set.
Munich – Moving the Oktoberfest forward to the summer because of Corona is off the table.
An intergroup committee made up of city councilors and representatives of the administration decided on Friday, said the festival director and Munich economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) of the German Press Agency. “The Wiesn stays where it is, when it is and how it is.” Among other things, the Bavarian Radio had reported on the decision.
As planned on September 17th
As planned, it should be called “Ozapft is” on September 17th – if the pandemic allows it. According to Baumgärtner, the final decision should be made in early May.
Last year, the world’s largest folk festival was canceled for the second time in a row due to the pandemic. Around six million visitors from all over the world came to the two-week folk festival in Munich before Corona – it is impossible to keep your distance in the often packed beer tents.
It is already clear that – if there is an Oktoberfest this year – only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered should have access, said Baumgärtner. The committee underlined this on Friday. Experts are currently working on how the controls could actually take place – for example digitally via an app. But there shouldn’t be a Wiesn light. “We are not planning any convertible Oktoberfests or reduced Oktoberfests. We do the Wiesn as we have always had it,” said Baumgärtner.
Organizational reasons against bringing it forward
The main arguments against relocating the Wiesn were organizational reasons. Many preparations have a long lead time. Among other things, since the turn of the year the application of innkeepers as well as showmen and market traders who are also on the road at other festivals and may have to reschedule. In addition, many helpers such as waiters take extra time off to work at the Oktoberfest – and could not easily come to another appointment. A transfer therefore harbors the risk of a shortage of workers.
Baumgärtner welcomed the decision, especially with a view to tradition. “A relocation disenchants the Wiesn and robs it of its character. It’s not like a pop concert that you can simply postpone,” said Baumgärtner. “The Wiesn is a historic event and I personally find it difficult to postpone such historic events.”
Nevertheless, the transfer was examined, since many had seriously expressed the desire to do so. For example, feeders hoped that the Wiesn could take place at all.
The debate has been going on for some time because the number of infections is expected to be lower in the summer. Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (free voters) brought the idea into play. He said at the beginning of January that the corona situation was much more relaxed in summer. “Therefore, we should seriously consider moving festivals with larger crowds into the summer,” he told the “Bild” newspaper at the time.
Baumgärtner had recently expressed reservations, and the Oktoberfest hosts were also skeptical. Their spokesman Peter Inselkammer said in early January that he would prefer an Oktoberfest on the planned date from September 17 to October 3, with access only for vaccinated and recovered people. “It’s traditional – it’s called Oktoberfest.” dpa
